MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., -- When the Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit depart for their scheduled deployment this winter, they will board their ships just a little bit heavier and a whole lot tougher thanks to a Marine Armor Installation Team from Motor Transport Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, here.
The MAIT Marines from Motor Transport Maintenance Company are in the process of outfitting most of 11th MEU vehicles with new Marine Armor Kits. These armor kits are designed to provide increased protection against attacks from insurgents using improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades, according to WO Caine O. Howard, platoon commander, 1st Platoon, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st FSSG.
According to Howard, humvees, seven-ton trucks and other logistical and tactical vehicles are being fortified with the MAK's. The doors will be armored and steel plates will be added along the floorboards to provide greater protection from IEDs detonated from underneath the vehicle. Marines riding in vehicles without the latest armor had been using sandbags and free-floating steel plates as protection.
Other improvements include armor plates in the rear tire wells, and the addition of steel side panels designed to protect passengers riding in the cargo area of "high-back" humvees and seven-ton trucks, said Howard. Other protective features include ballistic windshields, windows and armored roofs, said Howard.
"Without the up-armor," said Howard, the vehicles and passengers are susceptible to IEDs and RPG attacks, he said. "Simply put, this armor will save lives," he said, emphasizing the critical nature of the work being performed by his Marines.
One Marine who understands the importance of his job is Sgt. James K. Donnelly, motor transport maintenance chief, Motor Transport Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st FSSG.
Donnelly said that while conducting quality control inspections during his last deployment in Iraq he witnessed the gory and sickening aftermath of IED and RPG attacks. "I've had to clean blood stains and remove body parts from vehicles," said Donnelly. The vehicles without armor were ripped apart and shredded. "They looked like blown-up Coke cans," he said.
Donnelly said that when he compared the damage done to those retrofitted vehicles that came back, "it was like night and day," said Donnelly. "This armor is going to offer more protection for the Marines," he said.
According to Donnelly, the MAKs do come with some minor drawbacks, however. Donnelly said most drivers will notice a loss of acceleration and a decrease in fuel efficiency do to the added weight. Also, since each up-armored vehicle will receive a new suspension system, the vehicle will handle differently, so drivers will have to get reacquainted with their vehicles, he said.
Despite the disadvantages, Donnelly said the life-saving benefit of the added armor, greatly outweighs the drawbacks of decreased performance.
According to Howard, there are currently 96 Marines rushing to get the vehicles armored in time for the MEU's scheduled deployment. They are working three 9-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, for six days a week, said Howard. It will take his Marines about a month to up-armor all of the MEU vehicles, he said.
Although the maintenance Marines are working long and unusual hours to accomplish their mission, they wouldn't have it any other way, said CWO3 Benino Guerrero, Motor Transport Maintenance Company commander, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st FSSG.
"These Marines go that extra mile. They know how important their job is," said Guerrero. "There are a lot of emails that go around with pictures showing vehicles that have been hit with IED's and smiling Marine survivors standing beside those vehicles," said Guerrero.
Cpl. Barney A. Arndt, motor transport mechanic, Motor Transport Maintenance Company, 1st FSSG, has seen those emails and photos and he said the long hours he works "are no big deal."
"It's a good feeling," said Arndt, knowing he is installing armor kits that will one day probably save the lives of some of his fellow Marines.