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The Interim Armored Vehicle ( IAV ), previously known as the Medium Armored Vehicle ( MAV ), was a U.S. Army armored fighting vehicle acquisition program. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and General Motors Defense proposed a vehicle based on the LAV III . The Army selected the LAV III proposal over three other submissions. The LAV III was renamed Stryker .

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84-556: In a June 1999 communique, U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki said "our heavy forces are too heavy and our light forces lack staying power." He called for heavy units to be "more strategically deployable, and more agile with a smaller footprint, and light forces must be more lethal, survivable, and tactically mobile." In remarks at Association of the United States Army meeting in October, Shinseki laid out his vision for

168-585: A TOW missile system . This was modified to fire TOW II missiles from the M2A1 model onward. M2 infantry Bradleys have firing ports for M231 Firing Port Weapons (FPWs), providing a means for the occupants to fire from within the vehicle and replacing the top-side gunners on the M113-based Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles, although the M231 is rarely employed. Initial variants had six ports, but

252-632: A shirt-sleeve environment until the passengers dismounted. After that they could not repressurize without fear of contamination, but they could plug their suits into the vehicle's filtration system. The vehicle was 9 ft (2.7 m) high, 20 ft (6.1 m) long, and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide. The rising costs of the Vietnam War left less money to go around in the Pentagon's procurement budget. The XM701 project had several technical shortcomings. It had poor mobility relative to upcoming designs such as

336-647: A 20 mm autocannon, relatively strong steel armor, and full CBR protection. The U.S. Army rejected it due to it not being amphibious, too large and heavy for air transport, and too expensive. The MICV program continued on, and in 1972, the Army solicited proposals for the MICV. In November 1972, the Army awarded FMC a contract to develop the XM723. This vehicle was similar to the XM765, but had improved armor and speed. It shared components with

420-552: A 360° view outside, and an improved fire extinguisher system. This system was supposed to enter service in 2012, but the Bradley became too heavy and the kit did not make it survivable enough. A newer BUSK III kit is now available for Bradleys incorporating a blastproof fuel cell, a blast-resistant driver seat, a turret survivability system, and an emergency ramp release. This kit was recently installed on 236 M2A3 Bradleys in South Korea and

504-542: A M2 Bradley had killed Russian infantrymen during fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region. She further claimed that using TOW missiles the M2 Bradley was able to destroy two Russian T-72 tanks. The Bradley was assigned to the 47th Mechanized Brigade . These claims could not be independently verified. On 12 January 2024, video emerged of a pair of Ukrainian M2A2 Bradleys from the 47th Mechanized Brigade engaging and disabling

588-664: A Russian T-90M tank at close range with their autocannons in Stepove , Ukraine. As of 20 October 2024, 105 of the donated Bradleys had been confirmed destroyed, damaged, abandoned or captured (50 destroyed, 25 damaged, 26 damaged and abandoned, 4 captured) by the Dutch open-source intelligence website Oryx . U.S. Army began efforts to replace the Bradley in the mid-1980s under the Armored Systems Modernization program. The Army studied creating several vehicle variants under

672-669: A boy, Shinseki learned that three of his uncles had served in the 442nd Infantry Regiment , a unit of Japanese Americans that became one of the most decorated fighting units in United States history. Motivated by his uncles' example, he attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant . He earned a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Duke University in 1974. He

756-453: A challenge to the contract award, forcing the Army to issue a stop-work order. In its protest, UDLP said its vehicles would be ready one to two years earlier at about half the cost of GM-GDLS's proposal. UDLP also alleged that Army officials had unfairly aided GM-GDLS's proposal by permitting the company to substitute its Stryker ATGM variant for the MGS variant due to a two-year schedule slippage in

840-551: A common heavy chassis to replace main battle tanks and Bradleys. This effort was canceled in 1992 due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The U.S. Army began the Future Combat Systems (FCS) Manned Ground Vehicles program in 1999. This family of 18-ton lightweight tracked vehicles centered around a common chassis. It would consist of eight variants, including infantry carriers, scouting vehicles and main battle tanks. FCS

