4th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment “Dark Horse,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team puts the AMPV thru its paces...

via Ft Hood Press Release.

1st Cavalry Division Soldiers here completed a two-month program field testing the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Sept. 24.

4th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment “Dark Horse,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team teamed up with the U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC); the Army’s only independent operational test organization.

The Army’s primary armored fighting force is the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). The AMPV would replace 13 variants of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier family of vehicles, which have been in service since the Vietnam-era.

AMPV variants tested are: Medical Treatment, Ambulance, General Purpose, Mortar Carriers, and Mission Command.

“USAOTC allows the Army to have an independent evaluator for equipment that is being tested,” said Maj. Jed Zaffke, a test officer with USAOTC’s Maneuver Test Directorate’s mounted test division. “We’re able to provide feedback to senior leaders to make decisions on that equipment which allows further progression of programs as they field and develop new equipment.”

Providing real-time data to developers is USAOTC’s shaping operation for the Army.

“USAOTC collects data on the material for doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, and education, personnel, facilities, and policy (DOTMLPF-P),” said Bill McKiernan, deputy director/supervisory senior test manager, Maneuver Test Directorate. 

“We’re the link between readiness and modernization. We get the Soldiers and design realistic combat scenarios in conjunction with unit and training developers to see how the system works with a real unit.” 

Wow.

Impressive.  The Army is doing with the AMPV what I want the Marine Corps to do with the ACV.  Of course this is a no brainer so its probably already planned...I'd just like to see it done yesterday.

Well done Army.  They're really hardcore on getting the AMPV into service it seems.