American Soldier Van Heads to DC

By Debi DawsonMay 9, 2007

The public will have a chance to see and touch some of the Army's latest and greatest gear as the American Soldier Adventure Van makes two stops in the Washington, DC area in May.

The van, a joint venture of the Army's Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier and the Accessions Command, highlights the Army's most technologically advanced equipment and celebrates the Soldier as the heart of the Army with interactive demonstrations, hands-on exhibits and video displays.

The van will be on the National Mall in Washington, DC for Public Service Recognition Week May 10-13, and will be part of a larger PEO Soldier display at the Joint Service Open House May 18-20 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (May 18 is for Department of Defense personnel only, with exhibits open to the public May 19 and 20.)

As the Army organization that produces everything the Soldier wears or carries, PEO Soldier ensures that Soldiers receive the best and most advanced equipment available. Visitors to the Adventure Van will be able to:

- Train like a Soldier with the interactive Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and Basic Skill Trainer -- Protected inside a replica HMMWV, you control the weapon and the mission as you navigate through a variety of action-packed scenarios.

- Prime for battle with the Marksmanship Training simulator -- Fire a replica M4 Carbine and an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon as you steer through a series of challenges from target practice to intense close combat.

- Get your hands on the atest and greatest Soldier equipment from Interceptor Body Armor and helmets to the new Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System -- See for yourself the latest gear that is enhancing Soldier lethality, survivability, and mobility on the battlefield.

- See, acquire, and target with the Sensor Technology station -- View a simulated battlefield scene where smoke, haze, and light conditions are no match for the Night Vision Devices and Thermal Weapon Sights. Even in the most extreme environments, you will see how our Soldiers own the night.

The van will be open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 10 and 11 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12 and 13.

At the Joint Services Open House, PEO Soldier will have a full hands-on display of equipment including dozens of examples of weapons, clothing, sensors, lasers, and other gear. Subject matter experts will be on hand to discuss the equipment and explain how PEO Soldier equips our troops with the gear they need, when and where they need it. By ensuring that each piece of equipment fits into the overall design and integrates fully with other equipment, PEO Soldier helps maintain the Army as the best equipped, best protected, and most lethal force in the world.

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