924-586: A director for several corporations: Honeywell International and Ducommun , military contractors; Grove Farm Corporation; First Hawaiian Bank ; and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America . He is a member of the Advisory Boards at the Center for Public Leadership , John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University , and to the U.S. Comptroller General . He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations ,

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1008-446: A finned depleted uranium penetrator similar in concept to armor-piercing munitions used in modern tanks. The M919 was used in combat during the 2003 invasion phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom . An M240C medium machine gun is mounted coaxially to the M242 , with 2,200 rounds of 7.62×51mm ammunition. For engaging heavier targets, such as acting as an anti-tank gun, the Bradley carries

1092-546: A flotation curtain around the vehicle, allowing it to "swim" at a speed of 4.5  mph (7.2  km/h ). Later armor upgrades have negated this capability. One of the early issues that drove the development of the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) was the need to have a vehicle that could serve in a high-intensity conflict in Europe, which was feared might include the use of nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC) type weapons . To work in such an environment, an IFV would have to have

1176-523: A heavy brigade at Fort Lewis , became the first to be converted into a Stryker Brigade beginning around March 2000. The U.S. Army outfitted the unit with LAV IIIs borrowed from Canada, which served as the main surrogate for the IAV. Others included the Lynx , TPz Fuchs , B1 Centauro and M113. In April 2000, the Army released its request for proposals for the IAV. Four teams submitted proposals: In its evaluations,

1260-483: A life support system that protected from outside contaminants, while allowing the soldiers to fight from inside the vehicle. The earliest specification, from 1958, called for a vehicle of no more than 8 tons, mounting a turret with a 20 mm autocannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun, with sealed firing ports for five infantry gunners. In December 1963, the Army Combat Developments Command studied

1344-452: A lighter, more transportable force. He called for a mid-weight unit that would strike a balance between heavy armor and infantry. Shinseki said such a unit would be especially capable for operations short of war . The Army was to do this by investing in an interim fleet that would herald the way to a much more advanced subsequent generation of vehicles (later called Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles ). Shinseki said one of his goals

1428-571: A program he designed, Future Combat Systems . One other controversial plan that Shinseki implemented was the wearing of the black beret for all army personnel. Prior to Shinseki implementing this policy, only the United States Army Rangers could wear the black beret . When the black beret was given to all soldiers and officers, the Rangers moved to the tan beret . Shinseki publicly clashed with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during

1512-582: A series of " overmatch " tests in which weapons would be fired at the Bradley that were known to be able to easily penetrate its armor, including Russian ordnance. Burton saw attempts to avoid such tests as dishonest, while the BRL saw them as wasteful, as they already knew the vehicle would fail. The disagreements became so contentious that testing was suspended, while a congressional inquiry resulted. Additional improvements to vehicle survivability were added to production vehicles by 1988. Though Burton's actions accelerated

1596-475: A single fleet would simplify maintenance and allow units to "move as a fighting unit." At the same time as the contract award, the Army announced a 16-month schedule slip due to additional development work required on the MGS and fire support vehicle. The NBC vehicle also required additional integration work. The schedule slippage displeased Shinseki, who pressed GM–GDLS to hasten their work. In December 2000, UDPL filed

1680-515: Is a retired United States Army general who served as the seventh United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–2014) and the 34th Chief of Staff of the Army (1999–2003). Shinseki is a veteran of two tours of combat in the Vietnam War , in which he was awarded three Bronze Star Medals for valor and two Purple Hearts . He was the first Asian-American four-star general , and the first Asian-American Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Shinseki

1764-558: Is a single-barrel chain gun with an integrated dual-feed mechanism and remote feed selection. The cannon carries 300 rounds of ammunition in two ready boxes (one of 70 rounds, the other of 230 rounds), with an extra 600 rounds in storage for the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant or 1,200 stowed rounds for the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle variant. The two ready-boxes allow a selectable mix of rounds, such as

