News from the Army's oldest operating arsenal

SALVOU.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal - Since 1813
April 2017
A new dawn
is rising at
Watervliet
and
leaders, experts
are helping us
see it
Story on Page 3Story on Page 3

Salvo April 30, 2017
The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members
of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessar-
ily the official views of, or an endorsement 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 pub-
lication.
Commander, Col. Joseph R. Morrow
Public Affairs Officer, John B. Snyder
Editor, John B. Snyder
Photographer: John B. Snyder
Arsenal Facebook Page @
https://www.facebook.com/WatervlietArsenal?ref=hl
Cover Sunrise Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian
L. Short
Colonel Joseph R. Morrow
Commander’s Corner
To some, it may seem that only in New York one can
go from snow blowers to lawn mowers in a two-week time
period, because that is exactly what recently happened here.
In all honesty, I was kind of hoping for another snow storm
or two. After all, I’m originally from Wisconsin and the
summers there are often shorter than they are here.
But between the last snow storm and the middle of
April, there was another ray of sunshine that some of you
may have missed. On April 18 and 19, we hosted here
about 30 Army logistics leaders and subject matter experts
to discuss something dear to everyone’s heart — workload.
And unlike the last time we hosted a gathering to discuss
workload, which was in 2014, terms such as sequestration
and furloughs did not dominate the discussion. In fact, we
have an entirely different challenge now. In the matter of
three years, we have gone from pleading to get more work
to now asking for help with increasing our capacity and ca-
pability to handle a dramatic increase in scheduled work.
We are truly looking healthy in regards to workload re-
quirements for the next three to four years, and given that
we are only through the first half of this fiscal year, there
is still time for us to receive more funding for future work.
This environment is certainly a great challenge for us to be
in.
Now, some of you may wonder why I call having a sig-
nificant amount of future contracts on the books as a chal-
lenge. But as some of you know, landing contracts is only
part of what we do. So, what your leadership is trying to
do is to increase our capability and capacity by investing
in our workforce and in our infrastructure. I am hopeful
that we will be allowed to gradually increase our workforce
numbers, while at the same time bring on line new machin-
ery.
But whether it is new personnel or machinery, both
take time to ramp up. Nevertheless, we have made a lot of
promises in regards to delivery. And so, as we slowly grow
our capability and capacity, I need everyone here to step up
to the challenge.
Every Arsenal team member has the ability to effect the
delivery on our pledges. Whether you work in contracting,
public works, or manufacturing, I need you to give the Ar-
senal a 100-percent effort every day. If we collectively do
that, the Arsenal may grow in more ways than simply add-
ing new work.
The bottom line is that we have been working hard and
demanding an increase in workload. And now that we
have a dramatic rise in contracts, we have to deliver on our
promises.
Although most of my commentary this month has been
on workload, we also provide support to the community.
The community, as well as the nation’s Army, has support-
ed us for more than 200 years and so, it is only right that
we take time throughout the year to help the community to
remain engaged with its Army.
Please join me and several of your team members as we
march in the City of Watervliet’s Memorial Day Parade on
Monday, May 29. This one-hour investment of your time
will reflect well on the Arsenal and the local community by
honoring our nation’s fallen servicemen and women.

Story continues on page 4, “Work”
By John B. Snyder
On April 18 and 19, the Arsenal hosted several Army leaders and logistics subject matter experts to participate in a discussion about how
to enhance the Arsenal's capability and capacity to meet rising workload requirements. In this photo, ARDEC-Benét Laboratories' Acting
Director John Askew, left, is briefing Brig. Gen. Alfred Abramson, right, on the Arsenal's autofrettage operation.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Leaders, experts gather here
to develop strategy to
improve capability, capacity
During a critical time in the early stages of seques-
tration in 2014, the Arsenal hosted a workload summit
with senior leadership and subject matter experts from
the Army’s logistics fields to develop a strategy that
would ensure the Arsenal remained relevant and well
postured to support the future Army.
That 2014 summit occurred at a pivotal point in
time for the long-term survival of the Arsenal given
that sequestration, which is a provision of the Budget
Control Act of 2011, had recently impacted across-the-
board spending cuts in defense spending — cuts that
had weapon program managers reducing their orders
for Arsenal products.
Fast forward to today, and it may be amazing for
some to see how time has once again healed the pain-
ful effects of the ebbs and flows of defense require-
ments at the Army’s oldest, continually operating arse-
nal. After all, since the War of 1812, the Arsenal has
weathered countless reductions of wartime require-
ments as the national debate over guns versus butter
surfaces. This time, would be no different.
This month, however, the Arsenal hosted another
gathering with an entirely different focus than in 2014.
Nearly 30 Army senior leaders and defense weapon
program experts converged onto the Arsenal with the

