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S ALVO U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal December 2016 U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal January 2016 T HE S ALVO Arsenal, Legion sharing stories, community interests S ALVO U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal February 2016 A great mortar system ... we will now make beer S ALVO U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal March 2016 S ALVO U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal April 2016 S AL VO It's alive ... After 17 years ... Modernization!!! S ALVO Marines have landed at Watervliet ... with money S AL- VO Is it the end ... or just the beginning? S ALVO When Keeping NY Army Reserves Home pays off for NY Army Arsenal S ALVO Face New Face of the Arsenal U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal October 2016 S ALVO S ALVO U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal November 2016 Where are the Women? Other News Army Awards $8.5M contract to Watervliet Commander's Column Washington D.C. through the eyes of a child Veterans Day 2017 ??? S ALVO A year in review
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U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Apr 12, 2017

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Page 1: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

SALVOU.S. Army Watervl iet Arsenal

December 2016

U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal January 2016

THE SALVO

Arsenal, Legion sharing stories, community interests

SALVOU.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal

February 2016

A great mortar system ... we will now make better

SALVOU.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal

March 2016

SALVOU.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal

April 2016

SALVOIt's alive ...After 17 years ...Modernization!!!

SALVO

Marines have landed at Watervliet ... with money

SAL-VO

Is it the end ... or just the beginning?

SALVO

When Keeping NY Army Reserves Home

pays off for NY Army Arsenal

SALVO

Face New Face of the Arsenal

U.S. Army Watervl iet ArsenalOctober 2016

SALVO

SALVOU.S. Army Watervl iet Arsenal

November 2016

Where are the Women?

Other NewsArmy Awards $8.5M contract to WatervlietCommander's ColumnWashington D.C. through the eyes of a childVeterans Day

SALVO

2017 ???

SALVO

A year in reviewStory on Page 3

Page 2: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 2 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

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: [email protected]. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted for pub-lication.

Commander, Col. Joseph R. MorrowPublic Affairs Officer, John B. SnyderEditor, John B. SnyderPhotographer: John B. Snyder Arsenal Facebook Page @https://www.facebook.com/WatervlietArsenal?ref=hl

Colonel Joseph R. Morrow

Commander’s Corner

Photo by: John B. Snyder

I heard that some of you started planning a year ago for this holiday season and so, by the time you read this article you should have experienced the fruits of your labor. For some of you, the hard, continuous work paid off, while for others there may have been a lot of lessons learned. Nevertheless, I hope you had a great holiday season, and a safe one at that. Similar to your long-term planning for the holidays, the arsenal has on a macro level a very similar plan-ning cycle for what we consider here as a joyous occasion, too. Which is the on-time delivery of military hardware that will either make our troops more lethal or more survivable on the battle-field. Through our long-term plan-ning, we know what the end state will be even though it may be a year or two out. And, if we horizontally and vertically plan right, synchronizing and integrat-ing multiple actions, then our opportunity for success is very high. Just as many of you have experienced in your households. At the arsenal, we will soon experience the fruits of such long-term planning by the way of a significant multimillion-dollar contract. This effort involved a significant amount of internal and external coordination over a period of nearly eight years. From machinists to Benét Laboratories engineers to production planners to resource managers, as well as many other divisions in between, have been involved in this project.

The value of this contract cannot be overstated. This contract, which will soon be awarded, will provide con-sistent workload through 2020 and will require the exer-cise of every critical manufacturing skill set. As much as we love manufacturing mortar systems, those systems do not require the same, full-spectrum of expertise as is required to manufacture 105mm, 120mm, and155mm cannon systems. Now if you thought the hard work was behind us,

park that car back in the garage because now we have to set in place the conditions for success. More planning, more coordina-tion, more contracts, more tool-ing, more shipping, more…you get the point. What cannot yet be measured by this soon-to-be awarded con-tract are the second and third or-der effects. I am hopeful that as we start delivering a world-class product that allied militaries will be watching. If we do as well as I expect on this order, other or-ders may follow. So, let’s work

hard to deliver what we have promised. And if we do, this may set the arsenal up for consistent workload be-yond 2020. Do what you can to improve your foxhole every day. We know that we can do this order and do it well. Our mission now is to let the world know that we can do this, too. Great job to all who helped bring this order together. I wish you all a safe and joyful New Year!

