NYS American LegionDepartment Commander

Makes historic visitStory on Page 3

THE SALVO

U.S. Army

Watervliet Arsenal

Jan. 31, 2015

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The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessarily the official views of, or an endorse-ment by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Watervliet Arsenal. News may be submitted for publication by sending articles to Public Affairs Officer, 1 Buffington Street, Bldg. 10, Watervliet, NY 12189, or stop by office #102, Bldg. 10, Watervliet Arsenal. The editor may also be reached at (518) 266-5055 or by e-mail: john.b.snyder.civ@mail.mil. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted for publication.

Commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.Public Affairs Officer, John B. SnyderEditor, John B. SnyderPhotographer: John B. Snyder Arsenal Facebook Page @http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm

ColonelLee H. Schiller Jr.

CommandingManufacturer 6

Commander’sCorner

Now that we have dusted ourselves off from the recent snowstorm, it is great to get back to our mission focus without detractors from the environment. As soon as I thought that, I looked at news stories this month and saw again headlines about potential budget cuts to domestic spending, as well as to defense spending, all in the name of sequestration. No, sequestration has not gone away and as we speak, the Defense Department is anxiously waiting for the President’s 2016 fiscal budget. .

Nevertheless, no matter how dire the uncertainty of a defense budget may seem, I believe we will be just fine in the near term. After all, we closed out fiscal year 2014 having achieved $117 million in revenue.

Even in a local business community where billion dollar deals are being made, our revenue still places us in the top 16 manufactures in New York’s Capital Region in regards to revenue.

Although it may be a stretch for us to equal last year’s revenue numbers, I can say that we have some unexpected contracts coming in, some of which are multimillion dollar deals. So, stay focus on the mission and let me worry about outside detractors.

What is great about January is that it drives us to think more about diversity. The nation, having just honored the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is about to enter February, which is African American/Black History

Month. Since 1813, our Arsenal has been very accepting to a diverse workforce. In fact, if you take a look at our history book, women, as well as children, worked in our shops since the inception of the Arsenal. The values of acceptance and accommodation are in our DNA.

As a part of recognizing and celebrating our diversity, I invite you to join me at Annual Diversity Day Luncheon on Wednesday, March 4th. The event will include the presentation of the Martin Luther King Award.

Finally, given some of the new work that we have received, we have some very tight schedules. This is not a time to second guess or to take shortcuts that may affect our quality or our on-time delivery rate. After all, you are too good to do otherwise.

Be safe and continue to do good work.

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By John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 4, see Legion

Legion commander touts arsenal as pillar of national defense

From Left: General Foreman Scott Huber leads New York State American Legion Department Commander Frank Peters, Legion Aide Paul Dietrich, and the area’s Department Vice Commander Gary Schacher through several of the Arsenal’s production facilities on Jan. 22, 2015. This was the first visit to the Arsenal by Peters and his staff.

Photo by John B. Snyder

The Arsenal commander had at least 120,000 reasons why it was important to host here in January a retired ferry boat captain from Staten Island, N.Y. After all, that is how many members that Frank Peters, the American Legion’s New York Department Commander, envisions this year for his organization. Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr. leveraged a rare opportunity by inviting Peters, who is continually on the road fighting for Veterans rights, to the Arsenal on January 22 for a command briefing and tour. Peters, who was elected as Department Commander last July, was in town that week

preparing for his organization’s Mid-Winter Conference in Albany, N.Y. The Arsenal has in recent months hosted a significant number of senior Army leaders to its production facilities to discuss ways to better support our nation’s troops, but this visit by Peters offered a different perspective ̶ Discussing ways to better support our Veterans and their families. This was Peters’ first visit to the historic Arsenal that has since the War of 1812 manufactured the products that have helped hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors,

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Legion Cont.

