 The first MP unit to officially use them in a combat zone was the 527th MP Company and other elements of the 720th MP Battalion.However, the onset of events in Iraq gave new life to the ASV program as HMMWVs proved vulnerable to attacks and a large source of casualties.Up-armored HMMWVs were not designed to be armored cars like the M1117, which are designed to withstand hits from small arms, mines and rockets in front-line combat units.