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1848-494: Is an upgrade similar to the M1 Abrams TUSK kit. It decreases the vulnerability of Bradleys in urban environments. The kit includes a more powerful spotlight, a wire mesh protector to keep the optics from getting scratched, and nonconductive arched strips of nylon that push away fallen electrical wires (power line protection) that would endanger crews, additional armor on the underside, and a bullet-resistant transparent shield for

1932-417: Is armed with a TOW missile launcher capable of carrying two loaded missiles. The missiles, capable of destroying most tanks to a maximum range of 13,000 ft (4,000 m), can only be fired while the vehicle is stationary. The Bradley carries a coaxial 7.62 mm medium machine gun to the right of the chain gun. The Bradley is equipped with the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster as its main weapon. The M242

2016-606: Is named for U.S. General Omar Bradley . The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles . Variants include the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 Bradley reconnaissance vehicle . The M2 holds a crew of three—a commander, a gunner and a driver—along with six fully equipped soldiers. The M3 mainly conducts scout missions and carries two scout troopers in addition to

2100-470: Is scheduled next to be added to Bradleys of the 4th Infantry Division. As of late July 2023, Ukrainian Bradleys have been fitted with BUSK upgraded armor and Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles. The Bradley is highly capable in cross-country open terrain, in accordance with one of the main design objectives of keeping pace with the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The Bradley was initially designed to float by deploying

2184-489: Is the highest-ranked Japanese American to have served in the United States Armed Forces. During his tenure as Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki initiated an innovative but controversial plan to make the army more strategically deployable and mobile in urban terrain by creating Stryker Interim-Force Brigade Combat Teams . He conceived a long-term strategic plan for the army dubbed "Objective Force", which included

2268-693: The Atlantic Council of the United States, and the Association of the United States Army . On December 7, 2008, then- President-elect Barack Obama announced at a press conference in Chicago that he would nominate Shinseki to become the Secretary of Veterans Affairs . Shinseki was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 2009, and sworn in the next day. In May 2014, Shinseki

2352-469: The Cabinet of the United States . In an interview with retired General Peter W. Chiarelli , journalist Robert Siegel described the situation as "a case of a very, very good man who's run up against some pretty terrible problems in his job," to which Chiarelli responded, "I don't look up to any man more than I look up to Eric Shinseki." Shinseki is married to his high school sweetheart , Patricia; they are

2436-512: The LVTP-7 rather than the M113. FMC began construction of the XM723 prototype, which was completed in 1973. The XM723 weighed 21 tons, had spaced aluminum armor proofed against 14.5 mm fire, had a crew of three plus eight infantry, firing ports for the infantry, and a one-man turret with a 20 mm gun. The commander sat inside the hull. To adapt the XM723 to a reconnaissance role, as well as an IFV,

2520-520: The M1 Abrams . A few kills against Iraqi T-72 tanks at close range are reported. A total of 20 Bradleys were lost—three by enemy fire and 17 due to friendly fire incidents. Another 12 were damaged. The gunner of one Bradley was killed when his vehicle was hit by Iraqi fire, possibly from an Iraqi BMP-1 , during the Battle of 73 Easting . To remedy some problems that were identified as contributing factors in

2604-567: The M777 howitzer . Planned buys as of December 2000: In 2000, the Army studied the differences between light, medium (interim) and heavy brigade combat teams. It concluded that medium brigades equipped with LAVs would cost 40 percent less to operate than heavy brigades. LAVs were expected to go at least 1000 mean miles between failures, compared to 654 for heavy brigades. Medium brigades were expected to move more quickly and provide greater survivability and firepower than light brigades. In September 2002,