Work Cont.
Top: A 120mm cannon preform barrel was just heated to nearly 2,000 degrees
and is en route to the rotary forge during a tour here on April 18 for several
Army leaders and logistics experts.
Left: Machinist Supervisor Terry Van Vranken, center with arm extended, was
the Arsenal's subject matter expert who led a tour on April 18.
Photos by John B. Snyder
purpose of developing a strategy to enhance the Arse-
nal’s critical capabilities and capacity to accommodate
a dramatic increase in workload.
Just in the first six months of this fiscal year, the
Arsenal has already attained its projected volume of
future contracts that leadership had planned, said Jo-
seph Turcotte, the Arsenal’s deputy commander. Since
October, the Arsenal has received more than $100 mil-
lion in new contracts with the bulk of the deliveries
occurring in fiscal years 2018 to 2020.
“Unlike dealing with the challenges that seques-
tration brought us in the early years, this is a good
problem to have,” Turcotte said. “And so, we aren’t
complaining, but we do need to get with our military
customers to ensure that we have realistic expectations
for future deliverables.”
Arsenal Commander Col. Joseph Morrow set the
stage as the group listened to him tout the Arsenal’s
history and its current status as the Defense Depart-
ment’s only large caliber manufacturer.
“The orders have been coming in so fast that we
need to make changes now to our workforce and to
our facility to accommodate a large volume of deliv-
erables that are due in the next three to four years,”
Morrow said. “When it takes four years to grow an
apprentice into a machinist, and two or more years to
bring on new machinery, we have to make decisions
now to shape our environment for the out years. And,
that is why this month’s gathering is so important.”
The bottom line, said Morrow, is this gathering
of Army leaders and logistic subject matter experts
looked at possible solutions to the challenges of grow-
ing the Arsenal’s capability and capacity in order to
meet future requirements in an unpredictable environ-
ment.
The defense environment remains unpredictable
due to sequestration. Nevertheless, sequestration is
just one of countless reminders of what happens to the
defense industrial base when wars end. The challenge
this time, however, is that U.S. troops are still serving
in areas of combat, armed with Arsenal products, and
will be for the foreseeable future.
Over the course of two days, there came about a
consensus — the Arsenal is so critical to Army readi-
ness that it must have investment now to enhance its
cannon-making capability and capacity for the future.

Story continues on page 6, “Legion”
By John B. Snyder
American Legion's
National Vice
Commander
Visits the Arsenal
For the last three years, the
Arsenal has had visits by the
American Legion's leadership
from the state and national HQs
The Arsenal workforce heard praise from a
U.S. Army general who proclaimed that arse-
nals are the first line of defense for our country
and therefore, the maintenance and efficiency
of the arsenals should be of the first impor-
tance to the preparedness of this nation. Al-
though this statement sounds as if the current
Army’s chief of staff may have just made that
comment before Congress, he would have
been 80 years too late.
In the summer of 1934, then Brig. Gen.
William H. Tschappat drafted an article titled, “The
Core of Our Preparedness,” which was posted in
the American Legion’s August magazine.
If anyone knew ordnance and munitions well
enough to write for a national magazine, it cer-
tainly was Tschappat. After all, he had graduated
from West Point in 1896 and commissioned as an
Ordnance officer; served at the Picatinny Arsenal,