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Page 3 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Story continues on page 4, “Year”

By John B. Snyder

From mortars to a new commander ... this was a

great year for news

Oh, 2016 was such a great year for news for the his-toric arsenal in Watervliet. Last January, James Yermas, the New York State American Legion Department commander and former machinist at the General Electric plant in Schenectady, was in town preparing for his organization’s Mid-Winter Conference in Albany when former arsenal commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr., leveraged a rare opportunity by inviting Yermas here for a command briefing and tour. Every year, the arsenal hosts a variety of visitors to its manufacturing center, from four-star generals to elected officials. But what made this visit different than all oth-ers is Yermas’ background as a machinist. Despite Yermas’ extensive machining knowledge and having lived about a 45-minute drive away from the arsenal, he admitted that he learned more about military manufacturing that day than he had ever known. Then in February, the arsenal announced that it had received a $4.6 million contract to start a new product line for the 81mm mortar system that will help reduce an

infantryman’s fatigue and movement time over a cross-country route. This next generation of an 81mm mortar bipod is a continuation of the Army’s effort to reduce the weight of small indirect fire systems that are carried by Soldiers, said Laura Pisculli, the arsenal’s supervisor of produc-tion planning and control. The Arsenal already manufac-tures a lightweight mortar baseplate and tube. “This multimillion dollar order will add to the Arse-nal’s current workload more than 13,000 hours of direct labor,” Pisculli said. The Watervliet Arsenal announced in March that heat furnaces owned by the arsenal’s public-private partner, Electralloy, had been approved by the U.S. Army for military cannon manufacturing. “What this means is that after significant testing we have learned that we can now use Electralloy’s furnaces

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Page 4 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Year Cont.

Left: Former New York American Legion Department Commander James Yermas, center, checking out a lightweight mortar baseplate in January 2016. Arsenal Foreman Scott Huber, left, led the tour, while Rensselaer County American Legion Commander Don Winne looks on. Photo by John B. Snyder, Watervliet Arsenal.

Page 3: Pfc. Branden Maurin, indirect fire infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carries about 100 pounds gear up the draw of two hills during the first of a three-day Mortar Training and Evaluation Program, Aug. 19, 2014. Photo by Sgt. William Howard.

to support our cannon production for the 155mm self-propelled and towed howitzer systems,” said Joseph Tur-cotte, the Watervliet Arsenal’s deputy commander. “The tests went so well that we believe we will be able to decrease our forge production time by nearly 25 percent, while using low-cost natural gas to heat the furnaces, both of which will significantly reduce the production costs for those two weapon systems.” As most arsenal employees know, or at least should know, the Watervliet Arsenal was built during the War of 1812 at what was then the strategic crossroads of early America. But just as important as its location, which is near where the Hudson and Mohawk rivers flow, was its ability to hire dreamers, tinkerers, and artisans — the people who built America. The nearly 150 machinists and machine tool operators who are today’s artisans work in multiple shifts forging, heat treating, machining, and quality inspecting more than $130 million of products every year. But as good as these folks are, on the second floor of a production building that was built at the height of World War I is an eight-man team of apprentices, machinists and toolmak-ers who truly epitomize the essence of a machinist. “These guys are our Top Guns, our Seal Team Six,” said John Zayhowski, machinist supervisor, last April as he tried to put into context the value this group of eight have on the arsenal’s manufacturing lines. These eight made up the arsenal’s tool room operation. The year the arsenal first started investing in an Army

enterprise initiative called the Logistics Modernization Program, basketball great Michael Jordan announced his retirement and Hip-Hop artist Eminem released his first major record album “The Slim Shady LP.” Despite great fanfare and excitement then, it took an-other 17 years before the Arsenal would ‘go live’ on May 23 with the LMP process that is now automating this manufacturing center. Scott Shadle, the Arsenal’s chief of the Business Transformation team that has the responsibility for bringing LMP on line, said then that he was very con-fident the arsenal would migrate into the new process very well. After all, just in the year leading up to the implementation date, Shadle and his team had invested several thousand hours learning from the implementation of LMP Increment 2 at a sister Army arsenal called Rock Island. The arsenal announced in June that it had received $8.2 million in new contracts to manufacture nearly 400, 81mm mortar barrels and associated parts for the United States Marine Corps. “These are the largest orders awarded to the arsenal this month and certainly the largest contracts from the Marine Corps in several years, Pisculli said. “In fact, June has been a great month for the arsenal as we have received other contracts from the U.S. Army and from foreign allied militaries that have totaled more than $2.8

