This is the U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal's monthly newsletter called The Salvo. The Salvo contains the latest stories and information that pertains to the Army's manufacturing center at Watervliet. The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned and operated manufacturing center having established operations in 1813.

1. THE
Vol. 13, No. 12
SALVO
U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal Dec. 31, 2013
Fiscal
Uncertainty
Fuels
New
Strategic
Direction
Story on page 3
Photos by John B. Snyder
Photos by John B. Snyder

2. Page 2
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
Commander’s
Corner
As this year draws to a close, I wish you the very best
for a safe and joyous holiday season. I also thank you
for all the great work that you do every day to support
the manufacturing of products that help our troops to
come home safe.
For more than 12 years, we have had our servicemen
and women deployed in Afghanistan and there is
now significant discussion between the Afghan
government and our state department on the scope of
U.S. involvement beyond 2014. As the numbers of
U.S. troops wind-down, we should feel good about the
thousands of troops who have been supported by our
products.
Your sense of purpose to the community and to those
who need assistance is also commendable. From
your participation to the Combined Federal Campaign
(which continues to January 15) to your donation to
one of the gift drives for the Troy Salvation Army
(NFFE 2109 effort) and to the Cohoes Head Start
Program (Watervliet Arsenal Historical Society and
the Federal Managers Association efforts), your
generosity has raised more than $50,000 in products
and cash donations just in the last two months.
There is no way to measure the number of troops who
were able to come home due to the armor protection
kits that we manufactured or the precise gun systems
that out ranged our adversaries with uncompromising
accuracy. But it is safe for me to say that it was
significant.
You are a tremendous workforce who has helped
make America safer. Take care of each other so that
we can make the Arsenal safer, too. I am proud to
serve with you and again, I wish you the very best for
a safe and joyous holiday season and a Happy New
Year.
As you spend the holidays with family and friends,
please think about or say a prayer for those who are
still serving away from home. Their mission is not yet
done, nor is ours.
Commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.
Public Affairs Officer, John B. Snyder
Editor, John B. Snyder
Photographer: John B. Snyder
Arsenal Facebook Page @
http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm
Statue of Liberty photo from
Wikipedia.
Lee H. Schiller Jr.
Commanding
Manufacturer 6
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 endorsement 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.

3. Page 3
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
When potential workflow declines,
it is time for a new direction
Karen Heiser
John B. Snyder
Oh, it is great to be part of the Army-owned and operated manufacturing center at Watervliet. Workload
magically flows in every year to keep full utilization
of the arsenal’s vast capability and capacity. Raw
materials arrive on time and at the standard required.
And the arsenal has all the resources readily available
to ensure the workforce has all the tools required to do
their job.
And, if we click our heels
three times we will be in
Kansas.
Like any Army Industrial Base organization, the
Watervliet Arsenal does not
operate independently on a
perfectly climate-controlled
island with a steady reliable
supply of easy work, plentiful and timely raw materials, and all the skilled workers and money with which
to do the work.
Culture, each led by a member of the BOD.
Within each LOO, actions were implemented to address such critical areas as employee skills, business
development, internal and external culture, process
improvement, equipment reliability, and supplier performance. These actions have since been reviewed every week as implementation teams report progress and
make tactical course corrections to ensure sustained
movement toward all planned objectives.
But the journey the arsenal began in 2012 may not
be the correct road to take
as the Army works its way
through the final withdrawal
of combat troops from Afghanistan and through a
great fiscal uncertainty that
is commonly known as sequestration.
In an all-day session before
Thanksgiving, the strategic
planning team completed a
new analysis of the arsenal’s
current Strengths, WeakPhoto by John B. Snyder nesses, Opportunities and
Joe Claus, the arsenal director for emergency services, places his Threats (SWOT). Strengths
thoughts on one of the planning boards. An all-day planning sesand Weaknesses are internal
It has internal and external sion looked at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. – things we can control or at
challenges that must be
least affect. Threats and Opportunities are external.
known and then planned for to improve its business
model and to maximize its potential. To do this, the
Although we can’t control external Threats, we must
arsenal’s Strategic Planning team recently engaged in
take action by minimizing weaknesses that Threats
a series of activities to update the arsenal’s Strategic
could exploit. Suppose there is the Threat of snow and
Plan.
ice, which we can’t control, and the Weakness of bald
The Watervliet’s Board of Directors first assembled a
strategic planning team in 2012 to revise the arsenal’s
mission and vision statements. Action plans and performance metrics were identified along four Lines of
Operation (LOO): Products, People, Processes, and
tires on our car. By getting new snow tires we can
minimize the Threat’s ability to harm us.
Story continues on page 4, Planning

