What began in 1813, continues today thanks to Army Reservists

By John B. Snyder, Watervliet Arsenal Public AffairsAugust 10, 2016

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WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (August 2016) -- In the hot summer days of 1813, the arsenal was built by an odd lot of untrained Soldiers who were suddenly thrust into service to ward off British attacks from Canada. This summer, Soldiers have deployed here again, but this time their mission was to help maintain the legacy of what their predecessors built more than 203 years ago. Suffice it to say, they are much better trained and equipped for the task at hand.

About 15 Soldiers from the Army Reserve's 305th Facility Engineer Detachment from Staten Island, N.Y., volunteered to conduct their annual training here. This is the third year that this Army engineering unit has deployed here for training and it has turned out to be a win-win situation for the arsenal and for the Reserves.

The arsenal is trying to complete about $20 million of public works improvements that began in 2015, said Robert Shadlock, the arsenal's senior engineer who is also the liaison with the Reserve detachment. Much of the Reserves' work involved the oversight of a major infrastructure project that will replace a 100-year-old water system, assess electrical connections in several buildings, designing the removal of a rail system that hasn't been used since the 1970s, and the development of a scope of work to enhance the value of three acres of underutilized land.

"In addition to saving the arsenal about $100,000 in labor costs, these Soldiers performed critical program management and design work that we cannot do at this time," Shadlock said. "We have several multi-million dollar, facility-work projects currently ongoing, as well as future engineering projects that need scopes of work drafted and so, this is where the Reserve unit's engineering expertise was used."

The 305th supported the arsenal last year with nine personnel and they immediately went to work, Shadlock said. Their effort was so successful that the arsenal invited the team back again this year.

"This truly is a win-win relationship," Shadlock said. "Not only do the Reserves enhance their critical skills, and do so while improving a historic manufacturing center in New York, the arsenal is able to gain, at no cost, valuable expertise at a critical time that will jump start several projects that have languished in various stages of planning."

The 305th arrived here on July 18 and completed their mission on August 5.

The 305th commander, 1st Lt. Louis Boisnier, said that he was hopeful that his team during the three weeks established the conditions for future relationships between the arsenal and his Reserve engineer battalion.

"Some of the major projects involve identifying electrical, masonry, and minor construction work that may be completed by a follow-on Reserve construction company from my battalion after we leave," Boisnier said. "If we can pass our estimates to our fellow Reserve unit, that will provide added value to the Army Reserve's presence here for many years."

Boisnier's team consisted of experts in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning or HVAC; electrical engineering; masonry; and inspectors to ensure the arsenal is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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WATERVLIET ARSENAL:

-The Watervliet Arsenal, widely known as "America's Cannon Factory," is a subordinate command of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and has been in continuous operation since 1813. It celebrated its 200th anniversary on July 14, 2013.

-Originally constructed on a 12-acre parcel on the banks of the Hudson River, the arsenal site initially served as an important asset for the Army in the early days of our nation due to its strategic military location to ground and water routes of transportation. Today's $1.6 billion dollar complex is situated on a 143-acre site and spans 72 buildings with 2.1 million square feet of manufacturing and administrative space.

-Today, the Arsenal workforce has more than 540 workers who are associated with manufacturing for the U.S. and allied militaries tank, artillery, and mortar cannons, tubes, and associated parts. In addition to the arsenal workforce, another 800 personnel work in the 25 military and civilian tenant organizations that are located on the Arsenal.

-The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned and -operated manufacturing facility that is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

-The Secretary of the Army designated in 2013 the Arsenal as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for manufacturing cannon and mortar systems.

-The arsenal is a subordinate command of TACOM LCMC and the Army Materiel Command.

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