United States Marine Corps - Extreme Trucks Of The USMC

Arriving at 1100 with temperatures already reaching triple-digits, we took a quick desert survival course in which we promised not to die, received a brief overview of the MCAGCC, and then took a trip to meet the motor pool team. It was interesting to see just how young the core group of motor pool mechanics were, yet despite their age, knowledge of the Humvee, seven-ton personnel carrier, and large Oshkosh tow trucks was evident. These guys keep the Corps running, literally. While there, we saw engines being swapped, hydraulic systems being replaced, and even On-Board Diagnostic systems with laptops being inspected and new software downloaded. Working on these trucks appears to be a privilege; after all, it's these vehicles that will keep Marines alive and doing their jobs without any fear of breaking down.

Moving on, we quickly went from large 5-ton Humvees to huge 64-ton M1A1 Abram tanks with enough technology to make even the most diehard truck fan camo green with envy. Stats like a 1,500hp turbine engine, six-speed transmission, the use of a ballistic fire-control computer, thermal and night vision, and a long list of insane firepower are just a sample of things that made us grin from ear-to-ear. Add to that the M88 tank recovery vehicle with its twin-turbo engine, 35-ton A-frame boom, and front-mounted spade, and you get some serious all-terrain rigs that keep Marines busy fighting for freedom.

Finishing up with the EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) team, we quickly realized that perhaps the Marine Public Affairs Office had saved the best for last, because we finally found a vehicle with air conditioning. Weighing in at more than 33 tons, the massive six-wheeled Cougar MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected) beast uses extra-thick armor to protect the EOD Marines, incorporates the latest in surveillance technology (yes, it's classified, no we're not going to tell you), and even a special remote robot codenamed Raptor to aid in the unmanned investigation of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Its presence is awe-inspiring, as it looks completely intimidating and unstoppable thanks to solid-rubber tires weighing in at 750 pounds each, a V-shaped hull to deflect bomb blasts, and solid welds throughout.

As we hopped back into our Ford F-150, we looked for the .50-caliber machine gun, but it wasn't to be found, and although we tried to find the night-vision viewfinder, it too was missing. Seems that our tricked-out street truck was only so-so in comparison to what the Marines called their daily drivers. Too bad really, we could have used that Abram's 120mm smoothbore gun while stuck in traffic returning to Anaheim.