REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- A cross-functional team led by the Aviation and Missile Command was honored on Oct. 20 during a ceremony recognizing the successful disassembly and de-tanking of 27 Lance missiles stored on Redstone Arsenal.
The missiles were identified and planned for demilitarization as part of an on-going process to reduce ordnance that had been identified as obsolete.
"We have a very special opportunity today to recognize a distinguished team and celebrate the remarkable success of disassembly and de-tanking and demilitarizing 27 obsolete Lance missiles that were stored on Redstone Arsenal," said Brian Wood, director of AMCOM G-3.
"The manner and care with which the team carried out this task was flawless. Make no mistake, the unspoken publicity of this effort over the past few months makes this no less significant. This team has performed in a superb manner to complete the mission as mandated. We are here today to recognize the personnel, leadership and organizations that made this mission a success."
AMCOM G-3 (Operations) and its Tactical Missile Demil Directorate staff led the Lance Missile Demil Integrated Product Team that included representatives from the AMCOM Safety Office, Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, Redstone Test Center, AMCOM G-4 (Logistics), Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal-Garrison Environmental, and Program Manager Demil, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. The demilitarization of the missiles began in June and was completed before the Sept. 30 deadline.
From the time that AMCOM got the mission to demil the 27 missiles, it was determined that it would be a sizable effort requiring the expertise of employees from several Arsenal organizations.
"The entire team came together in a relatively short period of time. They de-tanked and demilled 27 Lance missiles on time and on schedule," said Col. Todd Royar, AMCOM's chief of staff.
"It truly was a team effort. No one member of the team had the capability to do this mission on their own. We had the leadership and the technical ability to successfully and safely demil and de-tank the missiles on schedule. It truly is a remarkable event and a remarkable achievement."
AMCOM G-3, Royar said, delivered extensive leadership, coordination and behind-the-scenes work to bring the Integrated Product Team together in support of the mission.
Lance missiles are surface-to-surface missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. They have not been be used by the Army since 1992.
"The two Lance missiles that you see standing here today are the last two that have already been de-tanked and will soon be processed for destruction," said Royar, referring to the missiles on display at the ceremony.
AMCOM worked with MDA and PM Demil to obtain the $1.8 million in funding needed to demil the missiles. During a 10-month timeframe, the Integrated Product Team devised a demil plan, acquired the necessary funding resources, developed and rehearsed critical procedures and, ultimately, de-tanked the missiles' potentially volatile liquid fuel and oxidizer, and removed the explosive components.
De-milling the missiles was "not just about sheer capability. It also took a tremendous amount of engineering expertise. Processes had to be designed. There was a lot of engineering complexity," said RTC test director Mike Kraus.
The missiles were safely demilled at the Redstone Test Centers Test Area 5, located in the southern area of the Arsenal. The 27 empty missile containers will now be recycled as metal waste.
"Of all the activities that RTC does in the course of testing aviation systems and missile systems, that includes aviation flight testing and the risk inherent with those activities and missile and explosive handling, this operation is probably one of the most hazardous that we do," Krau said. "But it was handled with professionalism and it was handled with great expertise."
The Integrated Product Team included: AMCOM G3 and its Tactical Missile Demil Directorate Staff -- Art Ather, Marian Guidry, Margaret England, Andrew Grau, Doug Hendrix, Tony King, Brian Schmitt, Brian Wood and Jeff Wright; AMCOM G4 -- Kenneth Fontaine; PM Demil -- LTC Terry Crank and Steven Barrieres; RTC -- Jason Bell and Brandon Miller; MDA -- Curtis Blanchard, David Goodall and Stephanie Wacenske; AMCOM Safety -- Brad Champion and Patricia Vittitow; AMRDEC -- Barry Ford, Jeff Lee and Robert Little; and Garrison Environmental -- Terry Hazle. In addition, about 20 employees from Redstone Test Center conducted the disassembly and de-tanking procedures established by the Integrated Product Team.
In completing its mission, the Integrated Product Team ensured the safety of Redstone Arsenal and the surrounding area, Royar said. It accomplished an aggressive schedule while maintaining strict compliance with applicable safety, security and environmental regulations and directives.
"I want to say thank you to the entire team and especially to those individuals who did the work themselves in demilling and de-tanking these missiles," Royar said. "They made it happen safely."
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