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2688-610: The Mobile Tactical Vehicle Light and the M8 Armored Gun System . Commonality between vehicles was seen as a desired, but not essential characteristic. As of February 2000, the Army believed that most of the Medium Armored Vehicle variants would be based on the infantry carrier vehicle variant. The mobile gun system (MGS) and howitzer variants would be permitted to share less commonality. In March 2000,

2772-447: The Vietnam War . During one of those tours while serving as a forward artillery observer, he stepped on a land mine , which blew the front off one of his feet; after spending almost a year recovering from his injuries, he returned to active duty in 1971. Shinseki has served at Schofield Barracks, Hawai'i , with Headquarters, United States Army Hawaii , and Fort Shafter with Headquarters, United States Army Pacific . He has taught at

2856-531: The 1973 Yom Kippur war . The added political advantage was that the TOW missiles made it an easier sell to Congress, as it was a new capability not possessed by the M113. General Donn Starry wrote: We in TRADOC… decided to put the TOW on the MICV because we realized that if we did not put the TOW on the MICV, we would probably never have a MICV. In October 1976, the Army accepted a number of recommendations put forward by

2940-556: The Aberdeen Proving Ground's Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL), which preferred smaller, more controlled, "building block" tests. They claimed such limited, and according to Burton, completely unrealistic, testing would improve the databases used to model vehicle survivability, as opposed to full tests with random shots that would provide a far more accurate picture of its performance under real battlefield conditions, but produce less useful statistical data. Burton insisted on

3024-696: The Army conducted a congressionally mandated side-by-side testing of the M113A3 and the Stryker. Stryker crews operated more effectively in the Stryker. Interior space was less restricted in the Stryker. The quieter ride allowed crews to hold conversations and plan missions. Stryker drivers could sustain longer operations than M113 drivers, who could receive hearing damage after just five hours of continuous operations. Eric Shinseki Eric Ken Shinseki ( / ʃ ɪ n ˈ s ɛ k i / ; Japanese : 新関 健 , romanized :  Shinseki Ken , born November 28, 1942)

3108-428: The Army confirmed it would award up to two contracts. In February, Major General John Caldwell had said the Army would only award one contract, rather than splitting the contract among two winners. In April, Shinseki said the Army had no preference of wheeled versus tracks but said "management could be pretty challenging," if both wheeled and tracked options were chosen. The 3rd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division ,

3192-438: The Army noted that it found neither the wheeled nor the tracked candidates to have any definitive edge over the other. All else being equal, wheeled vehicles generally have less internal volume. However, the Army found the wheeled submissions had adequate space for its requirements. No significant differences in weight or mobility over terrain were seen. In November 2000, the Army awarded the IAV contract to GM-GDLS. At $ 4 billion,

3276-484: The Bradley additional problems occurred after production started. Air Force Col. James G. Burton , an Office of the Secretary of Defense official, advocated the use of comprehensive live fire tests on fully loaded military vehicles to evaluate their survivability. The Army and Air Force agreed and established the joint live fire testing program in 1984. When testing the Bradley, disagreements occurred between Burton and

3360-415: The Bradley in 1989 and began importing the vehicle in 1990. Bradley production concluded in 1995, with a total of 6,724 Bradleys (4,641 M2s and 2,083 M3s) produced for the U.S. Army. The total cost of the program was $ 5.7 billion, and the average unit cost $ 3.2 million. This was despite an unmet requirement by the U.S. Army for 8,709 Bradleys as of 1992. Remanufacture of A0 variants to A2 standard began at

3444-522: The M107 and M110 self-propelled howitzers. The prototypes had the following characteristics: a weight of 25–27 tons, depending on an aluminum or steel hull; a 425 hp diesel engine; a two-man turret with a 20 mm gun; a crew of three plus nine infantry equipped with firing ports; a built-in toilet; armor that was proof against Soviet 14.5 mm MG fire beyond a certain range; a collective and overpressure CBR system; amphibious. The filtration system provided