4. Page 4
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
Planning Cont.
Opportunities are external events we take advantage
of by using our Strengths. One opportunity identified
is the potential for medium caliber workload, but there
are no mandates that work will come to the arsenal.
Nevertheless, the opportunity is there, and if the arsenal is serious about getting that type of work, it must
ensure that it has shaped its capability and capacity to
accommodate the mission.
Action plans and performance metrics are currently
being developed to address the most significant
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
These action plans should trickle down throughout the
workforce and become part of each worker’s individual performance objectives.
Representatives from throughout the arsenal came together recently
to set a new azimuth for the arsenal as it weathers through fiscal
challenges that typically occur after every military conflict. The
results of this planning session will be soon felt as the arsenal has
charted a new strategic direction.
This is an exciting, challenging time to be in the
Army’s Industrial Base. A period of time that requires
the arsenal to fully energize its strategic planning and
continuous improvement plans to be more competitive
and more viable to the Department of Defense.
Yes, these are challenging times, but not anything the
arsenal workforce has not seen before. After every
military conflict, from the combat operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan to the War of 1812, the arsenal has
transformed itself to meet the needs of the country.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Arsenal product in action this past month
U.S. Army Spc. Anthony Barajas, gives
instruction to an Afghan National Army
soldier during a live-fire mortar range
near Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nov. 19, 2013. Barajas, of Los
Angeles, Calif., serves as an assistant
gunner, with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Task Force Patriot.
The training that Barajas has helped
provide these soldiers will allow them
to teach soldiers back at their organic
units. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st
Class E. L. Craig, Task Force Patriot
PAO)

5. Page 5
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
Little known pool of workers has not
been paid, but it’s okay
By John B. Snyder
wanted to continue to serve Soldiers. He became a volunteer in 2007 after attending one of the Retiree Appreciation
Just when you may have thought the federal workforce
Days sponsored by the Watervliet Arsenal’s retirement serhas had it tough having undergone three years of pay freezvices office.
es, six days of furlough, limited or no overtime, then we
Edmond Shephard, who retired from the Air Force as a
come across a small pool of arsenal workers who haven’t
Master Sergeant, said that he has been a part of the retirebeen paid in nearly 20 years. Surprisingly, they come to
ment services operations since 1995 and enjoys helping
work every week highly motivated
families as well as maintaining the
even though they know that they
RSO website.
won’t get paid.
Hunter said he started working
In a small office located in a
at the arsenal when he tried in 1994
1918-era building, five military reto get information about retiretirees man phones, computers, and
ment and there was no local office
assist walk-in traffic. They make
to answer his questions. He knew
up the Watervliet Arsenal’s Retirethat there must be other retirees in
ment Services Office or RSO. Colthe Capital District who were just
lectively, they have provided seras frustrated as he was and so, he
vice to nearly 450 military retirees
wanted to be part of the solution.
and their family members during
But for whatever reason, thoufiscal year 2013.
sands of military retirees and their
Ken Hunter, the RSO director,
families since 1994 have received
said the arsenal stood up the retiresupport that have ranged from surment services operation in 1994
vivor benefits to identification card
and he has been a part of it since
renewals to tracking down lost rethen. He retired from the Army in
tirement checks.
1990 as a Master Sergeant, having
Although Hunter is used to providing support, he was reluctant to
completing his career as a public
ask for support until now.
affairs specialist for the New York
“We need more retirees to
State Division of Military and Navolunteer to staff this office,”
val Affairs in Latham, N.Y.
Hunter said. “If we could get a few
“What makes this retirement
more volunteers, we may be able
services office so unique is that it
to extend our hours or increase the
is the only one in the country that
number of days that we provide
is entirely manned by volunteers,”
Photo by John B. Snyder
Hunter said. “Although it would be From left: Joe Novak, Ken Hunter, and Edmond Sheph- support to our servicemen and
great if we had one or two paid po- ard are part of the five-person volunteer team who man women.”
sitions, none of us receive any pay the arsenal’s Retirement Services Office that offers supThe other two volunteers that
port to nearly 7,500 retired military members.
for the hours we put in.”
round out the retirement service
This small operation is responsible for 11 New York
office are: Thomas M. Hatlee, a former Chief Warrant
counties, offering service to more than 7,500 retirees in all
Officer 5 who retired in 2003 with 40 years of service;
military services.
and Adrienne Daniels, who retired as a Senior Chief Petty
So, why do they do it?
Officer in 2004.
On the day of the interview, there were two other retirThe Retirement Services Office, which is attached to the
ees at work, besides Hunter.
former post restaurant, is open Wednesdays and Thursdays,
Joe Novak, who retired from the Army in 1998 as a
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 48 weeks a year. The phone number to
Sergeant Major, said that after 29 years of service he still
reach a representative is 518-266-5810/5931.

