Airman motivated to build better protective turret

  • Published
  • By by Staff Sgt. Scott McNabb
  • 447th AEG public affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  Sometimes a tragedy inspires others to strive for excellence. That's what happened here for two Air Force units near Baghdad as they worked together to bring in some good for fellow Airmen.

Airman 1st Class Lee-Bernard Emmanuel Chavis was killed while patrolling the streets of Baghdad Oct. 14 in the turret of his armored humvee.

His death motivated a team of vehicle maintenance Airmen to design and build a new protective turret to avoid similar deaths.

"This is a story about Airmen helping Airmen," said Col. Gregory Marston, 447th Air Expeditionary Group commander.

"We're trying to help the people who go outside the wire by giving them the best equipment they can have. This just goes one step further."

The original, custom-made turret has been dubbed the "Chavis Turret" in honor of Airman Chavis.

The initial prototype was made from scrounged materials using pieces cannibalized from junked vehicles and old parts.

The design was a combined effort by Airmen of Det. 7, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Re-adiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance shop.

"We believe this new turret design solves many or all of the vulnerabilities that earlier designs have missed," the commander said.

"Right now, there's no standardization in terms of up-armored humvee turret designs."

Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Rossi, 447th ELRS vehicle maintenance superintendent, challenged Staff Sgt. Derrick Bowman and Senior Airmen John Adams and Richard Gil, who are all deployed from the 1st Special Operations Logistics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, to man the Tiger Team tasked with redesigning the turret.

Airman Gil said his initial reaction to being selected to work on the turret was total surprise.

"I feel like this has been the most important and highest impact part of my military career," he said. "The first thing we did was ask the troops who actually use the turret what they would like to see," Airman Adams said. "From there, we researched what parts would go where and what would be most beneficial to the actual cause."

Colonel Marston was impressed with how the team members donated so much of their off time in an environment where time off is rare.

"It's a great story because three young Airmen are using their off time to scrape up spare parts and cannibalize all the pieces they need to design this prototype," the colonel said. "We've had a lot of really positive comments from Det. 7 and the Army personnel."

Sergeant Bowman said the turret allows the gunner to remain protected from multiple threats in all directions.

"One big benefit is the increased protection from improvised explosive devices," Sergeant Bowman said.

"That was one of the biggest things the Det. 7 guys we talked to were worried about.

"We also added a removable wire cutter to the front of the shield to protect the lead truck from choke wires strung under overpasses."