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3528-612: The M2/3 IFV. Their conclusion was that extensive redesign would be necessary for even marginal improvements in M113 derivatives. In October 1978, Congress reauthorized procurement funds. FMC delivered eight XM2 prototypes to the Army beginning in December 1978 and progressing through March 1979. The XM2/3 passed the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council Milestone III review in 1979. In December 1979,

3612-586: The M791 APDS-T (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (with) Tracer) and M792 HEI-T (High Explosive Incendiary (with) Tracer) rounds. The tungsten APDS-T rounds proved effective in Desert Storm , capable of knocking out many Iraqi vehicles, including several T-55 tanks. Subsequent ammunition developments resulted in the M919 APFSDS-T ( armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (with) tracer ) round containing

3696-522: The MBT-70, and it could not be carried aboard a C-141 Starlifter . The project was canceled, and new specifications were written in 1965. In 1967, the public display of the BMP-1 caused additional interest in the MICV program, which concluded its studies in 1968. Continued disagreements on specifications slowed down development. In 1968, an Army task force headed by Major General George Casey recommended that

3780-462: The MICV Task Force formed earlier that year. The Army would combine the roles of scout and IFV, as the previous Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle had been canceled. The Army agreed to make the armor protection comparable to the XM723. The TBAT-II turret with its 25 mm cannon and a TOW-missile launcher in the two-man turret would be used for the both vehicles. In 1977, the MICV was renamed

3864-576: The OMB deleted M2/3 funding from the budget for the 1979 financial year. In 1978, the Crizer report asserted that the basic design was consistent with doctrine, and that development of an IFV with superior characteristics would be costly and pose significant developmental risks. An additional study, the IFV/CFV Special Study Group, evaluated whether an improved version of the M113 could be used instead of

3948-471: The Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles. The Bradley was meant to serve as an armored personnel carrier and a tank-killer. One design requirement specified that it should be as fast as the M1 Abrams main battle tank, so the vehicles could maintain formation. The M2/M3's primary armament is a 25 mm chain gun using either 100 or 300 rounds per minute, accurate to 1.9 mi (3,000 metres). It

4032-628: The U.S. Military Academy's Department of English. During duty with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss , Texas , he served as the regimental adjutant and as the executive officer of its 1st Squadron. Shinseki's ten-plus years of service in Europe included assignments as Commander, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry , 3rd Infantry Division ( Schweinfurt ); Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division ( Kitzingen ); Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, 3rd Infantry Division (Operations, Plans and Training) (Würzburg); and Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 3rd Infantry Division (Schweinfurt). The 3rd Division

4116-557: The U.S. and West German governments began work on the MBT-70 main battle tank design and an IFV companion project called MICV-65 , Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. In 1964, the Army solicited bids for the MICV-65, awarding the contract for the Pacific Car and Foundry Company . The first XM701 prototype was delivered in 1965 and testing was completed in 1966. The XM701 shared components with

4200-555: The XM2 and XM3 were type classified as the M2 and M3 respectively. Final approval for production came from the Secretary of Defense in February 1980. In October 1981 the vehicle was named the "Bradley" for World War II Army General Omar Bradley , who had died earlier that year. The Bradley consists of two types of vehicles, the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. The M3 CFV

4284-696: The XM2. The scout version became the XM3. These comprised the two variants of the Fighting Vehicle System. A third variant, called the General Support Rocket System, which later entered production as the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System , was added to the portfolio in 1977. Congress was questioning the development of the XM2 due to the high losses incurred by Soviet built BMP-1s in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Congress suggested

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4368-426: The commander outside the turret. It includes sensors and a software package to quickly detect when components are wearing out, and simulation software so gunners can train more realistically. The BUSK kit adds 3 tons to the vehicle's weight. Because of this, a major upgrade was planned. Additional upgrades included a stronger, 800 horsepower engine, a larger main gun, lighter armor, improved sensors and cameras to give

