This monthly newsletter has the latest news and announcements that pertain to the U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal.

1. SALVO
Story begins on page 3
Arsenal Apprentice Robert Fournier, right, receiving the Blanchard Industrial Supplies Award from Hudson Valley Community
College Professor David Larkin for his selection as the top graduate, having maintained a 4.0 GPA. Photo by John B. Snyder
Arsenal apprentice
takes top award
Vol. 13, No. 5 U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal, New York May 31, 2013
Also inside:
Commander’s Column
SecArmy Safety Award
New Orders

2. Page 2 Salvo May 31, 2013
The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members of the Department
of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessarily the official views of, or an endorse-
ment by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or
the Watervliet Arsenal.
News may be submitted for publication by sending articles to Public Affairs Officer,
1 Buffington Street, Bldg. 10, Watervliet, NY 12189, or stop by office #102, Bldg. 10,
Watervliet Arsenal. The editor may also be reached at (518) 266-5055 or by e-mail:
john.b.snyder.civ@mail.mil. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted
for publication.
Commander, Col. Mark F. Migaleddi
Public Affairs Officer, John B. Snyder
Editor, John B. Snyder
Photographer: John B. Snyder
Arsenal Facebook Page @
http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm
Commander’s
Corner
Mark F. Migaleddi
Commanding
Manufacturer 6
Although I’ll have one more message to you before I
depart on July 18, I thought I would lean forward and
start the transition of command to Col. Lee Schiller,
your incoming commander.
Col. Schiller is no stranger to the TACOM Life
Cycle Management Command as he commanded the
Sierra Army Depot as a lieutenant colonel. Since his
departure from Iraq last year, he has been an active
follower of our activities, as he has been receiving our
news releases and newsletters. He is also following
our command on social media sites, such as Facebook.
Earlier this month, Col. Schiller spent three days
at the arsenal walking our grounds and receiving
briefings from several key leaders. We kept him busy
as we peppered him with data about such things as
our strategic plan, contracting, command investment
program, personnel, safety, and our manufacturing.
We gave him just enough to wet his appetite for more
information about the great work that you do.
Needless to say, that when Col. Schiller takes
command on July 18 he will hit the ground running.
Speaking of running, we have had some good news
this month regarding workload.
In an era of declining defense budgets and talk of
sequestration, the month of May actually turned
out to be very productive for us in regards to future
workload. The first order coming in this month for
mortar bipods locked in more than 21,000 hours of
direct labor. This order was followed by another
order for mortar barrels that will bring us another $6.9
million of work and more than 18,000 hours of direct
labor.
We anticipate manufacturing to start for these orders
near the end of this year and extend into 2015. We are
also tracking several high probable orders that may
be announced soon and if they come through, they
will provides us thousands more direct labor hours of
work.
Each new order requires our unique expertise
that cannot be replicated elsewhere. So, please
be exceptionally safe during the summer months,
as we need everyone working together to get the
best products in the world into the hands of our
warfighters.

3. Page 3 Salvo May 31, 2013
Story continues on page 4, See Capstone
Apprentice capstone project signifies the end is near
By John B. Snyder
After more than 11,000 hours of design, manufacturing, and assembling, it came down to this ... 2013 Capstone Project. This reduced-scale,
fully functional lathe represents what a machinist might have found at the arsenal in the late 1800s.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Arsenal machining apprentices are one step closer to
becoming Department of the Army machinists as they
presented their Capstone Project at a ceremony conducted
this month at the Hudson Valley Community College in
Troy, N.Y. The Capstone Project is the culmination of their
schooling and a demonstration of their machining skills
they have acquired in the four-year apprentice program.
The 14 arsenal apprentices have for the last four years
attended a rigorous educational program at Hudson Valley
that taught them how to draft blueprints to machining a
finished product. While attending college, they were also
working full time at the Watervliet Arsenal trying to amass
8,000 hours of hands-on training that is required for an
apprentice to be considered for an entry-level journeyman
machinist position at the Watervliet Arsenal.
Although the arsenal apprentice program began in 1905,
its relationship with the community college began about 20
years ago.
Hudson Valley Professor David Larkin said during
the ceremony that it took the class of 37 students more
than 11,000 hours to design, machine, and assemble the
final capstone project. The other students, some of them
apprentices for local businesses such as General Electric,
worked side-by-side the arsenal apprentices to produce 18
identical projects.
The project was a late 1800s-era, fully functional lathe
complete with a steam engine, Larkin said. Each year,
corporate sponsors provide the capstone project with seed
money.
“When one totals the amount of work that the students
put into the project, the return on the investment is a
final product that is valued at approximately $70,000 that
sponsors can showcase in their businesses,” Larkin said.
Hudson Valley College President Drew Matonak said