Airmen, and Marines to safely come home from war. This was also the first visit by New York’s Department Commander to the arsenal in anyone’s memory here. Schiller went beyond simple charts and production numbers to discuss how in many ways the Arsenal and Legion share common goals and values. Both organizations have strong historical ties to all branches of the military; both strive to build strong communities; and both organizations never lose sight on the proper care of the Nation’s Veterans and their family members. One other key point that Schiller hit on was the responsiveness that an Army-owned and operated manufacturing center provides to our nation. Most civilian visitors are not aware that Watervliet remains one of the few remaining Army-owned and operated manufacturing centers in the country. “Because we are Army owned, we have a direct line of communication with the Army,” Schiller said. “Due to this relationship, we are able to quickly shift production priorities to respond to any urgent troop requirement,” Schiller said. Lee Bennett, the Director of the Army’s Benét Laboratories that is collocated at the Arsenal, echoed Schiller’s comments regarding the value of the Arsenal by saying that, “The beauty of our collocation is that our scientists and engineers are working next to the best machinists in the world. If there is ever an issue with a product’s technical data, we can walk across the street and come up with a quick answer or a fix.” Peters, throughout his tour, remarked on the amazing degree of effort that goes into each weapon system that is designed and manufactured at Watervliet. “Before today, I never thought much about the high degree of technology and the significant amount of machining that goes into the weapon systems that are placed into the hands of our troops,” Peters said. “But I will tell you that after today, I will promote the great work that is going on at the arsenal as a pillar of building a strong national defense for our country.”

Photos by John B. Snyder

Top: Machinist Ryan Put-nam, left, providing a great show as he places several hundred tons of pressure on a tube.

Middle: Benét Laboratories Director Lee Bennett, left, explaining the scope of research and design that goes into several weapon platforms that are show-cased here.

Bottom. Legion Com-mander Frank Peters, right, giving Arsenal worker Carl Rice a special pin as he thanked Rice for his military service.

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The U.S. Army’s Benét Laboratories, which is col-located on the Watervliet Arsenal, said in January that it has achieved a significant milestone in the research and development of an extended-range 120mm mor-tar ballistic test cannon. When fielded, this extended range mortar will greatly increase the survivability of U.S. infantrymen. “After several years of research and design, we now have a 120mm mortar test system that has just left the arsenal en route to the U.S. Army Yuma Prov-ing Ground in Arizona for live-fire testing,” said Rob-ert Cooley, a mechanical engineer with Benét Labs. “This weapon will allow us to test a number of new technologies needed to support extended range mor-tars, as well as to support improvements to ammuni-tion and propellants.” The Arsenal’s production of 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm systems used by the Army has greatly in-creased in recent years as the battles in mountainous Afghanistan required a highly mobile, responsive, and high-altitude delivery system. Although the effective-ness of these systems is well documented in recent combat operations, their technology is more than 30 years old, Cooley said. Improved, lighter, 60mm and 81mm systems have started reaching the field over the last few years. Paul Koelbel, a fellow Benét Labs mechanical

engineer and lead designer for the 120mm extended-range system, said that simply designing a tube that will fire a mortar round farther is only a small part of all the research and design that is required. “In order to extend range, we had to design a tube to withstand higher internal pressures and tempera-tures,” Koelbel said. “But when pressures increase so too does the amount of recoil placed onto other parts of the mortar system, such as the baseplate and bipod, which then required us to redesign all aspects of the mortar system.” Although the requirements for the improved range mortar and ammunition still must be approved by

Just when you

thought this

mortar system

was good, Benét

Labs had to make

it betterBy John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 6, see Mortar

The 120mm mortar system, as seen here being fired by U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Morris in Afghanistan, has been a proven commodity of reliability and excellence since it was placed into service more than 30 years ago. Today, the Army’s Benét Laboratories is working hard to improve this great system used by the infantry.

Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Derec Pierson

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Mortar Cont.