4452-604: The concept for a "Post 1965 Infantry Combat Vehicle", later the MICV. In the interim, the Army planned upgrades to the M113 that would bridge the gap to the MICV. One such upgrade was the XM734 which added firing ports. The .50 caliber machine gun was replaced with a twin machine gun cupola or an M139 20 mm autocannon. This test bed saw limited service in Vietnam, from 1967 to 1972, where it received positive feedback from troops. In 1963,

4536-645: The deal was the largest combat vehicle purchase since the Bradley Fighting Vehicle program in 1980. In its decision, the Army cited the LAV's greater mobility, particularly its high speed on paved roads. The Army was also impressed by the LAV's armor which, in its baseline configuration, could resist 14.5 mm rounds. The service rejected a split buy of the M8 AGS offered by UDPL, citing the system's lower top speed and different maintenance requirements. The service said

4620-698: The development of a more heavily armored vehicle. The Army argued against this due to concerns about cost, weight, and development time. In 1977, Congress ordered two new evaluations of the IFV program, one by the Government Accounting Office (GAO) and one by the Department of the Army , under General Pat Crizer. The GAO report released in early 1978 was critical of the XM2's height, mobility, complexity, lack of clear doctrinal use, and lack of chemical/biological/radiological protection. Based upon this criticism,

4704-610: The figure being proposed by Secretary Rumsfeld in his invasion plan, and it was rejected in strong language by both Rumsfeld and his Deputy Secretary of Defense , Paul Wolfowitz , who was another chief planner of the invasion and occupation. From then on, Shinseki's influence on the Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly waned. Critics of the Bush administration alleged that Shinseki was forced into early retirement as Army Chief of Staff because of his comments on troop levels; however, his retirement

4788-507: The friendly fire incidents, infrared identification panels and other marking/identification measures were added to the Bradleys. In the Iraq War, the Bradley proved vulnerable to improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade attacks, but casualties were light with the crew able to escape. In 2006, total losses included 55 Bradleys destroyed and some 700 others damaged. By the end of

4872-451: The implementation of these changes, the changes themselves were almost wholly the work of the BRL. Burton was ordered to transfer from his post at OSD, prompting yet more congressional scrutiny. Burton retired from the Air Force rather than accept the new post. The House Armed Services Committee found that Burton's claims of malfeasance were rather due to "a long-standing fundamental disagreement over testing methodology and, more importantly,

4956-451: The inability of OSD and the Army to reach an agreement on how the test is conducted. ...The Army has complied with many of Colonel Burton's issues of concern over the past several years." In 1993, Burton released his book The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old Guard . The book was adapted into the black comedy film The Pentagon Wars in 1998. During the Persian Gulf War , M2 Bradleys destroyed more Iraqi armored vehicles than

5040-407: The interim fleet. The technology for Shinseki's desired force was not expected to be ready until beyond 2010. In the interim, Shinseki sought to bring a prototype unit, using commercial off-the-shelf technologies, online by the end of the fiscal year. The Army conducted a Platform Performance Demonstration at Fort Knox in January 2000. The demonstration was intended to inform the Army about what

5124-404: The lack of integrity among some leaders in veterans healthcare facilities: "That breach of integrity is irresponsible, it is indefensible, and unacceptable to me." He said he could not defend what happened because it was indefensible, but he could take responsibility for it and he would. Shinseki's resignation meant that 2014 was the first time since 2000 that there had not been an Asian American in

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5208-420: The last Vietnam War veteran to hold the post. Shinseki retired on June 11, 2003, at the end of his four-year term. His Farewell Memo contained some of his ideas regarding the future of the military. At that time, General Shinseki retired from the Army after 38 years of military service. As of 2009 , Shinseki was the highest-ranked Asian American in the history of the United States. Additionally, as of 2004, he

5292-634: The latter. The GAO denied UDLP's protest of the award in April 2001. In February 2002, the Army formally renamed the IAV as the "Stryker" after two unrelated U.S. soldiers who posthumously received the Medal of Honor : Private First Class Stuart S. Stryker , who died in World War II , and Specialist Four Robert F. Stryker , who died in the Vietnam War . Army officials proposed a self-propelled howitzer IAV variant. Officials later tabled this idea as this variant would require considerable technological risk and expense. The service settled on M198 howitzer for its artillery requirement, later to be replaced by

