Fort Lee receives first M1 Abrams tank

FORT LEE, Va. (Army News Service, May 24, 2010) -- An Abrams tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle are the latest additions to the Ordnance School's combat vehicle inventory.

The two vehicles, technically the M1A1 and M2A3 models, respectively, were delivered to the Fort Lee schoolhouse May 13. Sgt. 1st Class Nawab Harden, chief instructor of the school's Turret Repair Division, said the two vehicles will be used as centerpieces for armament repair instruction. They are the first of more Abrams, Bradleys and Paladins howitzers scheduled for delivery.

"We're expecting a total of 22 vehicles - 19 from Aberdeen Proving Ground (Md.) and three from Fort Hood (Texas)," he said. Armament repairers, military occupational specialty 91K, is a consolidation of MOSs and is frequently referred to as a 'tank turret repairer.'"

Repairers are trained to maintain the Army and Marine Corps' various turret systems and "repair it fast and efficiently if it goes down," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Haddix, an instructor. The Turret Repair Division also received three Bradley mock-up turrets that will be used in the instruction.

"We're trying to save the military money," said Haddix. "The turrets are on stands and students can still traverse a turret just like it was on the vehicle itself."

When the armament repairer course reaches full capacity, more than 250 students will attend the course annually.

The Ordnance School received one other tracked vehicle, an M88 Recovery Vehicle, last year.

The school, still in the construction phase, was relocated to Fort Lee as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure mandate. It consolidated ordnance schools located at APG and Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

The Ordnance Corps consists of more than 30 military occupational specialties, and most will be taught at Fort Lee.