Army program managers, this and future tests, which will start next in February, is a significant step toward increasing the survivability of the nation’s troops, said Francesco Tropiano, a Benét Labs’ mechanical engineer. “We are seeing in a number of armies throughout the world a wide variety of mortar systems that have capabili-ty that exceeds our legacy systems,” Tropiano said. “This system will close the gap and put our infantry on par with the best mortar systems in the world.” In addition to working closely with the Army’s ammu-nition community, Benét Labs also works hand-in-hand with Arsenal manufacturing. The Watervliet Arsenal is the only place in the Department of Defense where those who do research and design work within a five-minute walk of those who will machine the design. This synergy provides an environment of rapid response to the emerg-ing needs of today’s Army.

The Arsenal is not new to making mortar systems, as evidenced by this 1890s model that is on display at Fort DeSoto in Florida.

Photo from Wikipedia.com

The extended range 120mm mortar system is flanked by what seems like an army of Benét Laboratories mechanical engi-neers, scientists, et al, who had a hand in the research and design of this system that is now being ready for test firing at Yuma, Ariz.

Photo provided by Benét Labs

conditioning, and will soon have a new air filtration and lighting system in the racquetball court. Some of the non-equipment expenses were funded by local Morale, Welfare, and Recreation monies to ensure that fitness members would have an enhance quality of life experience that went beyond the installation of new fitness machines. Christine Cole, who works in the Army’s Benét Labo-

ratories on Watervliet, was caught work-ing out on a treadmill and between breaths, said that the im-provements are huge and that they make her want to work out more. “When it was hot outside, it made it almost unbearable to work out,” Cole said. “But with the window shades and air conditioner, I can now work-out anytime.”

Cole added that since she began her workout routine two to three years ago, the effects of asthma have diminished and she does not need to use her inhaler as much. Another gym rat, Mark Mertzlufft who works for the Army National Guard on post, agreed with Cole. “The fitness center is significantly better than it was,” Mertzlufft said. “The old machines were grumpy and un-predictable and so, with the improvements I can get a better workout within the same amount of time as I had with the old machines.” Ryder said though the Body Forge has strong usage peaks during the day and early evening, she would like to see the off peak hours utilized more by patrons. Unlike off post facilities, the Body Forge fitness center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week leaving no excuse to workout at any time.

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Fitness Center gets in shapeBy John B. Snyder

The Arsenal’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program has recently brought on line more than $300,000 of improvements to the Arsenal’s fitness center called the “Body Forge.”

There are now 300,000 new reasons for someone to venture into the arsenal’s fitness center called the “Body Forge.” That is how much money that has been recently invested to upgrade the facility and the machines that were so well overused that one person called them “grumpy.” Taking advan-tage of a little known funding program, Me-lissa Ryder, the arsenal’s recreation program manager, was able to obtain a roomful of state-of-the-art equip-ment at no cost to the Arsenal. “Because we are a small instal-lation, we don’t have a large budget to make improve-ments to our recreation facili-ties,” Ryder said. “And so, when I heard about a free equipment fielding initiative sponsored by the Installation Management Com-mand called the “bulk-buy” program, I thought that we had nothing to lose by submitting an application.” Along the lines of be careful for what you ask for, once Ryder was informed that IMCOM had approved her re-quest, she had only one week to clear the fitness center of all legacy equipment, as well as to prepare the area to re-ceive new equipment. “Working quickly, removing heavy fitness equipment, truly became a team effort as I had tremendous support from our supply division, public works, emergency servic-es, as well as from members of the National Guard who are stationed here,” Ryder said. In addition to installing new fitness equipment, such as elliptical and stair-stepper machines, the fitness center also installed new TV monitors, Wi-Fi, window shades, air

Photo by John B. Snyder

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Photo by John B. Snyder

“Quitting” was never in the Arsenal’s DNA...until now

Smoking cessation facilitator Katy Noakes, right, who is part of the St. Peters Health Partners in Troy, N.Y., is coaching nearly 30 Arsenal smokers who have decided to quit smoking. Some of the workers have been smoking for more than 40 years and so, this will be no small endeavor.

