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JET Airmen distribute HMMWVs to Iraqi forces

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Dilia Ayala
  • 332nd AEW Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq --  Working hand-in-hand, Joint Expeditionary Tasking (JET) Airmen and Soldiers here are working to arm Iraqi forces with more protective means of transportation.

As U.S. forces change over to the M1151 HMMWV, they turn in their older vehicles, the M1114, to the Taji Redistribution Property Assistance Team here as a means of salvaging the vehicles.

Overall, the team processes M1114 up-armored HMMWVs prior to distribution to Iraqi Army and Police.

"We receive M1114 (HMMVVs) from all over Iraq," said 1st Lt. Victoria Smith, 732nd Air Expeditionary Group JET Airman and RPAT officer-in-charge. "We are the central hub or depot point for the receiving and transferring of M114s over to the Iraqis."

The team then accounts for each vehicle turned in and performs an initial safety inspection, storing them until they are ready to be picked up for processing to the next staging point.

"We take these vehicles in from various companies, various battalions, whoever is in need of turning them in," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Dietz, RPAT yard boss and fellow JET Airman. "Instead of scrapping these vehicles, we use kind of like a recycling program.

"In turn, we continue to improve our relationship with the Iraqi government by selling these vehicles to the Iraqi government for a much lower price than they are standard," added the sergeant deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. "Then, the Iraqi government takes (the HMMWVs), does a little work to them and puts them out in their army and police force for better protection (of their forces) against IEDs, insurgents, things of that nature."

Once the M1114 HMMWVs are accounted for and have passed their initial inspection, U.S. Soldiers assist in turning the vehicles over to the Iraqis for the next step in the redistribution process. During a typical pick-up, 150 HMMWVs are taken to the next stage in the process.

"The Iraqi Army along with U.S. Soldiers come over to pick up the vehicles to take them to their next staging point," said Sergeant Dietz, a native of East Islip, N.Y. "We will transfer the M114 to MNSTC-I (Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq); they will in-turn sell it to the Iraqi (government)."

MNSTC-I is a command that is responsible for helping Iraq organize, train and equip its military and police forces and develop Iraqi security institutions capable of sustaining security with reduced Coalition involvement.

While in the hands of MNSTC-I personnel, the vehicles are repainted and any necessary maintenance is performed before they are turned over to Iraqi Soldiers and Police.

Assisting in the redistribution process, Iraqi Soldiers are excited to assist in taking the vehicles to MNSTC-I for processing, helping bring the HMMWVs one step closer to being distributed for use on their daily patrols.

"I am so thankful for these vehicles," said Hakem, an Iraqi Army private stationed here. "I'm proud to be a part of the process to get them to our Iraqi Soldiers and Police. These HMMWVs will help keep them safe."

As for them, the JET Airmen in the RPAT feel just as proud to be a part of the redistribution process in terms of what it means for the country.

"This process is really important," said Lieutenant Smith, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., deployed here from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. "It is important what we are doing in this country as far as helping rebuild the infrastructure ... (this will) help get Iraq back on its feet and get them to the point where they can provide everyday security on their own streets."

As Sergeant Dietz noted, "We are helping the nation stand on its own. It feels good."