6. Page 6
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
History departs historic arsenal
Photos by John B. Snyder
Photo on the left is what one area of the museum looked like pre-move. On the right, museum curator Robert Pfeil looks at the same
area after the artifacts were removed this month.
By John B. Snyder
Robert Pfeil looked out his office this week into
the bowels of the arsenal’s museum, something that he
has done thousands of times since he became one of
the museum’s curators in 2000, and thought about the
long-term viability of that activity, as well as that of his
career.
Although the museum activity has been officially
part of the arsenal since 1987, the arsenal has been a
warehouse of battlefield artifacts for the U.S. Army
since the War of 1812. Although Pfeil’s lineage doesn’t
go as far back, he has been a part of the arsenal since
1973.
Now, both may be near the end of their storied careers.
Since 2008, Pfeil has orchestrated nearly $1 million
in improvements to the museum while enhancing the
museum’s community outreach efforts to tell the arsenal story. But as important as the museum has been to
the arsenal in telling its story to internal and external
audiences for 26 years, the museum closed on Oct. 1,
2013.
The closure was due to a major museum reorganization that is being conducted by the Army’s Center of
Military History. It is the arsenal’s leadership understanding the museum will reopen in 2015 or 2016 as a
“gallery” or similar type of museum activity.
For those who have visited the museum they may
remember that as they entered the foyer they were met
by a beautiful 1700s-era cannon. Now gone.
Just off of the foyer, was the exhibit hall where one
may find such things as Civil War-era mortars to tubes
manufactured in the late 1980s. They are gone, too.
Walking through the exhibit hall to the back twothirds of the museum, one was once struck by the cannon, mortar, and artillery exhibits that ranged from the
Revolutionary War to the Gulf War. In this back area
was also the recreation of a late 19th century machine
shop that was hand-built by one of the museum volunteers, Bob Rawls. Nearly all are gone with the exception of the machine shop, bunker buster bomb, and an
8-inch howitzer tube.
What one would find today is a shell of a cast iron
building that was constructed at the arsenal in 1859.
If only the walls could talk, but they can’t. But, Pfeil
can.
“When I now look out into the empty hallways and
exhibit floors I feel heartbroken,” Pfeil said. “I have
seen so much growth of the museum since I arrived in
2000 that it pains me to see it all taken apart in about
45 days.”
Pfeil said he is cautiously optimistic that the museum activity will reopen as a gallery in another year or
two.
“Maybe now is the time for me to retire,” Pfeil said.
“A piece of me died when the doors closed and I’m not
sure I should wait around for two years on just my hope
that this magnificent building will reopen its doors.”
The Center of Military History began removing the
artifacts the last week of October and should complete
its shipping by the end of December. Some of the artifacts are going to such places as Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort
Belvoir, Va., Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Benning, Ga.

