12 FAM 380
ARMORED VEHICLE PROGRAM
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
(Office of Origin: DS/PSP/DEAV)
12 FAM 381 SCOPE AND AUTHORITY
12 FAM 381.1 Scope
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
This subchapter covers the
Departments armored vehicle program abroad that
provides protection for chiefs of mission (COMs),
principal officers, and others as needed from
the threat of terrorism, war, and civil disturbance.
12 FAM 381.2 Authority
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986 (Public Law 99-399) as codified at 22 U.S.C. 4802.
12 FAM 382 ARMORED VEHICLE STANDARDS
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
a. These standards ensure
that posts have a reasonable number of armored vehicle assets with an
enhanced level of protection during periods of threat, instability, evacuation,
or when needed to safely transport post personnel
(see 12
FAH-6 H-522).
b. The Departments responsibilities and performance
standards for the safety of armored vehicles deployed abroad are to ensure that each armored vehicle meets
Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVS), and
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards. Where armoring may adversely
impact these standards, the Department, through its relationships with armoring
vendors, makes the necessary adjustments to brake, suspension, and safety
systems to align these modified vehicles to the DOT,
FMVS, and OEM standards.
12 FAM 383 RESPONSIBILITIES
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
a. DS is responsible for coordinating the armored
vehicle program and developing standards. Direct
any questions pertaining to this program to the Office of Physical
Security Programs, Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicles Division
(DS/PSP/DEAV). DS/PSP/DEAV serves as the overall coordination point and
program manager for vehicle armoring and related issues, and the liaison for various Federal agencies, the
Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB), and posts. DS/PSP/DEAV provides annual
budget estimates to Diplomatic Security (DS)
for those platforms and DS-provided armoring
systems, along with required funding estimates
for International Cooperative Administrative
Support Services (ICASS).
b. The post Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meets at least annually to discuss the armored vehicle program and requirements.
It is important that EACs provide information on these requirements, so that
ICASS councils and DS/PSP/DEAV have
sufficient time to budget for base vehicle requirements and the extra costs
associated with armoring the vehicles,
respectively.
12 FAM 384 ASSIGNMENT
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
The vehicle make, type, and model assigned to any post
must align with the vehicle assignment policy
of the Federal agency using the vehicle. All assignments of armored vehicles
to post, other than for the COM, principal officer (PO), DS- or Marine Security Guard (MSG)-assigned security
assets, must include consultation
and coordination between the agency and the EAC.
In the event of a disagreement between the EAC and an individual agency, forward the dispute to the COM for resolution. Overall
responsibility for the use of official vehicles at a post lies with the COM
or principal officer (PO) who must establish
policies for the use of official vehicles for business purposes and other
authorized uses in accordance with regulation (14 FAM 430).
12 FAM 385 Procurement
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
Post must coordinate
requests for all Department and ICASS armored vehicles through DS/PSP/DEAV.
Other agencies must coordinate requests
for armored vehicles through their agencys headquarters
element with oversight for the armoring process.
All armored vehicles must meet
OSPB armored vehicle standards (see 12 FAH-6 H-520).
12 FAM 386 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
As a post responsibility, armored vehicles must undergo
top quality preventive and mechanical maintenance on a regular basis using post-designated local mechanics. Armored
vehicles require regular maintenance to overcome the stress of the armor on the
vehicles drive train, suspension, and brake systems. Any post-designated local mechanic, while under an embassy employees observation, may
perform mechanical work or preventive maintenance on armored vehicles.
12 FAM 387 ARMOR MAINTENANCE
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
DS repairs and replaces armor materials on Department-furnished armored vehicles, and may provide the same services to other agencies,
on a reimbursable basis. When armoring removal
or repair is necessary on an official Department or ICASS vehicle, DS/PSP/DEAV
must first authorize such work in writing after consulting with the regional
security officer (RSO). The same applies to another agencys vehicle; however, consult the
headquarters element responsible for the agencys armored vehicle program. Alterations to an armored vehicle must not reduce the effectiveness of the armor
materials or the performance of the vehicle. When
replacing defective armor materials, authorized armoring technicians must perform the work using parts they deem necessary
to comply with Department standards.
12 FAM 388 DISPOSAL
(CT:DS-181; 07-18-2012)
a. For post- and bureau-armored
vehicle assets, the RSO must coordinate disposal with the Office of Logistics Operations, Motor Vehicles
Branch, Secure Logistics Division (A/LM/OPS/SL/MV), DS/PSP/DEAV, and the general services officer (GSO). Other
agencies must coordinate disposal of their armored vehicles with the RSO and their
responsible headquarters element. A/LM/OPS/SL/MV
and DS/PSP/EAV will offer advice and assistance to posts that are not able to
destroy vehicles with one of the prescribed methods listed in paragraph 12 FAM 388 d. Posts must dispose
of armored vehicles on the basis of local
conditions and restrictions.
b. The methodology and
materials used in armoring Department vehicles is classified. All armored
vehicles must be destroyed at the end of their useful life; they may NOT be
sold, donated, or transferred to persons, governments, or organizations outside
of the U.S. Government. Armored vehicles may be transferred to other U.S.
Government agencies provided the receiving agency agrees to properly dispose of
the armored vehicle. Disposal must be witnessed by a cleared U.S. citizen.
c. Post personnel, as
the RSO authorizes, must remove salvageable radios and security
equipment before disposal.
d. For security reasons, post
or the receiving agency in paragraph 12 FAM 388 b. must destroy all armored vehicles. Approved
disposal methods include:
(1) Explosive
demolition;
(2) Burning;
(3) Crushing;
(4) Disassembly with
sections no larger than 2 square feet; or
(5) Burial on U.S. Government-controlled land.
12 FAM 389 FSN Armored Vehicle Driver
Training
(CT: DS-181; 07-18-2012)
a. The RSO must ensure that drivers assigned to COM and/or PO armored vehicles attend the Bureau of Diplomatic Securitys Training Center (DSTC)
armored vehicle driver training program. When the assigned, trained driver is
temporarily unavailable, RSOs may designate experienced drivers who have not
had this training to drive until the trained driver returns to duty. The DSTC
maintains these training records.
b. Supervisors of armored
vehicle drivers must ensure that any driver assigned to regularly drive an
armored vehicle at post; e.g., an armored shuttle has the opportunity to attend
the DSTC armored vehicles driver training program. The program, section, or
agency requesting training absorbs the participation costs.
c. RSOs must ensure that
all drivers who drive the COM and/or PO armored vehicles take refresher
training every five years following the
initial training.
d. The GSO must include
the drivers most recent refresher driver training dates when submitting an
armored vehicle replacement request to DEAV.
e. Training consists of classes for proper operation
and enhanced effectiveness of drivers of armored vehicles, including:
(1) Terrorist Operations;
(2) Surveillance Detection/Countermeasures;
(3) Car-jacking, Route Analysis;
(4) Vehicle Dynamics 1, 2 and 3;
(5) Emergency Driving;
(6) Street Line Driving;
(7) Barricade Breaching, Backing Drills;
(8) Evasive Maneuvers;
(9) Attack Recognition;
(10) Armored Car Enhanced Skills; and
(11) Improvised Explosive Devices.