visit. Such was the case in the preparation for the
American Legion.
What the Arsenal had found is that although the
Arsenal claims to have a great relationship with the Le-
gion, it wasn’t always so.
In 1932, local American Le-
gion leaders attempted to close
the Arsenal. But thanks to the
Troy Record newspaper, its
timeless commentary regarding
the value of the Arsenal to the
community and to the nation
helped save the Arsenal from
closure. In the defense of the
American Legion, however,
their efforts were noble in that
they had envisioned the estab-
lishment of a Veterans Hospital
on the Arsenal grounds.
Nevertheless, the American
Legion redeemed itself, so to
speak, by publishing an article
in its national magazine two
years after the attempted take-
over in 1932. Today, the Arse-
nal and the American Legion
participate together in more
than 40 community events ev-
ery year, and are often invited
to each other’s functions and
facilities.
Although this was Troiola’s
first visit to the Arsenal, he
quickly picked up on the es-
sence as to why the Arsenal is
still operating after 203 years
of service to the country.
“The one thing that stood out more than any other is
just how much pride each worker has in what they are
doing for our country,” Troiola said. “Wherever I went,
every employee was not just friendly, they were also
very committed to supporting our troops.”
Before the American Legion left, Arsenal
Commander Col. Joseph Morrow once again thanked
the Legion for all that they do to support the nation’s
troops, Veterans, and their family members. Troiola
echoed the thanks not just for the tour and the briefing,
but also for providing the nation’s troops with the
weapon systems that will keep them safe.
Page 6 Salvo April 30, 2017
Legion Cont.
Vincent J. Troiola, a National Vice Commander for the
American Legion, right, with James Casey, the NY State
American Legion Department Adjutant, observing a ma-
chining operation here.
Watertown Arsenal, Sandy Hook Proving Ground, and
the Aberdeen Proving Ground; and was the Army’s
Chief of Ordnance from 1934 to 1938.
In that article, Tschappat
greatly valued the nation’s arse-
nals having said that they were
very capable of quick expan-
sion in a national emergency,
as well as critical to what was
then called essential pioneering
work. Today, this pioneering
work is called prototype devel-
opment that still goes on at the
Watervliet Arsenal.
And several other points that
Tschappat made in that historic
article remain true today.
After the Great War, the ar-
senals had fallen into a state of
low production and investment,
Tschappat said. When wars end,
there is little investment in the
capability of the arsenals and
therefore, capability struggles
to keep up with modern tech-
nology. Although the general
public is little acquainted with
the arsenals, the scientific world
well recognizes arsenals for their
research discoveries, inventions,
and their development of indus-
trial processes.
And on a more positive note,
Tschappat said the pride of
workmanship is a characteristic of the permanent civil-
ian workforce. That old guild spirit existed then as it
does today.
But this review of a 1934 article begs the question
as to why this is of concern to the Arsenal today?
On April 6, 2017, Vincent J. Troiola, a National Vice
Commander for the American Legion visited the his-
toric Arsenal for his first time. He was accompanied by
New York American Legion Department Commander
John Sampson and several other Legion leaders.
As with any visit by a civic, business, or military
leader, the Arsenal staff conducts a quick background
review so that its leaders are better prepared for the

Story continues on page 8, "HVCC”
By John B. Snyder
Story continues on page 8, “HAZMAT"
Old toolmakers don't fade away,
they come back with students
Former Arsenal toolmaker James Hamilton, right, explaining to his students how he once used the cutter grinder during
his 23 years here. Hamilton is now a professor at the Hudson Valley Community College.
There used to be a time when students from lo-
cal high schools and colleges seemed to get the most
out of a visit to the Army’s manufacturing center
at Watervliet. But when students from the Hudson
Valley Community College visited here earlier this
month, it was the professor who seemed to gain the
most.
James Hamilton, who is a professor in the college’s
Department of Automotive, Manufacturing and Elec-
trical Technology, brought about 10 of his students
here to learn more about heavy manufacturing, which
up until this visit was only learned in text books. But
unlike most visitors here, Hamilton didn’t need much
explanation about the Arsenal’s processes and machin-
ery. After all, he had graduated from the Arsenal’s ap-
prentice program and retired from the Arsenal in 1999
as a toolmaker.
“What a great feeling I have coming back here,”
Hamilton said. “During my 23 years here, I learned a
lot about machining and manufacturing, which is ex-
perience that I have been able to leverage well into my
second career as a college professor.”
Hamilton said that when he was getting ready to
retire in 1999, which was during the decade of signifi-
cant downsizing at the Arsenal, his wife encouraged
him to apply for a job at Hudson Valley. He thought
that he wasn’t qualified to teach because the highest
level of education that he had at the time was a two-
year college degree. But his wife had a feeling that

