Photo By John Snyder | The commander of the Army Materiel Command, Gen. Gus Perna, being briefed by Machinist...... read more read more
WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. -- Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper today made his first visit to the Army's historic Watervliet Arsenal to assess the arsenal's ability to support the rising readiness challenges facing today's and tomorrow's Soldiers.
Today's visit could not be more timely as the secretary announced earlier this week at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium in Alabama that the Army will stand up a new four-star command called the Futures Command, as well as his vision for the Army by 2028.
During Esper's visit, he met with senior military leaders from the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Tank-automotive Armaments Command, and from the Watervliet Arsenal. This engagement gave him a great opportunity to provide his insight into the role and responsibilities that he sees for the arsenal as the Army transitions to fight and win decisively against any adversary, anytime and anywhere in a joint, multi-domain, high-intensity conflict.
"No other manufacturing center in our country has more experience in transforming its capabilities at critical times in our nation's military history than the Watervliet Arsenal," said Esper. "Now is one of those times when I need the arsenal to transform, once again."
Esper said that he is focused on modernizing the Army in six areas, which include long-range precision fires, a next-generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift platforms, a mobile and expeditionary Army network, air and missile defense capabilities, and Soldier lethality. And, the arsenal is directly tied to three of those modernization efforts; long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicle, and Soldier lethality.
"Just as our formations must be more robust, agile, and lethal, so, too, must be our manufacturing centers," Esper said. "Given its 204-year-old history of continuous support to our troops, I have no doubt that the Watervliet Arsenal will step up to the challenge, modernizing its manufacturing operations to ensure that Soldiers will always be prepared to fight and win our nation's battles."
Esper took multiple opportunities to praise the arsenal workforce for the great work they are doing today to support Soldier readiness.
"What I saw today reinforced in my mind the value of the arsenal being an Army-owned and operated manufacturing center," Esper said. "Whether it was making saddles during the 1800s or working today on the Army's future weapon systems, whenever the Army needed the arsenal to shift its priorities and production this great workforce made it happen."
During Esper's visit, he toured several arsenal manufacturing facilities where he witnessed the forging of a howitzer tube and the rough and finish machining of howitzer, tank, and mortar tubes, Additionally, he observed some of the great work that arsenal artisans are doing to support Army modernization programs.
The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously active arsenal in the United States. It began operations during the War of 1812, and celebrated its 200th year of continuous service to the nation on July 14, 2013.
Today's Arsenal is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-tech, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. This National Historic Registered Landmark has an annual economic benefit to the local community in excess of $90 million.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2018 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 271299 |
| Location: | WATERVLIET ARSENAL, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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