First Choice Armor to support Iraq Police

SPINDALE, N.C., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- North Carolina-based First Choice Armor Inc. announced it has been contracted to provide armored sport utility vehicles to the Iraqi Baghdad Police College.

First Choice is a vehicle armor and ballistic resistant vests manufacturer among other protective equipment for the defense market. As part of the rebuilding Iraq U.S. government initiative, the company announced it will provide armored SUVs to the Iraqi Baghdad Police College under a $5 million contract award.

"We're extremely proud to be chosen to provide armored SUVs to the Iraqi Baghdad Police College," Daniel Walsh, First Choice president, said in a statement. "First Choice has been a part of the Iraqi reconstruction effort since 2005 supplying, among other things, tactical body armor for the Iraqi Defense Forces. Each employee of First Choice understands that every piece of body armor and every vehicle that First Choice provides for this cause helps accelerate the timeline for Iraqis to take charge of their own security."

"First Choice determined that low-profile armored vehicles are an extremely important tactical element of security operations in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Accordingly, First Choice has made mission-specific modifications to meet stringent requirements in these active theaters of operation," the release said.