Army gets 16 more Stryker medical vehicles

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Army gets 16 more Stryker medical vehicles
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 10, 2009 14:46:48 EST

The 3rd Infantry Division received 16 more Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEVs) at Fort Benning, Ga., Feb. 10, following an initial delivery of 14 last month. These are the first MEVs to go to a Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) instead of a Stryker brigade, service officials said.

The Army’s HBCTs will get more MEVs as well, Army and GD officials said.

The MEVs are slated to deploy to Iraq later this year. The division’s 3rd Brigade will use them for medical evacuation missions, said Army spokeswoman Elsie Jackson.

The 60-mph medical Strykers are built to keep up with other warfighting vehicles while carrying four litter patients or six walking patients, a General Dynamics official said. Their high roof allows medics to stand up and monitor equipment, do CPR or start an intravenous (IV) line.

“They are fast and extremely mobile,” the GD official said. “They provide a smooth, stable ride for casualties and medical personnel who are on their way to forward aid units or hospitals. These get the troops back quickly. They are equipped with the latest medical technologies available, so that wounded soldiers get back.”


Article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/army_021009_Stryker_021009/%2e