Army leader tells educators industry counting on them

By Kevin Jackson, AMCJanuary 27, 2016

KTC Presentation
Col. Sean M. Herron, commander, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Okla., talks to a group of 40 superintendents, principals and counselors about the importance of education to his workforce and the nation during a speaking engagement at annual adminis... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

McALESTER, Okla. -- During a speaking engagement at the Kiamichi Technology Center, here, Jan. 8, the Army leader who commands the ammunition plant in the community, told attendees at the annual administrator's luncheon, there is a symbiotic relationship between their schools and his organization.

Col. Sean M. Herron, commander of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, talked to 40 superintendents, principals and counselors from 19 schools who send students to KTC about the importance of teaching students 21st century skills and the difficulty the plant has hiring employees who have those abilities.

"What we need is an adaptable workforce and a pool of qualified employees," he said. "This is not a highly populated area and that is a challenge, but we need technical trades and skilled craftsmen to be able to do the work we have and they must have the ability to problem-solve."

In June 2015, Herron assumed command of MCAAP, one of the 23 organic industrial bases in the U.S. Army Materiel Command, or AMC. He explained the relationship between the plant, its headquarters, Joint Munitions Command, and AMC. He also talked about its core capabilities -- ammunition production, ammunition and missile maintenance, ammunition demilitarization, logistics operations, and off-site rail maintenance.

As one of the organic industrial bases, MCAAP is an Army Working Capital Fund organization that sells its products and services to customers from the Armed Forces and public-private partners. While he said business is good, his team is working on a plan for the future.

"Our desire for the next three to five years and beyond is to make sure MCAAP is always in a position, no matter what happens in our environment with regard to political, economic, social and cultural changes, to take strategic advantage," he said. "Not just to survive, but to be in a position to take advantage of whatever happens out there."

He told the educators their efforts set the conditions for the workforce of tomorrow in southeastern Oklahoma, but also contribute to the economic future of the nation.

With 400 MCAAP employees eligible for retirement in five years, Herron said he is counting on educators to produce students with the requisite skills for his workplace.

"We are absolutely, critically counting on what happens in your school districts to meet the demand that is coming for the next couple of years," he said.

Herron asked if anyone had read Tony Wagner's thought-provoking book, "The Global Achievement Gap," which outlines the disparity that exists between what is taught in America's education system and the skills industry needs for the 21st century. Herron said changes to the curriculum would better prepare students for the 21st century workforce.

"This is preaching to the choir, but education generates power for our nation," Herron said. "It really does. That is where the investment must be now and in the future. The investment must be in our children."

Herron said students who don't plan to go to college, or who are wanting career training or industry certification, should be encouraged to learn technical skills or trades that will make them employable. He added that MCAAP is counting on educators to produce employees with the necessary skills to join its workforce.

"We have to make our children employable, so I salute KTC and every other organization here, who do what you do to try to shape that environment," he said. "I thank you for what you do because it is critically important not only in this region, but to our nation."

That message seemed to resonate with KTC and secondary school administrators in attendance who listened intently during the 38-minute presentation.

"Everyone was very appreciative of Colonel's Herron's support of education and wanting to help develop the workforce to benefit the community here and the Army," said Angela Evans, director of Kiamichi Technology Center McAlester Campus. "They were very impressed."

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MCAAP is one of 14 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial base facilities under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Related Links:

McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Website

McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Facebook