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Armored ambulance newest addition to MRAP family

By Spc. Angel D. Martinez

Although attacks in Iraq have decreased significantly over the past six months, the Department of Defense has remained steadfast in improving the protection and capabilities of military vehicles in Iraq and keeping Soldiers' safety the top priority.

The new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Heavy Armored Ground Ambulance proves no different and has made its way to Iraq.

The medical sections from 610th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division; 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and the 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, received the larger and medically modified version of the MRAP vehicle, the HAGA.

(Right to left) Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Dr. S. Ward Casscells, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., the chief of the Navy Medical Corps, watch while a representative from BAE Systems Land & Armaments, the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Heavy Armored Ground Ambulance's manufacturer, shows removable parts of the HAGA in a brief demonstration of the vehicle capabilities at Camp Liberty, Iraq Jan. 10. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel D. Martinez, 113th MPAD)

HAGA operators received a five-day training course teaching Soldiers how to operate and maintain the ambulances prior to them being issued to the units, said Killeen, Texas native, Capt. Jason Hauk, evacuation plans officer for the Division Surgeon Section, Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division..

BAE Systems Land & Armaments manufactured the vehicle, and sent company representatives to give Soldiers additional training and familiarize them with the medical equipment within the vehicle.

The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Heavy Armored Ground Ambulance is the newest vehicle in a new fleet of MRAP being fielded into Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel D. Martinez, 113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

After the five days of training were over, the BAE representatives left to train other Soldiers within the Middle East on the HAGAs medical capabilities, said Hauk. A month later they will return with notes of what the units did and did not like.

As a graduation gift, on the last day of training, operators were given the opportunity to drive the new vehicles to their units to officially introduce it to their fellow Soldiers.

"The new ambulance is heavier and better protected than previous military ambulances," said Pinola, Miss., native, Sgt. 1st Class Torshal Williams, the medical noncommissioned officer for the Division Surgeon Section, Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Heavy Armored Ground Ambulance is the newest vehicle in a new fleet of MRAP being fielded into Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel D. Martinez, 113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

"It's a great patient carrier ... it protects the patients from further injury better."

Medical supply areas and medical instruments have been built into the HAGA to ensure medical personnel always have what they need, when they need it.

"With the old (ambulances) we had to carry an (electrocardiograph machine) with us in a little suit case, but now it's attached," said Williams. "You can pull it out to use if you need to go out side, but hopefully we won't have to."

The HAGA also has more storage capacity for medicine, oxygen tanks and other medical equipment, said Williams. As well as state of the art exterior and interior lighting systems, four headsets for internal communication and a hydraulic litter system.

Three HAGAs have been fielded to Multi-National Division - Baghdad, and between January and April of this year an additional 112 HAGAs are expected to make their way into Iraq.