5376-441: The parents of two children, Lori and Ken. He also has seven grandchildren. Shinseki was awarded the following medals, ribbons, badges, and tabs: # denotes acting secretary Bradley Fighting Vehicle The Bradley Fighting Vehicle ( BFV ) is a tracked armored fighting vehicle of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and now manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments , formerly United Defense . It

5460-415: The planning of the war in Iraq over how many troops the United States would need to keep in Iraq for the postwar occupation of that country. As Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki testified to the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services on February 25, 2003, that "something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would probably be required for postwar Iraq. This was an estimate far higher than

5544-456: The production line in May 1980. The Army accepted delivery of the first production vehicles in May 1981. The first combat unit to be equipped with Bradleys (four M2s and six M3s), in March 1983, was the 1st Battalion, 41st (Mechanized) Infantry, 2nd Armored Division. Several years later, the unit commander, Lt. Col. Franklin W. Trapnell, Jr., became the Army's system manager for the Bradley program. Saudi Arabia stated an interest in acquiring

5628-400: The regular crew of three, with space for additional BGM-71 TOW missiles. In 2014, the U.S. Army selected BAE Systems ' Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) proposal of a turretless variant of the Bradley to replace over 2,800 M113 armored personnel carriers . Some 2,907 surplus Bradleys will be modified to become AMPVs for the U.S. Army. The Bradley was developed largely in response to

5712-416: The same time. As of 2017, 2,907 Bradleys are slated to be modified to become Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles for the U.S. Army. 1,600 to 2,000 older Bradleys remain in Army depots as of 2017. Some of these Bradleys will be taken from these stocks. The Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas, is responsible for maintenance and repair of the Bradley system. Even after the troubled development history of

5796-444: The service once again pursue the development of an MICV. The Army opened a new program manager's office later in 1968. From 1969 to 1970, the Army looked at two alternate vehicles that could be fielded more quickly. The FMC Corporation had developed the XM765 Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle , an IFV version of the M113A1. It had a one-man turret mounting a 25 mm gun, a sealed environment, and firing ports. The vehicle weight

5880-430: The side ports were plated over with the armor configuration on the A2 and A3 variants, leaving only the two rear-facing mounts in the loading ramp. No versions of the M3 CFV carry firing port weapons. Early versions had all six firing port mounts fitted and plated over. Newer versions retain the two ramp-mounted firing ports, though plated over. The use of aluminum armor and the storage of large quantities of ammunition in

5964-403: The turret was replaced in 1976 with a two-man turret mounting a 25 mm Bushmaster cannon and TOW missiles. This was the TBAT-II (Tow Bushmaster Armored Turret, Two Man) design. A two-man turret design put the commander in a position with a better view of the battlefield. The TOW missiles give the vehicle a strong antiarmor capability. The value of anti-tank missiles had been well established in

6048-476: The vehicle initially raised questions about its combat survivability. Spaced laminate belts and high-hardness steel skirts have been added to improve the side protection of later versions, while overall weight was increased to 33 tons. All versions are equipped with two four-barreled smoke grenade launchers on the front of the turret for creating defensive smoke screens , which can also be loaded with chaff and flares . The Bradley Urban Survival Kit (BUSK)

6132-670: The war, about 150 Bradleys had been destroyed. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine , the US donated about 190 Bradleys to Ukraine's armed forces. Ukraine's first documented use of Bradleys occurred in the Zaporizhzhia region after Ukraine launched its southern counteroffensive in June 2023. An early assault near Mala Tokmachka on June 8 was unsuccessful, and imagery showed that Ukraine lost at least 17 Bradleys of M2 variant. On 19 July, Hanna Maliar , Ukraine's deputy defense minister, claimed on Telegram that