Story continues on page 5, “Year”

Page 5: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

million in new, un-forecasted work.” Those mortar orders added to the arsenal’s current workload nearly 15,000 hours of direct labor, as well as several hundred hours of indirect labor, Pisculli said. With the backdrop of Soldiers embracing flags and organizational colors that gently shimmered in the wind on the historic parade grounds here, Col. Joseph R. Mor-row took command on July 28 of this 203-year-old Army manufacturing center from Col. Lee H. Schil-ler Jr. This formal Army cer-emony, which has been conducted here 59 times since the War of 1812, was called a Change of Command. In addition to Morrow and Schil-ler, the official party in-cluded Maj. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters Jr., the commanding general of TACOM Life Cycle Man-agement Command. In the hot summer days of 1813, the arsenal was built by an odd lot of untrained Soldiers who were suddenly thrust into service to ward off British attacks from Canada. This past summer, Soldiers deployed here again, but this time their mission was to help maintain the legacy of what their predecessors built more than 203 years ago. Suffice it to say, they are much better trained and equipped for the task at hand. About 15 Soldiers from the 305th Army Reserve Fa-cility Engineer Detachment from Staten Island, N.Y., volunteered to conduct their annual training here and concluded their service here in August. In September, there was mention of heresy in the ranks as apprentice Corey LaBounty did not follow his instructions exactly as his trainer here prescribed them. At other defense manufacturing centers, the failure to follow instructions might have got him fired. Here, his disobedience got him a pat on the back.

LaBounty is one of 10, first-year apprentices who made their first machining cuts on September 14. And so, when LaBounty’s coach, machinist Jonathan Morehouse, told LaBounty to measure twice and cut once on a part that would be used in the production of lightweight bore evacuators for the 155mm howitzer system, LaBounty said he measured five times and cut once. Arsenal employees walked into a town hall meeting here last October and were quickly jettisoned from the 1800s-era to the future as the arsenal commander un-veiled a new logo and tagline in striking effort to remake the arsenal’s image more contemporary and professional in today’s business world.

This was a bold, quick move by Morrow who doesn’t have time to waste as his tenure here will only be for two years, whereas, the last two commanders had the luxury of three-year commands to move the arsenal in a new direc-tion. Last month, the arse-nal highlighted a concern by some that its storied history was at risk of becoming a footnote in an arsenal history book as Margaret Paone has become the last female machinist still on the pro-duction floor.

Ever since that hot summer in 1813 when the arsenal began shipping products to a young Army during the War of 1812, women have toiled side-by-side their male counterparts in the arsenal production bays, packing flan-nel ammunition cartridges or running five-axis machines. Women’s employment peaked here during World War II, when more than 3,000 women made up about 30 per-cent of the workforce. Women today are only 11 percent of the workforce, but it is their presence, or the lack of, on the production floors where the numbers may be most concerning. The many tales of success, partnerships, or visits that will be reported on in 2017 is yet to be known. Never-theless, there are several multimillion-dollar contracts that are waiting to be signed and so, stay tuned for what should be a very busy and interesting 2017.

Page 5 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Year Cont.

Maj. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters Jr., center, officiating the change of command between outgoing commander Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr., right, and incoming commander Col. Joseph Morrow.

Photos by John B. Snyder

Page 6: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

The power of a wreath

may end years of inattention

Page 6 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

By John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 7, “Wreath”

Photos by John B. Snyder

As a result of an initiative by two arsenal Veterans, the arsenal brought about a higher sense of honor and respect to those who are interred here. Some may say it was a "simple" cer-emony, but there is nothing "simple" when it comes to paying the proper dignified respect in the arsenal's hallowed grounds.

The Watervliet Arsenal recently acknowledged that it had on its hallowed grounds fallen behind the nation in the respectful and dignified honoring of those Sol-diers and arsenal civilians who are interred here.

Located on the northeast corner of the arsenal is a 13-plot cemetery whose interred remains include those of 12-year-old armorer John Tisdale and 42-year-old Sol-dier Henry Nadeu. This cemetery is well off of high-traffic areas and because of that, the cemetery rarely has visitors.

