3

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ESC MRAP Fielding
Communication Guide



1
Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

The five key components of any communication plan within the 3
d
ESC are:
Objective (1)
Theme (1)
Messages (3)
Talking Points (4-5)
Qs and As (10+)
These components are essential when communicating with any audience to gain awareness, process
understanding, and build partnerships.
1. Objective
Increase awareness and understanding of MRAP Fielding by ESC and those MRAPs have contributed
significantly to the safety of service members and enhanced mission performance in Iraq.
2. Theme:
Though no vehicle is indestructible Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) save lives.
3. Messages:
Force protection is a #1 priority for our Soldiers
Fielding of these vehicles is a team effort
Operator training is a critical component of the fielding effort
4. Talking Points:
Talking Points: (No more than 4-5 talking points per message)
Message: Force protection is a #1 priority for our Soldiers
o The MRAP family of vehicles offers a proven capability to reduce combat deaths and
casualties and provides Warfighters multi-mission platforms capable of mitigating
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), underbody mines and small arms fire threats.
o Three vehicle categories (CATs) are being procured to protect our Soldiers:
CAT I - Urban combat operations (ops), ambulance
CAT II - Multi-mission ops - convoy lead, troop transport,
ambulance, utility vehicle
Three PA
effects from
FM 3.0
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ESC MRAP Fielding
Communication Guide



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Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

CAT III - Mine/IED clearance ops, explosive ordnance disposalWe run about 100
convoys a day with our MRAPs.
o The MRAPs v-shaped hull and raised chassis is the best vehicle protection we have to
date.
o In the ESC we have over 600 of these vehicles on hand and use them as our primary
convoy protection platform.
o Personally, I have seen the beating these vehicles can take. We have not lost an ESC
Soldier to hostile fire who was riding in or operating an MRAP.
o We continue to add improvements such as the Gunners Restraint System to improve the
protection of our Soldiers on the road.
o From a commanders perspective my troops love them and I sleep better knowing they
have them.
o The MRAP offers the Soldier on the road the confidence and assurance that when they
leave the gate of the FOB they have a tremendous likelihood of coming back safe.
Message: Fielding of these vehicles is a team effort
o Last year the Secretary of Defense made fielding MRAPs our #1 acquisition priority.
o Fielding began in 2007 with the first MRAP being fielded in Iraq April of 2007.
o To date weve fielded about 600 MRAPs in the ESC.
o To date 10,000 MRAPs have been fielded in Iraq at 9 different sites to Army, Air Force,
Marine, Navy and Joint units.
o Fielding these MRAPs is an effort that includes hard work by the users like us, 402
nd

Army Field Support Brigade, Joint Program Office Iraq, and Red River Army Depot.
Message: Operator training and maintenance is a critical component to the successful fielding
effort
o No piece of equipment is useful to the Soldier unless they are trained to use it.
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ESC MRAP Fielding
Communication Guide



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Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

o In theater, over 22,000 service members have been trained on the MRAP as part of the
fielding effort.
o In the ESC, we developed a comprehensive training package in Kuwait so units entering
theater received standardized MRAP training.
o The training consisted of maintenance, operator training, and was designed pair
experienced operators and mechanics with incoming units to pass on successful tactics,
techniques and procedures learned in theater.
o As improvements such as additional armor, improved suspensions, and gunners
restraints are added to the MRAPs continuing to train remains important.
o With skilled operators and maintainers were at about a 91% Operational Readiness
Rate within the ESC for all MRAP variants.

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ESC MRAP Fielding
Communication Guide



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Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

Engaging the media:

General Media Guidelines

Do not speak for higher commands or other military services.

Do not to mention or identify other companies by name.

Dont speculate on what might happen and dont answer what if questions. We should only respond
to what we know and what has been approved.

Keep operational security and classification concerns a priority. A list of items not to release to the
public or media includes, but is not limited to the following information:

1. Anything labeled classified or requiring a higher level of security clearance.
2. Any compilation (aggregation) of documents and photos.
3. Any reliability and maintainability information and data.
4. Any communications and electronics information and data.
5. Threat effects on vehicles, vulnerabilities, susceptibilities, deficiencies.
6. Any kind of blast effects or explosives testing.
7. Anything concerning hull structure, ballistic hull, armor plating, armor design, configuration or
location of these items on the vehicle.
8. Any reliability and maintainability information and data.
9. Any communications and electronics information and data.

Most Likely Questions:
Q1: What is the significance of this ceremony?
A1: Well the number one priority we have for our Soldiers here is force protection. This ceremony
exemplifies our commitment to this in that we now have fielded 10000 MRAPs to units in Iraq in just under
two years. Thats no small feat. It took a commitment to protecting our Soldiers, teamwork, and a lot of
training.
Q2: Has the MRAP had an impact on Soldiers in Iraq?
A2: The MRAP has definitely had an impact on Soldiers in Iraq. As I said earlier the protection of our
Soldiers is our number one priority. No vehicle is indestructible but this vehicle provides a proven
capability to reduce combat deaths and casualties and provides Warfighters multi-mission platforms
capable of mitigating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), underbody mines and small arms fire threats.
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ESC MRAP Fielding
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Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

The MRAP family of vehicles, with their V-shaped hulls and raised chassis, is the best vehicle protection
we have to date,
Q3: Have MRAPs really saved lives? If so how many?
A3: Force protection for our Soldiers is our #1 priority. We want a Soldier to roll out of the gate knowing
they are in the best protected vehicle available. From our perspective in the ESC - we conduct about 100
convoys a night within which our MRAPs play a big role. That averages out to about 21,000 missions
since we fielded our first MRAP in June of 2008. The 3rd ESC has not lost a Soldier who was riding in or
operating an MRAP."

Possible Questions:
Q4: Havent you had problems with rollovers?
A4: The Army identified rollovers as a risk in the MRAP. However a dedication to operator training and
safety equipment such as the Gunners Safety Restraint help to mitigate this risk. We take the training of
our operators seriously. For example we recently created a standardized training package that ensured
our new units entering theater were properly trained prior to leaving Kuwait.
Q5: Havent you had problems with MRAPs striking electrical wires?
A5: We have not had this problem in the ESC. The risk is out there, however due to the fact there are
low-hanging power lines in Iraq. Although I cannot get into the specifics I would tell you we have
emplaced some actions and equipment to help mitigate this risk and protect our Soldiers.
Q6: Arent MRAPs to large for urban areas?
A6: As a Sustainment unit we have vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Compared to our Heavy
Equipment Transport Vehicles - which are capable of carrying main battle tanks the MRAP is small in
comparison. But you bring up a good point in that we are conscious of where we travel and we try and do
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ESC MRAP Fielding
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Make them AWARE.
Help them UNDERSTAND
Inspire them to ACT

our part to share the road with the Iraqis. MRAPs despite their size share the road with Iraqis just like
every other vehicle.
Q7: How many MRAPs does your unit have?
A7: Although I cant get into specific numbers we have around 600 MRAPs of all varieties in the ESC.