MRAPs

Mine Resistant, Assault Protected vehicles. Lisa started working in a new shop today. The shop specializes in working on the new MRAP class of vehicles. This class of vehicles was developed to allow combat patrols a higher level of safety from Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's). The armor underneath angles out and is designed to divert the energy from the bomb away from the vehicle.

Lisa told me she helped change a windshield today. A 400 lb. windshield with 6 layers to it. They have a process to seal it so that the troops inside are protected from chemical weapons. She said they have Cougar and Buffalo MRAPS in the shop and that some of them they are working on are destined for Afghanistan.

This is the Cougar. Below is a Cougar hit by an IED. The engine wound up 100 yards away from the vehicle. Amazingly only minor injuries were suffered by those inside.



Next up is the Buffalo. Appropriately named. This vehicle can also clear mines.





Lisa didn't work on these in school so she is going to be learning on the fly. She is working on a team of three with another Marine and a civilian. She said the civilian is like a mexican version of John who was so helpful to her in her last shop. "Someone who takes you in and gives you old people advice." I think she likes it though. Her and the other marine went to his house where Pablo's wife cooked up menudo. Lisa describes this as "amazing, beef intestines and vegetables with hominy in it. It is good and I get it wherever I can." It was only after she developed a taste for it that someone told her what it was.