7. Page 7
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
O h no, an O PSEC compromise
By John B. Snyder
My getting away from the office for a few days to
receive free training from the New York Army National
Guard almost sounded too good to be true. But after three
days of Operations Security (OPSEC) Level II training, I
wonder if I should have stayed in the warm comfort of the
arsenal.
Why? Because I discovered through this training that I
had recently committed an OPSEC compromise.
After just the second day of classroom instruction about OPSEC definitions, concepts, processes, and
programs my mind began to wander. I thought back to
Thanksgiving with my family and to my trip to New York
City after the holiday.
I thought about how my daughter sent notices to her
friends the day before we left to tell them about our going
to New York City on Sunday and returning on Monday.
She was so nice to keep her friends informed.
We arrived at the Rensselaer train station early Sunday
morning, but had to find alternate transportation due to a
train derailment in New York City. And so, off we went in
my SUV.
When I arrived at the hotel, I couldn’t find a parking
spot and so I broke down and used the hotel valet. The
attendant asked me how long I was staying and if I would
need the car that day. I told him that I was staying just the
night and wouldn’t need my vehicle until the next morning.
He was so nice to ask about my plans.
Check in went smooth as the desk person welcomed
me for a one-night stay and asked if I wanted to make a
reservation at another hotel property for the next night. I
said, “No, that I would be going back home the next day.”
She was so nice to ask about my travel plans.
After a day of seeing the Christmas displays in some of
the larger box stores and doing a little shopping, my wife,
daughter, and I decided to go to dinner at a nice German
restaurant.
In the restaurant, we were greeted by a waitress whose
accent made it seem as if we were in Germany. She was
very accommodating, pleasant, and from time to time, she
asked about why we were in New York City and how long
we were staying.
During the dinner, my daughter took photos of us and
was sending those photos to family and friends saying
what a great time we were having in New York City. At
the end of the dinner, I paid for the dinner with a credit
card.
As I walked out, I thought about the waitress and how
nice she was to ask about our visit and travel plans.
The next morning we wanted to do more shopping and
so we left our baggage with the front desk folks and told
them we would be back in about three hours.
They were so nice to accommodate us for another three
hours.
After a tiring shopping spree, we decided to go back to
the hotel to pick up our SUV and baggage.
The valet took my receipt and about 15 minutes later
returned with my vehicle. He asked if I was heading home
and I said yes. He wished us a safe trip.
He was so nice to ask about our travel plans.
When I got home, I had to put something in my glove
compartment but struggled to find space. I had too many
things in the glove box ranging from vehicle registration to
insurance papers to vehicle work orders.
Nevertheless, we felt good to be home, all was safe.
The story would have ended there except for my now
reflecting back on this trip with an eye toward OPSEC.
Yes, OPSEC processes and concepts may apply to our
personal lives. And as I soon discovered, I had committed
several compromises to our family’s security.
When I reflected back on the trip, there was critical information pertaining to my trip that I should have thought
to protect, such as the facts that I was leaving town, when I
was leaving, where I was going, and when I would return.
Had I thought about how criminals could have collected this critical personal information and then used the
information to select the opportune time to burglarize my
house, I would not have been so free with my information
to valets, hotel desk persons, and to waitresses. But they
were all so nice. Criminals aren’t nice, are they?
Had I thought about my family’s protection, I would
not have allowed any photos or texts announcing our trip,
nor would I have provided information about my trip to
people who didn’t have a need to know.
I simply did not think about the risk. From friendly
conversation, I was the number one person responsible for
making my family vulnerable.
By the way, did you think about the glove box? How
much personal information, such as your name, home address and phone number is available to thieves who may
be moonlighting as parking attendants.
Although I passed the OPSEC training, I didn’t feel
good. I had committed a grave compromise that could
have put my family, as well as my home, at risk. I only
hope my wife doesn’t read this story.

