WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (May 18, 2015) -- The fact that the Watervliet Arsenal made an investment last week is not news as workers here often see the arrival of new machinery, ongoing work to improve water systems, and repairs to buildings.
But this investment is different in that it may take years to payoff.
Nevertheless, with more than 200 years in continuous operation, the Arsenal leadership believes it has time on its side given that this investment deals with students who are still in middle school.
Arsenal Machinist Robert Day and Machinist Apprentice Stephen Luther talked to seven classes of 7th-grade students on May 13 as part of the Cohoes Middle School Career Day. This was the third year the Arsenal has participated in this annual event and the second year in a row that both Day and Luther had supported the school.
Ginger Bruce, who coordinated the career day for the middle school, said the school administrators greatly appreciate the continued support by the Arsenal, especially in a career field (machining) that has wide application throughout the United States.
"I wanted the same two Arsenal workers (Day and Luther) back this year because the students gave them high marks last year for answering all of their questions," Bruce said. "I already know that I want them back again next year."
During the seven hours on campus, Day and Luther talked to the students a little bit about history, pride, and of course, machining. And the students challenged them in each session.
One of the students asked how machinists how could they apply their trade to one who has a musical ability.
Luther explained that the machines and parts they are machining produce a unique set of sounds and tones, just like a musical instrument. And when a machinist hears a tone that doesn't sound right, he or she knows immediately that something is wrong and the process should be stopped, just like a musician would stop if his instrument was out of tune.
Another student asked Day if he could apply culinary arts to his trade, to which he replied, "Just like a baker who must mix the right ingredients, in the right order, and then bake at the right temperature, a machinist must follow a similar process in making sure cannon steel is of the right properties, is heated at the right temperatures, to ensure that the steel remains tough and straight."
Although other questions that touched on such topics as problem solving, computer skills, and ability to work alone may have been more tailored to the craft of machining, Day and Luther took great joy in answering all of their questions and seemed to enjoy the challenge the 7th-grade students poked at them throughout the day.
Why does the Arsenal believe that it is important to reach out to the community's youth?
"We must keep in mind that these students may one day be running our local communities and so, it is critical that they know the history and the importance that the Arsenal has on the community and our nation," Day said. "Additionally, I love my job and hope that through our presentation that the students will someday love a job at the Arsenal, too."
Luther had similar thoughts.
"When the first class walked in and a student said out loud 'Awesome, it's the Watervliet Arsenal guys,' that made me feel an intense sense of pride that what we do does have an impact on today's youth," Luther said. "If I got one student to go home and tell his or her parents a little about the Watervliet Arsenal, it was a successful day."
And so, every community engagement the Arsenal does, which was more than 60 last year, is an investment in time to educate those who would otherwise be blind to the great work, sense of pride, and Arsenal history that resides just a few minutes' drive from where they live.
Just before Day and Luther departed the middle school, a few students came up to them and thanked them for their presentations, presentations that they said they truly enjoyed. Already the investment is paying off.
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The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously operating arsenal in the United States, having begun operations during the War of 1812. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in July 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, and its 2014 revenue was about $117 million.
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