File:Air Force Add-on Armor DVIDS17758.jpg

English: Balad Air Base, Iraq (AFPN) - Airman 1st Class Roger Hild guides, as Staff Sgt. Kenneth Pease, operates the crane, as the upper portion of an Add on Armor (AOA) cab for a truck tractor is lowered onto the lower armor plated cab section that has already been prepared with floor and firewall plating. The add-on-armor kit is a permanent modification. This will include new air ride seats and air conditioning since the combat convoys make few if any stops and protective windows are kept shut in the 100+ degrees in the summer. The armor provides the driver and gunner added protection against weapons fire and IED explosions. Sgt. Pease and Amn. Hild are deployed to the 732 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron, Balad Air Base, Iraq. The unit is comprised of active duty and reserve component vehicle maintenance technicians who support the Army Field Support Battalion- Iraq. The installation of the Level II Add on Armor (AOA) kits provides a high degree of protection to the troops operating outside the wire. Survivors of improvised explosive device explosions, often e-mail the unit to give their thanks for them doing such a great armor installation job. This, the final phase of the AF mission, will end with the turnover to contractors in late January 2006. To date the Air Force AoA mission has fielded more than 1,300. Pease and Hild are assigned to the 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Pease is a native of California City, Ca. and Hild is from Schertz, Tex. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)