SLUNJ, CROATIA

05.20.2019

Story by Pvt. Laurie Ellen Schubert

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

Slunj, Croatia – During Immediate Response 19, U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) trained here with the new Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (AGMV).

“We were the first to receive them,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin Wigger, a maintenance technician for 1-503rd PIR. “We just received them maybe a month prior, and this is actually our first time implementing them into the field.”

The unit brought 13 of the new vehicles to Croatia for Immediate Response and immediately began training on sling and air load operations using CH-47 Chinook helicopters. 

Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces and U.S. Army Europe. The logistics-focused exercise is designed to test and improve the ability to move forces and equipment rapidly from one location to another. The exercise will improve readiness and interoperability among participating allied and partner nations.

“It is way better than a humvee when it comes to loading it on a plane and air- dropping,” Wigger said about the new AGMV.

. . . . . more at link below

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/323063/immediate-response-173rd-ibct-utilizes-agmv