8. Page 8
Salvo
Dec. 31 2013
Face of Strength honors
those who faced adversity
this past year and thrived
By John B. Snyder
Searching the arsenal every month for someone
who’s talents, professionalism, or their call to duty has
placed them in an exceptional category of being an arsenal Faces of Strength is not an easy task.
After all, there are so many who directly or indirectly
make a powerful difference every day toward mission
accomplishment, as well as providing support to the
broader Army. What is tough, however, is finding the
right person, at the right time, to showcase to the rest of
the arsenal.
Once identified, their story is told in the arsenal’s
monthly newsletter, called The Salvo.
Through the years, we have highlighted such folks
as Gregory Stone who stepped in to lead the arsenal’s
welding team several years ago when the team’s supervisor retired. His sense of pride that he instilled was
uncompromising even when challenged. When asked at
the time if any welding product had ever been returned
during his tenure he said, “No way, never, not when my
fingerprints are on every product.”
Then there was the arsenal’s electrical engineer
Benjamin Dedjoe, who was born in the West African
country called Ghana. As a child, Benjamin was almost
electrocuted by an unsecured light switch. Since that
near death experience, he has had a profound interest
in electricity. After graduating from the University of
Ghana with a degree in geophysics, he left his home
country wearing a pair of shoes he purchased at a flea
market to seek the American dream. The year was
1996.
In 2009, Roxanne “Rocky” Mesick was also a Face
of Strength. As one of just a few women to have graduated from the arsenal’s apprentice program, it was that
piece of trivia that she did not wish to promote. In fact,
there hasn’t been one person in the four years we have
written about as an arsenal Face of Strength that has
wanted their personal story told. But their significance
must be shared.
A Veteran of the Air Force, Rocky’s sense of personal pride, coupled with a high level of self-confidence,
allowed her to be recognized by then arsenal Operations
Director John Hockenbury. He said of Rocky, “Not
only did she do great as an apprentice, but there isn’t a
machine that she can’t run today.”
These are just a few stories and there are hundreds
more within the arsenal fence line. So, who should be
highlighted this month?
The arsenal workforce, from contracting to public
works to transportation to machinists, has endured significant challenges this year. These challenges, such as
no pay raise in three years, furloughed for six days, no
or limited overtime, and a hiring freeze, have tugged at
the fabric of this workforce.
This period of fiscal uncertainty, or sequestration,
also put a damper on the proper recognition of the arsenal’s 200 years of continuous service that it celebrated
in July of this year. All 200th anniversary ceremonies
and activities were either downsized or eliminated.
Nevertheless, despite these challenges the workforce
professionally responded to several urgent needs requests, such as providing 60 mm mortar systems for the
Afghanistan Army, as well as closing out the year with
an on-time delivery rate that exceeded 96 percent.
Former arsenal Commander Col. Mark F. Migaleddi
said at his July 2013 change of command, “Many of
today’s employees are a part of families, generations
of skilled artisans and technicians who have dedicated
their lives in making weapons for our war fighters …
weapons that have helped countless numbers of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines to come home
safely.”
No matter what the challenge was this year, the
workforce made mission.
Therefore, for its strong sense of purpose through
great adversity, the entire arsenal workforce is this
month’s Face of Strength.

9. Page 9
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
Combined Federal Campaign
back on track with extended
solicitation period
We are almost three-quarters through
the Combined Federal Campaign and the
arsenal’s CFC Chairwoman Paula Weglarz
wants you to know that there is still time to
give.
As the New Year approaches, we are
currently above 50 percent of our desired
goal of $46,000.
myPay is available for CFC elections
for Army members. However, myPay can
only be used to make CFC elections until
midnight EST Jan. 11, 2014. Elections
made from January 12th through January
Photo by Billy Martin
15th need to be submitted via your CFC
The arsenal kicked off its Combined Federal Campaign October 29 during a
luncheon that provided canvassers the opportunity to receive the comkeyworker.
mander’s intent, as well as to learn more about the program they will supIf you have not been contacted by a
port between now and January 15.
keyworker please email or call - Paula
Weglarz, paula.m.weglarz.civ@mail.mil, extension 5256 or Tom Mulheren, thomas.j.mulheren.civ@
mail.mil, extension 5690 and they will provide you with a Charity Guide or answer any questions.
Snapshot: Former commander doing well
Former arsenal commander Col. Mark
Migaleddi made news in Afghanistan
this month. According to the December
15 posting:
U.S. Army Col. Mark Migaleddi, assigned
to NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan,
cutting a ribbon dedicating a new vehicle maintenance area at the Regional
Maintenance Facility in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kenneth G.
Takada/Released).

