With less than a month before what is shaping up to be the biggest and best armor modeling convention in 2013 anywhere, there’s still time to reserve your spot on the vehicle collection tour at Fort Benning before the tour is all filled up.

After careful consideration, the AMPS Show committee decided not proceed with a tour of the Infantry Museum in favor of giving tour goers more time to spend with the larger collections housed at Fort Benning. Yes, I said armor collections! The all-day tour will include at least 200 vehicles on display in the main collection area, plus as an added bonus; the tour group will make its first stop at the Armor School and have access to the collection on display there which includes an M1A2 SEP, M3A3, M11127 Recon Stryker and my personal favorite of the Stryker family; an M1128 Stryker MGS. Now how’s that for some modern armor to get that digital camera in the groove. No interior photos will be allowed at this time, however this could change as our tour coordinator is still discussing this matter with museum personnel. So bring plenty of SD cards for your digital camera. You’ll be glad you did! AMPS will have one of their own who will act as the tour guide during this fabulous tour who is himself a certified armor addict, well-versed in all things armor. And he’s a pretty smart guy too!

Those who have already signed up or are planning to, please note the following:

Entrance to Fort Benning – this will require some sort of government-issued ID card like a driver’s license, state ID card, current or retired military ID. We are still working on foreign visitor requirements and believe a valid passport will work, but still awaiting confirmation.

Lunch- lunch will be available at one of the Army Dining Facilities (i.e., mess halls) with the cost being 4.70 that includes meal, drink and dessert.

We are in the process of confirming whether Mr. Len Dyer, the museum curator, will be able to join the AMPS group for part of the tour. Mr. Dyer is a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker and will certainly enhance the tour experience for everyone.

There are still vacancies left on the 2013 AMPS International Convention special tour of Fort Benning scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2013, but time is running out. Go to the AMPS homepage and go to the tour preview link set up by the AMPS Show Committee to give you an idea of the treat you are in for.

Reserve your spot today for the greatest show and tour of armor in2013. And if you haven’t reserved your room accommodations, you can go to the AMPS homepage (amps-armor.org) and reserve that room and register your entries for the show at the same time.

Come on Atlanta!

Chuck Willis
2nd VP – AMPS Eastern Region