6216-488: Was 15 tons. The upper sides of the vehicle were sloped and spaced steel armor plates were added to improve protection. Firing ports for the passengers were added and a M139 20 mm cannon was added to the commander's cupola. The U.S. Army rejected it due to limited mobility, which would have prevented it from keeping pace with the proposed MBT-70. The other alternate vehicle was the West German Marder , which mounted

6300-823: Was also educated at the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College , and the National War College of National Defense University . Shinseki served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the Continental United States and overseas, including two combat tours with the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions in the Republic of Vietnam as an artillery forward observer and as commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment during

6384-456: Was announced nearly a year before those comments. When the insurgency took hold in postwar Iraq, Shinseki's comments and their public rejection by the civilian leadership were often cited by those who felt the Bush administration deployed too few troops to Iraq. On November 15, 2006, in testimony before Congress, CENTCOM Commander General John Abizaid said that Shinseki had been correct that more troops were needed. Shinseki has served as

6468-797: Was available as well as assess each vehicle's adaptability to the new brigades and their potential for the insertion of new technology to improve its capabilities. Vehicles assessed included the Pandur the M1117 , the LAV III and LAV III assault gun variant , the Dragoon APC , the Bionix 25 , the LAV 300 Mark II, the 6x6 Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé , the TPz Fuchs , the GDLS Dragoon ,

6552-498: Was born in Lihue , Kauaʻi , in the then Territory of Hawaii , to an American family of Japanese ancestry . His grandparents emigrated from Hiroshima to Hawaii in 1901. He grew up in a sugarcane plantation community on Kaua'i and graduated from Kaua'i High and Intermediate School in 1960. While attending Kaua'i he was active in the Boy Scouts and served as class president . As

6636-465: Was canceled in 2009 due to budget cuts. In 2010, the Army began the Ground Combat Vehicle program to replace the M2 Bradley. Entries from BAE Systems and General Dynamics were selected for evaluation. Concerns grew around the vehicle's proposed weight of around 70 tons. The GCV was cancelled in 2014 due to sequestration budget cuts. The Army's Bradley replacement effort was restarted under

6720-605: Was embroiled in a scandal involving the Veterans Health Administration , which is a component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions involving substandard timely care and false records covering up related timelines had come to light, involving treatment of veterans in a number of veterans hospitals. On May 30, 2014, President Obama announced that he had accepted Shinseki's resignation as Secretary. Shinseki said he could not explain

6804-517: Was organized at that time as a heavy mechanized division. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations, Plans, and Training), VII Corps ( Stuttgart ). Shinseki served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, Allied Land Forces Southern Europe ( Verona ), an element of the Allied Forces Southern Europe . From March 1994 to July 1995, Shinseki commanded the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood , Texas. In July 1996, he

6888-499: Was originally planned to be named after General Jacob L. Devers , but it was decided the Bradley name would apply to both, since both vehicles are based on the same chassis. They differ in only some details. The M2 carries a crew of three and a six-man infantry squad . The M3 carries the crew of three and a two-man scout team and additional radios, the BGM-71 TOW and M47 Dragon or FGM-148 Javelin missiles. The first BFVs came off

6972-552: Was promoted to lieutenant general and became Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army. In June 1997, Shinseki was appointed to the rank of general before assuming duties as Commanding General, Seventh United States Army ; Commander, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; and Commander, NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina . Shinseki became the Army's 28th Vice Chief of Staff on November 24, 1998, then became its 34th Chief of Staff on June 22, 1999,

7056-447: Was to reduce the service's logistics footprint, which makes up 90 percent of its lift requirement. He expected to make this possible by building future fighting vehicles on a common chassis and using mutually compatible ammunition. He proposed that these vehicles be light enough for intra-theater airlift via C-130 . He expected that the generation of vehicles after its next fleet would be wheeled, which would be up to 70 percent lighter than

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