REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The initiatives of the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno, include a focus for the U.S. Army to build our partner nations' capabilities. This is an ongoing objective for the Security Assistance Enterprise and was recently demonstrated through the shipment of Humvees to the Jordan Armed Forces.
The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command manages the Army's Foreign Military Sales program for the Army Materiel Command. On Nov. 13, 50 M1165A1B3 HMMWVs, or High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, departed Charleston, S.C. en-route to Port Aqaba, Jordan. The shipment arrived Dec. 25.
Ron Stephens, a country program manager for Jordan in USASAC's CENTCOM regional directorate, said the vehicles will be used by the Jordan Armed Forces to support U.S.-led coalition operations.
Spare parts and other related accessory parts were shipped separately and arrived Jan. 5.
"A (contracted) field service representative from USASAC's New Cumberland office will travel to Jordan after both shipments arrive," Stephens said. "They will make sure all parts and accessories are put on the vehicles correctly."
Providing a complete process for our foreign partners from cradle to grave is important to USASAC and the Security Assistance Enterprise.
TACOM-Warren, an AMC Life Cycle Management Command, was in charge of meeting the requirements of the FMS case. The vehicles were modified in order to meet the specific needs of Jordan's Special Operations mission and to make them more practical for their environment, such as a larger gas tank for driving longer distances.
Richard Cadwell is a case manager from TACOM's Security Assistance Management Directorate. He coordinated with weapon systems managers and acquisition offices to fulfill Jordan's requests.
"I also monitor the program to ensure the customer receives the equipment, to include support equipment," he said.
The case also includes training on the vehicles for the JAF, which TACOM will conduct in the U.S.
"By the end of April, we will have given them the total package," Stephens added.
The 'total package' for a FMS case can include anything from materiel, facilities, training, publications, technical documents and maintenance support. Shortly after the vehicles were shipped to Jordan, an additional vessel left with the necessary spare parts and other accessory parts for the vehicles that will arrive in mid-January, according to Stephens.
TACOM's Quality Assurance Team inspected the vehicles before they were shipped from South Carolina and will de-process them once they arrive in Jordan. Stephens said the QAT is responsible for guaranteeing all of the materiel and parts that were ordered arrive and are intact.
"The QAT is for the foreign country's benefit, to ensure they are getting what they ordered," Stephens said.
By providing this type of equipment and services to foreign countries, through the FMS program, partner capability is improved and allows those countries to support U.S.-led operations. This in turn makes U.S. troops available for other missions.
"The U.S. sells these systems, along with others, to allow for interoperability with U.S. forces and others that utilize U.S. military equipment," Cadwell said.
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