10. Page 10
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
CPAC -
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE “EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION TOOL” IS?
The Employment Verification (EV) tool enables you to securely and conveniently release your employment and/
or salary information to a ‘recipient’ (Lender, Bank, etc.) directly from the data source, Defense Civilian Personnel Data System (DCPDS) via email. All you need is the recipient’s email address along with your work or
personal email address to use as a confirmation and validation of your employment verification.
The information consists of employment only or employment and salary information. Employees can preview
information on the screen before they complete the transaction. The recipient and employee both receive a
password protected attachment, and only the employee receives the password in a separate email. The employee
must provide the password to the recipient. There is no limit to the number of verifications an employee can
submit.
For your privacy, CPAC is prohibited from disclosing pay and salary information about you to external organizations/individuals.
To take full advantage of the EV tool, log into DCPDS Portal @ https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil (your CAC
is required to access the tool). Select ‘Login’ under ‘Smart Card Access’; select ‘Army region’; ‘My Biz’; and
then ‘Employment Verification’ and proceed by selecting your details to share. You may also view the EV Fact
Sheet at: http://www.cpms.osd.mil/Content/Documents/DCPDS-EV-FactSheet-LO.pdf.
Holiday Spirit
The Watervliet Arsenal Historical Society and the Federal Managers
Association sponsored a local Head Start program this year by collecting gifts for 30 children ranging in age from one to 15. As some of you
know, the arsenal had in previous years supported the Head Start program when it was located in Watervliet. Despite a move to Cohoes this
year, the need was still as great.
Charlene Shahin, the program director at the Cohoes location, said
that there was no way to put a value on the kindness that the arsenal has
provided through the years.
“When one sees the joy in the child’s eyes or the sense of relief from
the parents, you know that these gifts truly mean a lot,” Shahin said.
Robert Pfeil and Barbara Ryan spearheaded this year’s effort, as they
have now done for about 10 years. Just about anything, from socks to Robert Pfeil, from the Arsenal Historical Society, hands
dolls, that can bring joy to a child during the holidays was collected this over donated gifts to the City of Cohoes Head Start by
program director Charlene Shahin. Photo provided
year.
Robert Pfeil.
The Head Start program is part of the Albany Community Action
Partnership that provides early childhood education to about 60 children at the Cohoes location. Children attend the Head
Start program for 6.5 hours a day.
“This program is more than just providing a free breakfast and lunch, we provide 3 to 4-year-old children a great start
on their education ranging from arts and crafts to computers to language and literacy development,” Shahin said.
The arsenal program of support began in 2001 when an arsenal employee’s daughter, who was working as a social
worker at the Head Start program, asked her dad if the arsenal could support some of the children with holiday gifts.

11. Page 11
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
Telling the arsenal,
your story
“HOMETOWN NEWS SERVICE”
The Joint Hometown News Service (JHNS) manages the Department of Defense’s Hometown News program,
supporting the military services. The JHNS staff of military and civilian personnel produces a variety of print
and electronic news products highlighting the accomplishments and worldwide activities of individual members
of the U.S. armed forces. Each year over 500,000 individual news releases are distributed to the 14,000 newspapers, television and radio stations subscribing to Hometown's free service.
The arsenal leadership wants to let our community know what you have accomplished and one of the methods
we may use is the Hometown News Service program. This is a simple and efficient process that lets us tell our
community and your family your news. This program is open to all arsenal civilian and military personnel.
The Hometown News Service program takes the information you provide and produces a short story, then they
market that story to news agencies in your hometown areas. They do this with the information that you provide,
so please be as accurate and thorough as you can. It will only take a couple of minutes to fill out the form.
Some of the examples for which you can fill out the Hometown News Release Form are:
•
Graduation from military schools
•
Promotions
•
Participation in major exercises or overseas deployments
•
Awards of Army Achievement Medal or higher
•
Retirement
•
Receipt of college degree, include field of study
•
Competition winners
HOW TO:
Go to this link: https://jhns.release.dma.mil/public/form
When filling out the form, YOU MUST enter "U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal" as Post/Base and "U.S. Army
Watervliet Arsenal" as the Unit.
From there, the form is self explanatory or you can hover over the question marks on the form for help. The
form will be submitted for approval and then sent on to our local news agencies. Please ensure that you attach
all supporting documents for the event for example: promotion orders, copies of the degree, copies of the citation etc. Without these we can’t process your release. Picture attachments are encouraged.
The event or news should be recent. I would say within one week of the event so that your story will have a
better opportunity to be picked up by the media.
If you need help or wish assistance filling out the form, please call or email the arsenal public affairs officer,
John Snyder, at 266-5055 or john.b.snyder.civ@mail.mil

12. Page 12
Salvo
Dec. 31, 2013
During your holidays,
please do
not forget
about our
customers.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE
CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A
SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE
SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWN UPS WOULD
CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
“SANTA DON’T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S
CHILL.
I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED
OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA,
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS
SECURE.”
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY
FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”
Anonymous