4. Page 4 Salvo May 31, 2013
Capstone cont.
Top: Arsenal com-
mander taking a look
at the Arsenal’s cap-
stone project made
by apprentices while
apprentice program
supervisor, John Zay-
howski, left, and Op-
erations Directorate’s
Friedrich Schnacken-
berg look on.
Left: Arsenal appren-
tices in second row
await the presenta-
tion of their capstone
project.
this was a great accomplishment and a true example
of how much the college is committed to building up
manufacturing in New York’s Capital District.
“We may need to build a bigger stage because the
gathering here today is absolutely incredible,” Matonak
said. “This is a tremendous program in that every one of
the 37 students has a job or will have one soon.”
Two of the arsenal’s apprentices were recognized for
their academic excellence.
Robert Fournier received the Blanchard Industrial
Supplies Award for his selection as the top graduate, having
maintained a 4.0 GPA.
“There wasn’t one
highlight of my four years
because everything I did
was a highlight,” Fournier
said of his apprentice
experience. “This is a great
opportunity for me and one
that is personally satisfying
because I will be machining
the products that may save
a Soldier’s life.”
Right behind Fournier
in academic excellence was
fellow arsenal apprentice
Peter Northup, who also
achieved a 4.0 GPA.
Northup said the
apprentice program gave him an opportunity to learn how
to machine on just about every one of the 600 machines at
the arsenal.
“We started with manual-operated machines in our
first couple of months and soon moved onto computer
numerical controlled machines,” Northup said.
This 82nd
class of arsenal apprentices began their
training nearly four years ago and since then have been
working full time at the arsenal while also putting in
another 10-20 hours a week for their college studies.
The students graduated from Hudson Valley this month
and will complete their 8,000 hours of hands-on training
this summer at the arsenal. They will officially graduate
from the apprentice program in August. Upon graduation,
they will receive a certificate from the Department of Labor
saying that they are journeyman machinists.
Arsenal apprentices in 1905 dealt with chalk boards ―
today’s apprentices deal with high-tech smart boards.
Apprentices in 1905 dealt with mud on the streets of
Watervliet as they walked their way to work ― today’s
apprentices deal with I-787, I-87, and I-90.
Apprentices in 1905 dealt with steel that was not much
better than flake iron ― today’s apprentices must deal with
hardened Titanium and Inconel steel.
Finally, apprentices in 1905 dealt with competition
from manufacturers mainly in the Northeast ― today’s
apprentices must deal with global competition.
List of apprentices who will graduate in August:
Altenos, John Kusaywa, Dylan
Bashford, William McCarthy, William
Boak, Timothy Northup, Peter
Chirpka, Kenneth Smith, Jared
Day, Robert Weishaar, John
Delisle, Robert Wert, Brant
Fontaine, Timothy White, James
Fournier, Robert
Note: Kusaywa completed his studies last summer.
Photos by John B. Snyder