HVCC Cont.
his more than 20 years of machining and tool-
making made him very well qualified for the
position.
And it did. Hudson Valley hired Hamilton
as an assistant instructor and through the next
18 years at the college, Hamilton was able to
earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He
was recently promoted to full professor.
At first, Hamilton was quiet, allowing tour
guide Apprentice Supervisor Robert Day to
take the lead. But nearly 30 minutes into the
tour, Hamilton seemed like he couldn’t
hold back as he came across some of the
machines that he once operated during his
tenure here.
As if Hamilton was running into some
old friends that he had not seen in a while,
his face lit up, his step quickened, and he
moved up front to tell the young students
about the capabilities of several machines,
just as if he was introducing the students
to his old friends.
Day stood back and watched his former
instructor talk proudly about the mission
of the Arsenal and the product lines that
Hamilton had worked on. Day had re-
cently graduated from the Arsenal appren-
tice program, which required him to attend
Hudson Valley for four years. He said that
it felt good to see the strong sense of pride
that was still evident in Hamilton regard-
ing the Arsenal’s mission.
“I believe that those students who ex-
perience the Arsenal for their first time get
an overwhelming sense of just how cool it is to
work here,” Day said. “Regarding Hamilton, he
well knows there is no other manufacturing center
in the local area with as wide a variety of manu-
facturing machines or as vast range of machining
skills as are used here daily.”
Day said that he knows from his recent experi-
ence in the apprentice program that visiting here
is great for the students because they were able to
take what they have learned in text books and see
those machining and metallurgy skills in action.
Additionally, no other manufacturing business in
New York’s Capital District has as rich of history
as the Watervliet Arsenal.
Top: Former Arsenal tool-
maker and now a profes-
sor at the Hudson Valley
Community College, James
Hamilton, left, takes the
lead from Apprentice Su-
pervisor Robert Day, right,
to explain the tight machin-
ing tolerances on a breech
ring.
Left: Professor James
Hamilton, left, talking to
Quality Assurance Inspec-
tor Stephen Luther during
the tour. Luther, who re-
cently graduated from the
Arsenal's apprentice pro-
gram, had Hamilton as an
instructor.
Below: Tool Room Super-
visor Anthony Polsinelli,
right, explaining how his
team manufactures broach-
es for howitzer tubes.

If a tree falls on the
Arsenal, does it make
a sound difference?
Page 9 Salvo April 30, 2017
By John B. Snyder
Despite snow still on the ground, activity at the
Arsenal this month gave some the impression that
New York’s campgrounds might have opened up.
After all, chain saws were loudly buzzing as they cut
through large and small tree trunks here.
But the truth is, there was an art and science
class, of sorts, in progress with nine members of
the Arsenal’s public works team and not a cleanup
crew from the state’s Department of Environmental
Conservation.
Ken Palmer, who is one of the founders of a
company in Connecticut called ArborMaster, was here
for a little over two days teaching public works team
members the ins and outs of tree felling. To him, he
said, cutting trees has elements of art and science in
that one must be able to visualize how a tree will fall
given the knowledge of angles and leverage.
One of the biggest safety issues with chain saws
is that they are ergonomically designed to be easy
to operate, Palmer said. Because of the ease of
operation, too many people believe that they can take
their purchase of a chain saw from a local hardware
store and immediately start cutting trees.
Matthew Church, the Arsenal’s safety officer
agrees.
“Although we contract most of our tree cutting
requirements, there are times when our public works
crew will take on the job,” Church said. “Recently,
I saw our public works guys starting to cut down a
very large tree, but I stopped the action because I
was concerned that they did not have the appropriate
training for the task.”
Church said that he, in coordination with the
public works leadership, put the tree cutting on hold
Story continues on page 10, "Tree”
1 2 3
4 5 6

while he researched the Army standards for felling or
trimming trees. He said that he discovered that Army
regulations mandate that if anyone on the installation
is going to cut or trim trees, then they must be trained
by a qualified person. At the time of the large tree
felling, there was no one qualified in the Arsenal
workforce to provide such training.
And so, the large tree stood for months until Palmer
arrived. The tree had become a symbol of workplace
safety trumping a mission.
Even after Palmer arrived, he would provide more
than eight hours of hands-on training on smaller
cutting challenges before attempting to cut the large
tree. And then, on a very breezy and cold morning,
Palmer and the public works team members attacked
the large tree.
Once safety rigging was hooked to the tree to assist
with the direction of the tree fall, something magical
appeared to flow through the public works team.
One-by-one, each person’s face lit up with smiles as
they picked up chain saws to finally knock down that
obstructionist, large tree.
After another 90 minutes of
deliberate instruction, Palmer and
the Arsenal team finally felled the
tree. It was strange to see grown
men shout and pat each other on
the back as if they had just won a
World Series, but that is exactly
what they did as that old tree
thunderously hit the ground. Even
Palmer’s excitement was evident
as he quickly called a photographer
over to capture the final vestiges of
what was once a towering symbol
of simply doing things right, and by
the regulation.
Public Works Operations
Supervisor Marc Kouffman, who
was also part of the team being
trained, said after the tree had been
cut down was that the training he
just received was the best of any
type of training that he has had in
the eight years he has worked at the
Arsenal.
“When given a piece of machinery that is easy to
operate, we can take things for granted by beginning
to execute the task at hand before we have thought
through the process,” Kouffman said. “This course
taught me to have patience and to have a plan for
the next step and not just on the step that we are
executing.”
Kouffman added that not only will the Arsenal be
able to reduce future tree felling costs, he will also
save money at home as he will be able to do a lot of
the tree cutting that he previously had to pay for. In
essence, a win for the Arsenal and for Kouffman and
his team.
According to Kouffman, he plans to send two to
three of his team members to advance rigging classes
for tree felling and to establish a formal training
program at the Arsenal.
In regards to the large tree, a lot of people in pickup
trucks have been seen slowly driving by the tree every
day. Maybe the campgrounds have opened up, after
all.
Tree Cont.

