US Army Reserve set to acquire JLTVs for training

Getting out in front of US Army plans to replace Humvees with Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), the US Army Reserve is set to acquire 60 JLTVs for training in preparation for fielding to the entire force.

Speaking with reporters after a 29 January Defense Writer’s Group breakfast, Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Charles Luckey said his component is buying a “small set” of 60 vehicles to field at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The goal is to provide his force with JLTVs so that soldiers can learn how to operate, sustain, and maintain them.

“The idea, essentially, is for us to learn how to absorb these so that we don't just … all of a sudden have to ingest thousands of these,” the three-star general told reporters. “I call it ‘lead turning’, but with educating the force on how to sustain, operate, and maintain.”

A CH-47 Chinook transports a Humvee during a sling load operation in July 2017. The US Army Reserve is set to acquire 60 JLTVs to train on in preparation for phasing out the Humvee. (US Army)

Oshkosh’s JLTV is intended to replace the army's Humvees and, according to the plan, the service will begin equipping its first unit with 350 JLTVs in January and complete the fielding in March 2019.

While Lt Gen Luckey said he did not know when the vehicles would be fielded to the Army Reserve component, he wants his units to be ready for the new vehicles and know that the reserve component is invested in providing its soldiers with new equipment.

“The strategic messaging to the force is that we are getting after modernisation, we are getting after lethality, we are getting after readiness, and capability for the next fight,” Lt Gen Luckey added.