5. established by the Army Materiel Command.
-The total number of days lost days was decreased by 73
percent from FY 2011.
-The total Case Incident Rate that was 77 percent lower
than industry standards.
-No one placed on long-term
disability. In fact, since 2003,
no one from the arsenal has
been placed on long-term
disability.
Beyond the cold statistics
is an energized workforce
who actively participates
in several safety programs,
as well as who readily
recommend initiatives to
make the workplace safer,
Church said.
“In FY 2012, we conducted
command-level accident
investigations within 24 hours
of occurrence, rolled out a
new safety tracking program
called INTELEX that is a one-
stop-shop for all safety-related
information, reinforced
an incentive-based safety
suggestion program, and
empowered the workforce,”
Church said.
The arsenal also had
embarked on the road to
Star Certification in OSHA’s
Voluntary Protection Program
(VPP) and leveraged its
relationship with its local
union to ensure that safety was
part of everyone’s daily procedures.
Church said that given the awesome scope of
responsibility, his four-person team could not have been
successful without leadership involvement, at all levels.
“We are not a separate division anymore,” Church
said. “We have become an inclusive division in that every
echelon of the arsenal now integrates our efforts into their
operations.
Page 5 Salvo May 31, 2013
By John B. Snyder
Secretary of the Army pins industrial safety
award on Watervliet ... again
Photo by John B. Snyder
The Fiscal 2010 Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff
Safety Award of Industrial Operations banner proudly hangs in
the main production floor of the Watervliet Arsenal. The arsenal
was recently selected for the FY 2012 Secretary of the Army and
Army Chief of Staff Safety Award, now having received the award
twice in three years.
The Watervliet Arsenal announced this month that it
was named the winner of the Fiscal 2012 Secretary of the
Army and Army Chief of Staff Safety Award of Industrial
Operations. This is the second
time in three years that the
arsenal has been recognized
by the Army’s senior leaders
for its exceptional safety
program and record.
After learning of the
award, arsenal Commander
Col. Mark F. Migaleddi told
the workforce that this award
is a testament of their efforts
of never letting talking about
safety, and practicing safety,
to get old.
“To achieve its mission, the
arsenal engages in operations
that are inherently dangerous,
such as precision machining,
metal fabrication, welding,
composite filament winding,
forging, and heat treating,”
Migaleddi said. “Therefore,
to operate in this environment
we must stay on the cutting
edge of safety programs.”
Given that there are more
than 850 Army employees
who drive in and out the gate
every day; more than 600
machines that grind, drill,
and bore; and that the arsenal
resides in an area with some
of the harshest winter weather in the Northeast, this is
a considerable achievement, said Matthew Church, an
arsenal safety specialist.
Church said that some of the arsenal safety
achievements that led to the award are:
-No fatalities.
-A lost time rate that was 50 percent lower than the goal

6. Page 6 Salvo May 31, 2013
Arsenal History: Salvo 1978

7. The 60mm mortar system is used primarily by the
infantry as an indirect fire weapon when a high angle
trajectory is required to hit enemy troops, materiel,
and positions. It has a maximum range of about 3,500
meters.
The bipod consists of several close-tolerance
machined parts, such as traversing mechanisms, legs,
and barrel collars, that support the barrel when it is in
its firing configuration.
The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned and
-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest,
continuously active arsenal in the United States having
begun operations during the War of 1812.
Page 7 Salvo May 31, 2013
Another $9.3M mortar
contract brings 21,000+
direct labor hours
By John B. Snyder
Photo by USMC Sgt. Bryan Peterson
Afghan National Army infantry soldiers, who recently graduated
ANA basic training, conduct M224 60mm mortar training operations
in April 2013 at the Regional Military Training Center aboard Camp
Shurabak, Washir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Preparing
for Furloughs
Sunmark Credit Union’s Jim Mack providing the first of
three financial classes to the arsenal workforce in May
to better prepare them for the upcoming furloughs. One
of the key themes that Mack highlighted was that cutting
out little expenses, such as daily coffee, soda, and eating
lunch out can produce significant savings. More than 650
arsenal employees are members of Sunmark.
The Arsenal announced this month that it received
a $9.3 million contract to provide 500 60mm mortar
bipods for the U.S. Army’s TACOM Life Cycle
Management Command.
This multimillion dollar order will add to the
Arsenal’s current workload more than 21,000 hours
of direct labor, said Bruce Pienkoski, the Arsenal’s
program manager for this order.
“The order for raw stock material is currently
being drafted and we expect to start manufacturing the
bipods in December 2013,” Pienkoski said.
The first shipment of bipods is scheduled to leave
the arsenal in March 2014 and the order should be
complete by December 2014.
Ray Gaston, the Arsenal’s chief of the Production
Planning and Control Division, said, “This order
truly reflects the high confidence the Department
of Army has on the arsenal’s ability to become the
main manufacture of mortar systems, just as we have
become for medium and large caliber cannons.”
“What was just a few years ago a small part of
our overall production, mortar manufacturing for the
U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and for foreign militaries
is today our largest production line,” Gaston said.
“Although we have been known for more than 100
years as the nation’s leading cannon manufacturer,
maybe we can now stake the claim to being the
nation’s premier mortar manufacturer, too.”
Photo by John B. Snyder