By Heather Durr
Domestic Violence can often include sexual assaults in the household. According to the National
Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV), perpetrators who are physically violent toward their
intimate partners are often sexually abusive as well. Victims who are both physically and sexually
abused are more likely to be injured or killed than victims who experience one form of abuse. Abusers
assault people of all genders, races, ages, social classes, and ethnicities.
Domestic Sexual Assault perpetrators can be both male and female, but 14% - 25% of women are
sexually assaulted by intimate partners during their relationship, according to NCADV (https://ncadv.
org).
Awareness of warning signs and early intervention is key to fighting this societal problem. The
National Domestic Violence hotline website (www.thehotline.org) describes several of these warning
signs as showing up when a partner:
• Tells you that you can never do anything right
• Shows extreme jealousy of your friends and time spent away
• Keeps you or discourages you from seeing friends or family members
• Insults, demeans or shames you with put-downs
• Controls every penny spent in the household
• Takes your money or refuses to give you money for necessary expenses
• Looks at you or acts in ways that scare you
• Controls who you see, where you go, or what you do
• Prevents you from making your own decisions
• Tells you that you are a bad parent or threatens to harm or take away your children
• Prevents you from working or attending school
• Destroys your property or threatens to hurt or kill your pets
• Intimidates you with guns, knives or other weapons
• Pressures you to have sex when you don’t want to or do things sexually you’re not comfortable
with
• Pressures you to use drugs or alcohol
These types of behaviors can develop over time. Extreme attention at the beginning of a relationship
can turn into controlling behavior. It is important to get help. Here are some resources for Domestic
Violence victims:
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• The New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline 1-800-942-6906
• Equinox, Albany County’s primary provider of services for victims of domestic violence. All Do-
mestic Violence services are confidential and free of charge: 518-432-7865
Get SHARP:
SHARP in relation to domestic violence

Abilene Paradox
By Mark Ripley
Sometimes project team members “go along for the ride.” They may feel overwhelmed by more dominant team
members or they do not believe their solution is as strong as the one agreed upon.
In essence they agree because everyone else agrees. This example of groupthink is illustrated by the Abilene
Paradox. Management expert Jerry B. Harvey tells the story:
“On a hot afternoon a family is visiting, comfortably playing dominoes on the porch, until the father-in-law
suggests that they take a trip to Abilene (53 miles away) for dinner. The wife says, “Sounds like a great idea.”
The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must
be out of step with the group and says, “Sounds good to me but are you sure your mother wants to go?” The
mother-in-law then says, “Of course I want to go. I haven’t been to Abilene in a long time.”
The drive is hot, dusty and long. When they arrive at the cafeteria, the food is as bad as the drive. They arrive
back home four hours later, exhausted. One of them dishonestly says, “It was a nice trip, wasn’t it.” The
mother-in-law says that, actually, she would rather have stayed home, but went along since the other three
were so enthusiastic. The husband says, “I didn’t think it was such a great idea. I only went to satisfy the
rest of you.” The wife says, “I just went along to keep you happy. I would have had to be crazy to want to go
out in the heat like that. I would rather have just gone out for ice cream after supper.” The father-in-law then
says that he only suggested it because he thought the others might be bored. The group sits back, perplexed
that somehow they decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit
comfortably, but did not admit to it.
How many times have you sat back and wondered why you “went along for the ride?” Was it to be nice; to
avoid confrontation? The next time you feel the Abilene Paradox happening around you, speak up with your
real opinion, with respect, of course. You will feel better about yourself. And, most likely others feel the same
way. It will help the team come up with a better solution.

2017 Regional County
HAZMAT Drill
Over the course of two days this month, the
Arsenal's Fire Department conducted a
Hazardous Material Drill that involved more than
100 local and state first responders.

Photos by
John B. Snyder
City of Watervliet
Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 29th
Save The Date:
The Arsenal is participating in the City of Watervliet
Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m.
We need volunteers to march with our floats in the parade.
More information to follow via email.

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