The Iowa National Guard is training soldiers from across the country on how to operate its new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Iowa Guard Sergeant First Class Bradley Meyer says the J-L-T-V takes over the duties that had been pushed onto the Humvee.
He says the Humvee was never originally intended to be a combat vehicle, but the J-L-T-V is designed specifically for that. One big improvement over the Humvee is the electronic systems.
Meyer says its designed to protect soldiers and that makes operating it a little different.
He says the J-L-T-V has a top rated speed of 76 miles an hour, which is unlike most other military vehicles.
Meyer says it has an adjustable suspension that increases the comfort of the soliders with a much smoother ride than other military trucks. Other features include cameras, an automatic fire extinguisher, and a heated windshield. The suspension system on the J-L-T-V that allows it to go from a very low stance to rise up higher, and in some versions can go through five feet of water. Meyer says it also has a drivetrain that can be synced up to get it out of some tough terrain.
Meyer says there are four different variants of the J-L-T-V from a general purpose model, to one that is only a two person capsule with a pickup bed on the back. Meyer says the training is also different for the J-L-T-V. They normally would train soldiers for several weeks on how to handle all types of vehicles. But he says the J-L-T-V training is one week straight and focuses solely on how to operate it.