Earlier this year, the arsenal’s Public Works team re-placed an eyesore of a chain-linked fence and aligned and up righted the headstones. Improvements that were well overdue.

The one thing that remained missing for these forgot-ten few was any action to remind the arsenal com-munity about those who will always remain here. But more importantly, some sort of formal activity that all would deem as an appropriate response to honor and recognize those fallen few.

Due in large part to the initiative of two arsenal em-ployees, the arsenal may now have a way ahead in providing a respectful and dignified honoring of Sol-diers and arsenal civilians who are buried here.

Stephen Verrigni, an arsenal quality assurance special-ist, and Vincent La Clair, an arsenal security officer, had participated in several Wreaths Across America campaigns with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle As-sociation. The Wreaths Across America campaign has taken on a bold effort to teach younger generations about the value of their freedoms, while honoring those who sacrificed to protect those freedoms.

When founder of Wreaths Across America, Morrill Worcester, came up with his idea in 1992 to place ex-cess wreaths from his company on the graves in the older sections of the Arlington National Cemetery, he probably could not have imagined the success he

Page 7: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 7 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Wreath Cont.

Arsenal Upcoming Events

would achieve many years later. In 2016, Wreaths Across America provided wreaths on the graves of Veterans in more than 1,100 cemeteries in all 50 Unit-ed States, at sea, and abroad.

With that background, Verrigni and La Clair thought they could mirror that campaign at the arsenal’s cem-etery.

“In cemeteries across the country rest the remains of the men and women who have defended and given their lives in the defense of our Nation,” Verrigni said. “But too often in smaller cemeteries, the gravesites of those who have served remain undecorated and have been forgotten.”

And so, on December 8, arsenal Commander Joseph Morrow, his Chief of Quality Systems and Continuous Improvement Karen Heiser, and members of the local Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association conducted the first wreath laying ceremony here.

We all should be honored to have a cemetery here, Verrigni said. And a simple ceremony conducted once a year should not be too much to ask of our workforce.

Top: The arsenal's cemetery just prior to the ceremony. There are 13 Solders and arsenal civilians who are interred at the arsenal.Bottom: Arsenal Commander Col. Joseph Morrow speaking to those who braved the cold to attend the wreath-laying ceremony.

New Year's: Sunday, 1 January...Federal holiday on 2 January

Blood Drive: 10-11 January, Post Restaurant

Martin Luther King Day: 16 January...Federal Holiday

TACOM Command Inspection of SHARP: 18-19 January

Arsenal Job Fair: 20 January, 12 - 7 p.m., Cannon Club

Presidents' Day: 20 February...Federal Holiday

Page 8: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

By John B. Snyder

Only at the arsenal would debate about generosity turn heated

Page 8 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Story continues on page 9, "Chili”

Every year, the national Combined Federal Campaign has the ability to transform countless actions of generosity into good deeds that effect tens of thousands. Sometimes the good deeds save lives, animals, as well as the environment. And even here at the arsenal this month, the CFC had the power of transforming a ma-chinist into a cook. No there wasn’t a magic show, there was a chili cook off. Machinist Joshua Feldman, who completed his apprentice-ship earlier this year, is a jour-neyman machinist who knows how to tweak the ingredients of steel through forging and heavy pressing to make the world’s best howitzer, tank, and mortar tubes. But as good as he is on the production floors, it was his entry into the arsenal’s first Chili Cook Off competition that brought him recognition from the commander. A competition brought about by the CFC. The Chili Cook Off competition was the brainchild of Paula Martinez, an arsenal program and manage-ment analyst, who spearheaded this year’s arsenal CFC effort. Martinez said that she thought the cook off would be a great way to help promote and raise money for the CFC effort, while creating a fun event that would bring the arsenal workforce together. But anytime there is something new introduced here, challenges

will surface. “I was a little concerned about one week out from the competition when I only had three people volunteer to cook,” Martinez said. “And so, I am very surprised by and apprecia-tive of the overwhelming sup-port of 11 employees who pro-vided nearly 50 quarts of chili.” Martinez explained that the 11 cook-off entrants paid for their own ingredients and then donated their chili to support the fund-raising aspect of the cook off. Linda Kane, who works in the arsenal’s command group, said that when she heard that there were only three entrants who had signed up just one week out of the cook off, she

had to get involved. “I liked the fact that all the proceeds go to the Combined Federal Campaign,” Kane said. “It was a good investment of my time (four hours of prepara-tion) to help the arsenal and the community.” Kane’s secret ingredient was a special beer. When questioned if she was trying to get the workforce drunk, Kane swore that the alcohol cooks off when the chili is heated. That was her story but suffice it to say that some said after tasting her chili that Kane should

