Strykers Arrive at Erie Armory

Two very large army vehicles were headed down Interstate 79 afternoon en route to the Erie Armory. The Strykers are called Medical Evacuation Vehicles, or MEVs, and they are the first two of many Strykers expected to arrive this summer at the Erie Armory. The 56th brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard is the only reserve component unit in the country to be authorized fielding of these vehicles. The 1st Battalion of the 112th infantry combat team has been undergoing a year long training program for the new 19 ton, eight wheel combat vehicles. Climbing up steps and across two foot trenches are just of few of these monsters capabilities and theyre equipped with an advanced GPS system, internet and drivers video enhanced system. Soldiers agree, the most important aspect of the Strykers is they help save lives as they provide advance trauma and lifesaving equipment for emergency evacuation from the battlefield. "It allows us to get into the combat zone and apply combat power where it needs to go on the battlefield, theyre very well protected, the survivability is very high." "These things, theyre so easy to load patients in and out of and theres so much more room then in a humvee they really are the best vehicle I think for the situation in Iraq." The MEVs will eventually be headed down to the brand new Stryker headquarters in Cambridge Springs which is well underway. Officials say the future of the Erie Armory is uncertain at this point.