By John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 9, see Smoking

Unimaginable in the history of the Arsenal, some workers today are taking pride in being called a “quitter.” For more than 200 years, the Arsenal workforce has prided itself on never giving up on any mission or task despite some very real threats to the arsenal’s manufacturing center. In fact, being called a quitter in past generations of workers might have created a small riot on these historic grounds. Quitting is simply not in the Arsenal’s DNA … until now. Nearly 30 of the Arsenal’s workforce assembled in the post restaurant this month and proclaimed they

were quitting. But, before these proclamations were acted on by the personnel center, someone clarified those statements before the ink was dry on their retirement papers. For once in their lives, these brave souls relish being called a “quitter.” After all, to some who will earn this title it may mean that they will live long enough to see their children graduate college or the birth of their grandchildren. Quitting “smoking” is proclaimed to be as tough as quitting dependency on cocaine and heroin, said Katy Noakes, who is a smoking cessation facilitator

Smoking Cont.

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from St. Peters Health Partners in Troy, N.Y. Noakes is providing a seven-session smoking cessation class, which is free to the workforce, as part of the Arsenal commander’s initiative to improve the health and welfare of the workforce. To truly appreciate just how hard this effort is, one must know that some of the workers in the class have been smoking for more than 40 years, while others started smoking as children. The session on January 29 was historic to many as it was “quitting day.” This was the third session of the course and by today, each attendee was to have stopped smoking. The first two sessions helped shape the environment against going cold turkey by providing education, as well as nicotine patches and gum. But today was “D-Day,” as one smoker put it. Machinist Robert Day said he has been smoking for more than 30 years. “I can’t recall what caused me to start smoking in the first place,” Day said. “But after 30 years of smoking, I am thinking more about my mortality than I did a few years ago. After all, my daughter is 17-years-old and I want live long enough to see her graduate college and to see some of the other successes she will have in life.” Day added that he will be saving about $300 a month, which he will now direct toward his daughter’s college education.

Besides the health benefit, the most immediate impact of quitting may be the monetary savings as Day highlighted. For Day, the extra money will help his daughter out. For others, it may mean more time to themselves, which is a precious commodity that will enrich their quality of life. “I started smoking at 11-years-old,” said Tracey Fitzpatrick, an accounts maintenance clerk for the Operations Directorate. “Because I have been smoking so long, smoking had become more than just a part of my life, it was taking away from my life.” Fitzpatrick was not talking about the health benefits, which she said she is looking forward to, but that she would be able to quit her part-time job. “I have been working part time for many years just to support my smoking habit,” Fitzpatrick said. “Once I quit smoking, I will no longer need this part time job.”

Almost everyone in the January 29 session joked about the side effects of their quitting smoking that week, which ranged from gaining weight to simply being grumpy to others. But those effects pale in comparison to the side effects of smoking, such as strokes, heart attacks, emphysema,

shortness of breath, and cancer. According to Noakes, cravings for a cigarette typically last between one and three minutes. Such a small amount of time, but when one considers these cravings are as powerful as an addition to cocaine and heroin, it may seem like a lifetime to these folks who will someday welcome being called a quitter. This course is being sponsored by the Arsenal’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program.

Tracey Fitzpatrick, right, getting a high-5 from Katy Noakes, the smoking cessation facilitator, for her stopping smoking the last week of January. Machinist Robert Day looks on. Day had quit smoking that week, too.

Photo by John B. Snyder

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Amazing what some will do to lose weight or to get snacks in the morning

The Arsenal’s January blood drive will potentially save 318 lives as the workforce donated 106 units of blood. The next blood drive is scheduled for May 19th & 20th. Many thanks to

those who donated this month, our canvassers, as well as to Linda Kane and Paula Martinez who coordinated this drive.

Photos by John B. Snyder

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Town Hall

Colonel Schiller’s Highlights

-$26m in new work has come in this fiscal year for just one product line.

-Currently working on more than 20 quotes for new work.

-Despite some challenging weather this fiscal year, the Arsenal is doing well keep-ing the workforce safer.

Photo by John B. Snyder

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