8. Page 8 Salvo May 31, 2013
NYS Senate
21 May
With names such as “Dispatch Descent” and “Forcible
Fury” arsenal firefighters Matthew Kolodzie and Luke Ryder
took part in a grueling 17-obstacle “Hero Rush” race on May
18th that was almost five-miles long. Each obstacle was
firefighter and hero-themed that required each competitor to
drag hoses, crawl over and through obstacles and to tra-
verse hazardous material pits. This competition had nearly
2,000 participate and was a fundraising event for firefighter-
related charities. According to Kolodzie, “I want to field an
arsenal team next year to showcase our skills and physical
condition.” So, the challenge has been thrown. Matthew Kolodzie in action.
Photo provided by Kolodzie
The Arsenal had a two-event day with the NYS
Senate on May 21st when the commander was
the keynote speaker at the Senate’s Veterans
Hall of Fame Ceremony. Later in the day
when the Senate went into session, Sen. Neil
Breslin had a resolution read on the floor that
touted the Arsenal’s 200th Anniversary.
Commander’s Award
for
Civilian Service
Jim Uram received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service
during the May town hall meeting for his expert technical oversight
on a variety of public works projects and for his going beyond his
call of duty to support engineering and maintenance services. His
role at the arsenal was critical to ensuring that the installation of
major electrical systems and components were executed within and
around critical mission requirements. The commander said that
Uram is an invaluable asset to the arsenal’s mission.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Photo by John B. Snyder
“Hero Rush” Competition

9. Page 9 Salvo May 31, 2013
CPAC -
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center
MILITARY SERVICE DEPOSITS
Making a military service deposit can be beneficial when it comes time to retire, but waiting until retirement to pay it back may not be
your best option. The rules are different for how and when a buyback will affect your FERS or CSRS retirement so make sure you’re
looking at the right information. Consider the following points when you’re deciding whether or not to pay back your deposit:
For Both CSRS and FERS:
1. Military Service Deposits must now be paid in full prior to the date of separation or retirement.
2. The application and payback processing time for the deposit is approximately 120 days. Employees who are anticipating
retirement should plan accordingly.
3. Once a deposit is completely paid, you MUST request proof of payment. To do this, ask a payroll representative to submit
a Remedy ticket to DFAS requesting the proof of payment. When the proof of payment is received, provide a copy to the
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) to be placed in your Official Personnel Folder (OPF).
4. The earlier you buy it back, the better! In both CSRS and FERS, your Military Service Deposit accrues interest. No interest is
charged for CSRS or FERS if you pay the deposit in full before the first interest accrual date (IAD).
For more detailed information, visit: https://www.abc.army.mil/. You may also contact CPAC at 266-4058 or 266-4053.
CSRS FERS
Eligibility for
Retirement
Employed before 10-01-1982:
No deposit is required in order to
receive credit toward retirement
eligibility.
Employed after 10-01-1982:
Deposit is required in order to receive
credit toward retirement eligibility
Deposit is required in order to
receive credit toward retirement
eligibility
Annuity Computation Employed before 10-01-1982 AND
a. eligible for Social Security (SS)
benefits at retirement, deposit must
be paid for full credit. If no deposit is
made, military service time will not be
credited toward annuity after age 62.
b. are NOT eligible for SS benefits:
no deposit needed to receive full credit
Employed on or after 10-01-1982:
Deposit is required to receive credit
Deposit is required to receive
credit
Interest Accrual Dates
(IAD)
Interest begins to accrue on 10-01-1986
or after completion of your third year of
service in a CSRS position
Interest begins to accrue on 01-
01-1989 or after completion of
your second year of service in a
FERS position

