Gen. Via meets with Army civilian interns at Rock Island Arsenal

By Linda Loebach (JMC)July 9, 2015

Gen. Via meets with Army civilian interns at Rock Island Arsenal
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Via meets with Army civilian interns at Rock Island Arsenal
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Michael Leal (far right), an intern assigned to the Joint Munitions Command, tells Gen. Dennis L. Via, commanding general, Army Materiel Command, about his background during a lunch meeting held at the Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., July 8. Via held the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Via meets with Army civilian interns at Rock Island Arsenal
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Dennis L. Via, commanding general, Army Materiel Command, met with 12 interns assigned to Rock Island Arsenal-based AMC commands to discuss their futures within the Army, during a lunch meeting, July 8. Via met with the interns to discuss their ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.--Gen. Dennis L. Via, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command, met here for a brown-bag lunch July 8, with interns from several Rock Island Arsenal commands subordinate to AMC, to advise and encourage them as they begin their journey as federal employees.

"You all have done something very special to be here today," said Via. "Congratulations on being in the intern program."

"Many of AMC's most successful people started out as interns," said Via as he turned to his Acting Executive Deputy, Bobby Turzak, who started working for the federal government as a GS-3 intern and is now a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Via had some sound advice for the interns.

"Building relationships, being part of the team, doing what you do every day is so important," said Via. "People are watching what you do. Your resume gets you your first job, your reputation gets you your next job."

Via shared that Army Materiel command has initiated an ambitious new program, called 1,000 Intern Initiative, which aims to provide 1,000 internship or outreach opportunities throughout AMC, each year, for the next five years. These opportunities will provide federal work experience to high school and college students, as well as to recent college grads and military service veterans.

AMC has a workforce of 64,000 professional employees, 13 percent of whom currently are eligible to retire. Within five years, that percentage is expected to double, so AMC is hopeful that many interns may consider future employment with AMC or with other Army organizations.

"This is the most important session I'll have here on this visit to Rock Island Arsenal," said Via to the interns. "You represent the future of AMC."

Via encouraged questions from the interns gathered.

One asked if Via foresees any changes to the Army business culture to which interns will contribute. Via said that interns will leverage new innovations and processes to revolutionize how AMC and the Army do business. But he cautioned them to not neglect human relationships. He encouraged the interns to avoid sending an email to their coworker in the next cubicle, and to interact with them personally. He said their success as leaders will come from encouraging and valuing the contributions of everyone on their team.

Another intern asked Via what has been the most rewarding part of his career. Via said what has been most rewarding for him have been the times when he was able to make a difference for someone else, when he could help them accomplish their dreams.

Via left the interns with several golden nuggets of advice.

"Be the best you can be in the position you're in. Work out of your comfort zone. Get involved with, and be engaged in, your organizations. Achieve balance in your life," he said. "The best career manager is you, so avail yourself to opportunities. Exemplify character and integrity."

Interns who engaged with Via include Joint Munitions Command employees David Westbrook, Sustainment Operations Artillery and Mortar Division; Michael Leal, Material Management Transportation Division; Tischi Panicker, Safety Division; Julia Winslow, Safety and Risk Management; and, Patrick Wagner, Human Resources.

Interns from Army Sustainment Command include Lauren Aggen, Equal Employment Opportunity; and, Paul Armour, Information Management.

Intern Robert Davis serves as the Lead Budget Analyst for the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, and Laura Arnone is an intern with Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center serving as a Quality Assurance Specialist.

Army Contracting Command-Rock Island interns include Jeremie Garrow, Ammunition Contracting Division; Benjamin Gillen, Direct Fire Munitions Branch of the Ammunition Contracting Division; and, Mitch Chapman, Global Reachback Contracting Division.

Chapman, who is a purple heart recipient, wounded in Afghanistan, said, "I agree with what Gen. Via said about the importance of building bonds and making connections in your career. It's apparent that he has done this during his own career. My gut feeling is that he truly cares about his people. He's a true leader."

The U.S. Army Materiel Command, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness-technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment-to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations.

If a soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.