Page 9: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 9 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

Chili Cont.have titled her chili, “Happy Hour.” There were two judges for the event: the arsenal commander, Col. Joseph Morrow; and his deputy, Joseph Turcotte. Both claimed unique qualifications to judge. Morrow said he has traveled the world eating spicy foods and claimed that there isn’t a cook in New York who can cook anything too spicy and or too hot for him. Ok, he is the commander and far be it for anyone to question his qualifications. On the other hand, Turcotte claims that years ago he won an arsenal chili cook off, but one that wasn’t tied to a fund raiser. Ok, he self-certified his qualifications to judge because no one else was here in the 1980s when he suppos-edly won. He also said that his secret chili recipe is in the arsenal’s most recent cook-book. Secret??? Although both had their individual styles as to how they judged for the best taste, hottest, and the mildest chili, they came to a unified con-clusion. Joshua Feldman was awarded the best tasting chili, Edward Stewart the mildest tasting chili, and Ed Hollenbeck the hottest chili. Given that Hollenbeck’s chili was named Volcano, he may have swayed the vote before any tasting was complete. Nevertheless, there were no alibis from the other contestants or any taste buds left after sam-pling Hollenbeck’s chili. Feldman, Stewart, and Hollenbeck weren’t the only winners that day, Martinez said the chili cook off raised $200 for the Combined Federal Campaign.

Counterclockwise from Top:

Arsenal Commander Col. Joseph Morrow awarding Machinist Joshua Feldman his first-place prize for the best tasting chili.

Administrative Assistant Linda Kane, who submitted an entry, watches the arsenal commander taste the chili entrees. Please note the cash that appears to be by Kane. Was it an at-tempted payoff?

Arsenal Cook Eddy Hollenbeck re-ceiving an award for the hottest chili.

Industrial Specialist Edward Stewart re-ceiving an award for the most mild chili.

Photos by John B. Snyder

Page 10: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 10 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

By Heather Durr

Get SHARP: When bullying gets out of control

John and Kelly Halligan lost their 13-year-old son, Ryan, to suicide on Oct. 7, 2003. At the time of his death, Ryan was a student at a middle school in Essex Junction, Vermont. It was revealed in much greater detail after Ryan’s death that he was ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and on-line. Mr. Halligan has been outspoken about the need for more education and prevention of bullying, cyberbullying and teen suicide throughout the United States, Canada, and Latin America. He and his wife Kelly have ap-peared on several national TV programs including Primetime with Diane Sawyer, PBS Frontline, and Oprah.… So what does this mean for a WVA Employee who is a Father, Mother, Aunt, Uncle, or Grandparent of a Teen? With most of us working full time and squeezing in cooking, cleaning, food shopping, and shuttling kids between events –it can be a challenge to get insight into what is going on in your child’s life – particularly if the bullying/cyber bullying is of a sexual nature.

1. Know the warning signs: - Here are five Warning signs for depression in Teens:

** Feelings of sadness or hopelessness, often accompanied by anxiety.

** Declining school performance.

** Loss of pleasure/interest in social and sports activities.

** Sleeping too little or too much.

** Changes in weight or appetite.

2. Take action: Three Steps Parents Can Take:

**Get your child help (medical or mental health professional).

**Support your child (listen, avoid undue criticism, remain connected).

**Become informed (library, local support group, Internet).

3. Seeking Professional Help You can make a difference by helping those in need find a knowledge-able mental health professional.

** For clinical referrals, contact the American Psychological Association at 1-800-964-2000, or visit their web-site at http://helping.apa.org, then click on “Find a Psychologist.”

** For a psychiatric referral, contact the American Psychiatric Association at (202) 682-6325 or go to the web-site at http://www.psych.org, click on “Public Information,” then click on “Choosing a Psychiatrist.

