On Point | Podcast Why it's the end of the road for the Humvee
12 snips
Sep 5, 2025 Chris Piniella, a Defense reporter for Business Insider, and Mark Kansian, a senior advisor with over three decades in the Marine Corps, delve into the retirement of the iconic Humvee. They discuss its evolution from Cold War origins to modern conflicts, highlighting its legacy and the challenges faced during recent wars. The conversation shifts to the impact of emerging technologies on future warfare and military strategies, emphasizing a transition towards more agile vehicles and the insights from veterans that capture the Humvee's significant role in military culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Humvee As A Mobile Home
- Andrew Russo recalls the Humvee as a cramped but bonding space where soldiers slept, ate, and built trust.
- He says the vehicle represented an adventurous and life-changing time in his life.
Designed For Cold War Mobility
- The Humvee entered service in 1985 as the HMMWV and replaced smaller utility vehicles like the Jeep.
- It was designed for Cold War-era mobility but later showed protection limits in protracted insurgencies.
Troops Confront Leadership Over Armor
- In December 2004 Army Specialist Thomas Wilson confronted Defense Secretary Rumsfeld about vehicles lacking armor in Iraq.
- Wilson emphasized troops were improvising armor from scrap and production limits were a physics problem.