10. Page 10 Salvo May 31, 2013
Save-the-Date
200th Anniversary
Covenant Signing Ceremony
June 11 at 10 a.m.
Building 110, “Big Gun Shop”
Photos provided by the Arsenal Museum
Top: The first nuclear-capable gun being manufactured at the Watervliet Arsenal
in the early 1950s.
Bottom: The “Atomic Annie” firing its first round in 1953.
WATERVLIET ARSENAL COMMUNITY COVENANT
SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SERVE OUR NATION
City of Albany - City of Schenectady - City of Troy - City of Watervliet
We, the Community, recognize...
- The commitment to our Nation that Soldiers, their Families, Veterans, and the Arse-
nal Civilian Workforce are making every day.
- The proud and historic commitment of the Arsenal’s workforce to support our
Nation’s war fighters in every U.S. military conflict since the War of 1812.
- The Arsenal’s skilled artisans who have manufactured the products that have helped
hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women to come home safely from battle.
We, the Community, are committed to...
- Building partnerships that support the strength and resilience of our Soldiers, their
Families, our Veterans, and our local Arsenal Civilian workforce.
- Sustaining the Army’s footprint at the Watervliet Arsenal.
- Helping the community to better appreciate the Arsenal’s story and its value to our
community, state, Army, and to our Nation.
__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________
Michael P. Manning Gerald D. Jennings Gary R. McCarthy Lou Rosamilia Brian U. Stratton
Mayor, City of Watervliet Mayor, City of Albany Mayor, City of Schenectady Mayor, City of Troy Dir., NYS Canal Corp.
__________________ __________________ __________________ __________________
Daniel P. McCoy Linda Weiss MG Patrick Murphy COL Mark F. Migaleddi
Albany County Executive Stratton VA Medical Center NYS Military Affairs Watervliet Arsenal
ARSENAL COMMUNITY COVENANT
200 Years of Continuous Service
200TH
Anniversary

11. Page 11 Salvo May 31, 2013
Memorial Day Activities
Photos by John B. Snyder

12. Page 12 Salvo May 31, 2013
Arsenal Appreciation Night with the ValleyCats
Saturday, 20 July
at 7 p.m.
• The Arsenal has coordinated with the Tri-City ValleyCats baseball organi-
zation for the 5th Annual Arsenal Appreciation Night.
• Game is on Saturday, 20 July, at 7 p.m. (Fireworks Night)
• Department of the Army Civilians and Arsenal family members may pur-
chase a "Reserved Box" ticket for only $5.50 (42% discount). These are
great seats Section 230 and 250).
• All Military Veterans will still receive a free ticket.
• You may also purchase a reduced meal voucher for only $3.50 This
voucher is good for one hot dog, small soda, and a bag of chips.
Contact
John Snyder
in Room 102
Building 10
(266-5055)
or
Melissa Ryder
at the Body Forge
(266-4829)
for
Tickets!!!
Our own Suzanne Delaney will sing the National Anthem
You may pick up your tickets
beginning on
June 12th
Contact
John Snyder
in Room 102
Building 10
(266-5055)
or
Melissa Ryder
at the Body Forge
(266-4829)
for
Tickets!!!