The US Air Force has carried out its inaugural operational mission with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) for nuclear launch facility maintenance in Harrisburg, Nebraska.
JLTVs serve as effective assets for safety and protection across the US military. The US Army and Marine Corps operate the truck for different missions.
The vehicle was introduced as part of US Air Force Global Strike Command efforts to modernize its capabilities and protect the country’s nuclear arsenal.
It will eventually replace the service’s aging Humvee.
During the recent trial, the air force’s 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron (MSFS) maintenance support team drove the JLTVs.
“It is built like a tank. When you climb into the Humvee, you are stepping back in time 20 years. The JLTV is like driving the Batmobile into the future to better defend our nation,” squadron Senior Airman Zion Hill stated.
Adjusting to the JLTV
The JLTV’s complexity requires much practice to gain maneuvering skill, the US Air Force said.
The training program for the vehicle requires 40 hours of sessions consisting of hands-on familiarization, classroom training, and driving.
Airmen who have completed the upskilling will drive the JLTVs around the complex for a couple of weeks once it is rolled out for general use.
Meanwhile, Humvee drivers continue to adjust to the new trucks. “Many of the defenders who will operate the vehicle were born after the UAHMMWV entered service and are anxious to take advantage of all the new capabilities,” 90th MSFS Commander Lt. Col. William Brokaw said.
“It is a night and day difference. When you climb inside a Humvee you are walking into a historical box,” 90th MSFS Logistics and Sustainment Officer 1st Lt. Joseph Struzik explained.
“You will see old analog gauges, a classic steering wheel, a center console with a radio. Whereas, the JLTV gives defenders a better tool to perform their nuclear security duties.”