European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 252007 stars and stripes Page the Marine corps Hopes to replace its Upa Mored humvee with mine resistant ambush protected vehicles the vehicles shaped Hull helps deflect explosions the maps Are designed from the ground up the ballistic photos Courtesy of the u s Marine Glass with gun ports allows the passengers to fight it Gen Wallace c Gregson us Marine forces insurgents ambush attempts without leaving the cab Pacific commanding general sits in an wrap marines award contract for map vehicles by Jeff Schogol stars and stripes Arlington a the Marine corps has awarded a con tract for 1000 vehicles designed to provide More Protection against Roadside bombs than humvee a Marine corps sys tems command spokesman said monday the contract is for mine Resis Tant ambush protected vehicles which Are larger and heavier than Upa Mored humvee and have shaped hulls designed to deflect bomb blasts under the million con tract the maps would be completed by May 2008 the spokes Man said the spokesman had no information monday when the vehicles Are expected to arrive in Iraq the contract with Force Protection industries in Ladson no Calls for 700 category n vehicles which can carry 10 troops for mis Sions such As Convoy Lead troop transport explosive ordnance Dis gourmet italia the Pursuit of excellence in your commissaries you know youre getting old when the candles Cost More than the cake Bob Hope cooking courses on the Mediterranean diet info you could be Doser to earning your degree than you know find ou1 How close submit your application today Whychu personalized service self paced flexible learning online learning no scheduled online sessions textbook included through Csc Book Grant accredited member dec member of service members Opportunity colleges soc approved for tuition assistance Dantes and a benefits Goa myed member accredited online programs associate of applied science degree business criminal mite administration rest Meme Bachelor of science degree programs business Attis Tresnon fire science human resource management marketing tourism criminal Justice administration environmental management health Core administration Baba management bs8a finance  technology Baba sports management master degree programs  is Kosp Avenal safety and Heowig hew prgs8msdba online degree level certificate programs avos lame online University  25326 canal Road Orange Al 36561 Rosaland serve As ambulances and 300 category i vehicles which can carry six troops in sup port Urban combat operations the spokesman said the prices for maps vary considerably with some costing close to million per vehicle speaking to reporters in March corps commandant Gen James Conway said the corps Felt a moral imperative to put marines and sailors into the maps despite their expense because the vehicles provide More Protection against Roadside bombs than Upa Mored humvee right now defense officials Are reviewing the corps plans to Purchase 3700 maps for Iraq the spokesman said that number is subject to change the corps also Hopes to Roll out close to 3400 joint Light tactical vehicles Between fiscal 2009 and 2013 afterwards the a Ltd will re place the humvee As the corps primary tactical vehicle meanwhile the army plans to buy 2500 maps to augment its Fleet of Upa Mored humvee about 1000 army maps Are already in theater and the army expects to have 1800 of the vehicles in Iraq by december said army spokesman it col William Wiggins the army plan is to eventually replace its Upa Mored hum vees with 18000 vehicles de signed to provide better Protection against Roadside bombs the vehicles could be a combi nation of maps and a tvs email Jeff Schogol at panel reports on a care fixes task Force wants less red tape More brain screening by Hope yen the associated press soldiers and veterans grappling with backlogs and red tape will now fill out less paperwork get More screenings for brain injury and go through an improved disability claims system a presidential task Force said tuesday responding to criticism about poor treatment of wounded soldiers the inter Agency task Force headed by veterans affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson re leased its report and recommendations for immediately improving veterans care the panel found that government procedures now Are unwieldy with gaps that allow services members and veterans to slip through the cracks As they move from military hospitals to the Vas vast network of health clinics the Federal government must be responsive and efficient in delivering our benefits and services to these heroes Nicholson said announcing the recommendations at the National press club acknowledging that coordination Between the a and Pentagon remains unacceptably poor the recommendations also Call for expanded a Access to Pentagon records to reduce the amount of paper work service members must file Case managers will be added to help guide troops and their families through the process and All Veter ans receiving care in a faculties will be tested for mild to moderate brain injury an often unseen ail ment that could emerge months after finishing ser vice in addition the task Force which includes Cabinet secretaries and officials at eight government Agen cies urged the creation of a joint disability claims pro Cess handled by the Pentagon and a to Speed delivery of benefits and reduce disparities in the system critics have noted that the army consistently rates wounded soldiers lower than the other armed services and a one congressional commission has suggested that the army might be doing so to avoid paying higher disability benefits among the other recommendations expedite housing claims and other services for returning service members from Iraq and Afghani Stan to reduce growing instances where they Are forced to live on the streets expand eligibility of Small business Loans to pro vide More opportunities for veterans to obtain self employment the labor department also will work with veterans As they Are recovering from injury to ease their transition to civilian life h improve outreach with additional newsletters and Job fairs to educate service members and Veter ans of benefits and services Nicholson presented the recommendations to president Bush on monday the task Force said it will continue to Monitor agencies to ensure recommendations Are implemented right away it will meet again in 45 Days to report on the Progress airman pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter Hampton a a a Wai based air Force enlisted Man avoided a possible life sen tence by pleading guilty monday to involuntary manslaughter for shooting a fellow airman while in their living quarters in Iraq Carf j Ware or had been in Iraq for a month when Kyle j Dai ton shot him in the Chest on july 1 2006 they were both based out of Hickam air Force base in Hawaii Dalton told the judge at his court martial that he haunt thought his 9 my pistol was loaded when he pointed it playfully at his bunk mate and pulled the trigger Dalton also pleaded guilty to Vio lating a general regulation by drawing or aiming a firearm when deadly Force was not Neces sary once when he shot Ware and once earlier when he aimed an m4 Rifle at Ware and another Roommate in their quarters from the associated press