There is more information at www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org

Page 11: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 11 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

LEAN CornerLong-Term Continuous Perspective

Looking at the Long-Term Continuous Improvement Perspective

Continuous improvement is a long-term strategy to improve your business in terms of customer value, quality, speed, flexibility and reduced cost. In the current perspective today, most businesses are look-ing at short-term strategies just to survive.

So how do you balance the current realities with the need to pursue continuous improvement initia-tives for the future? As stated from the President of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Ralph Keller, “This is not an easy dilemma to resolve but what is clear from looking at the history of successful companies is that long-term strategies, such as continuous improvement, cannot be abandoned if future growth and success for the business is the objective.”

One of the primary objectives of continuous improvement strategies is to increase the skills and capa-bilities of all of the organization’s employees so they can continually engage in effective problem solving in their work areas. For those who believe, you know that increasing the skills of your people can make your area perform better. This is one of the most important aspects of continuous improvement -- but what are you doing to balance your company’s short- and long-term issues? The answer may be that you have to do whatever needs to be done to ensure survival, but that should not include discontinuing your skills development and continuous improvement efforts. When business conditions improve, you’ll need well-trained people to serve your customers and make your business globally competitive.

While retaining people and devoting their idle time to training and skills development may be more costly short-term, it could be the smart play long-term. Many companies underestimate the value of the knowledge that employees hold in their heads and the cost of new employees to relearn what the current employees already know. Don’t make the mistake of taking a short-term view to your continu-ous improvement efforts to maximize current profitability at the expense of long-term growth and skills development of your workforce. Instead, preserve your employees' skills and knowledge wherever you can. It’s the smart business move if you have a long-term perspective.

By Kyle Buono

Page 12: U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Newsletter - December 2016

Page 12 Salvo Dec. 31, 2016

The physician the arsenal's health clinic had for much of 2016 had an ambitious vision — to meet every one of the more than 800 arsenal employees. Even though the arsenal physician is now gone, his vision is still alive. Army regulations require the health clinic to have a medical record on every employee, but there is no requirement for an employee to provide their personal health data to the record. And so, the arsenal physician believed that if he was able to meet with each employee that many of the concerns that they have in regards to providing personal health information may be softened. In essence, he wanted to do more than simply create a medical record on every employee. Laura Garramone, the arsenal’s health clinic supervi-sor, said she wants to take up the initiative in 2017 but will do so by working closely with the arsenal’s Civilian Personnel Activ-ity Center and with the arsenal’s union, NFFE Local 2109, to ensure that employees’ rights and personal information are protected. “I know that there will be some who do not wish to go into detail about their health with us, and that is OK,” Gar-ramone said. “But if nothing else, we want to establish a closer relationship with the workforce so that we may better serve them or possibly, to save their lives.” Union Local 2109 President Donny Gibbs said that although he supports the clinic’s efforts he understands that many here will not provide their personal health in-formation. “The Report of Medical History form is not an option, everyone has to fill it out,” Gibbs said. “But unlike the personal relationships that many workers have with their primary care physicians, there will be some here who simply will not trust sharing their very personal informa-

tion with the arsenal’s clinic who they don’t have a close, personal relationship with.” Nevertheless, Gibbs said that he has provided his per-sonal health information to the health clinic for two main reasons. “I thought that as the leader of the arsenal’s union that I should be a role model and step up to the plate,” Gibbs said. “But more importantly, I know that if the health clinic has my personal health information readily avail-able if I fall sick or injured at work, that my life may be saved.” Garramone said that beyond providing physicals, eye exams, and flu vaccinations, that she and her staff are available to answer employees’ questions about their

health care. “People sometimes feel that they are being rushed out of their family care clinics and therefore, fail to ask important questions regarding

their medication or treatment,” Garramone said. “Although we are not a replacement for a family practice doctor or an on-call treatment center, employees may come to us if they have questions about the medication or the treatment

that has been prescribed to them.” In addition to monitor-

ing the current health of the workforce, the health clinic is also charged with improving the overall industrial hy-giene of the Arsenal. This health effort is forward look-ing in that clinic staff closely work with Arsenal Safety and Industrial Hygiene personnel to prevent safety-relat-ed accidents and injuries. The Watervliet Health Clinic is supported by the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) at Fort Drum, N.Y., which will soon provide another physician to the arsenal’s health clinic. Once he or she arrives, the health clinic will energize the effort to create a medical history packet on every employee.

By John B. Snyder

Trying to improve health care, one patient at a time