HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE


facilities remained. In 2013, the Army continues to maintain a significant organic base. Today,


it consists of six


maintenance depots, three manufac- turing arsenals, 11 ammunition plants, activities, depots, and centers, and the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center. (See map on Page 22.)


Te organic base not only supports cur- rent and future defense manufacturing and maintenance needs, but also con- tinues to retain skill sets necessary for unique military industrial requirements.


FROM THE FIELD TO THE FLOOR Continuing her service to the nation and a proud tradition in the Army’s organic industrial base, Lorri Gill is one of 785 veterans who work at Anniston Army Depot, AL. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps for almost five years, working as a diesel mechanic and earning the rank of corpo- ral. (Photo by Jennifer Bacchus, AMC)


A NEW ERA Criticized for its seemingly inherent inefficiencies,


excess sought capacity base’s relevance,


to maintain increase


and


protected status under the Arsenal Act and other public laws, the Army has consistently organic


the its


efficiency and achieve a valuable long- term return on investment. Current defense budget realities, with deeper cuts projected in the post-Afghanistan era, create challenges for the entire defense industrial base. Sustaining the capability and capacity to meet


the Army’s


current, anticipated and potential surge requirements is paramount.


To that end, the Army is continuously


reevaluating the organic base’s long-term strategy and how it fits into the greater defense industrial base. While the struc- ture of the base is ever-evolving, the Army must decide, given budget constraints, how to prioritize and sustain its most impor- tant sectors, elements and capabilities.


KEEPING PRODUCTION LINES OPEN Steve Saunier, A-Line bombs and mines area supervisor in the Industrial Operations Division, Directorate of Ammunition Operations at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP), OK, explains the arming well of a 2,000-pound penetrator bomb to BG Timothy J. Edens, director of Army safety and commanding general of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center, Fort Rucker, AL, during Edens’ visit to MCAAP Sept. 17, 2013. MCAAP began production in 1943, part of a substantial expansion of the Army’s organic industrial base during World War II. (Photo by Kevin Jackson, AMC)


Since the founding of our nation, consid- erable importance has been placed on the role of government in controlling portions of the nation’s military industrial capabil- ity. However, for the past 65 years, the U.S. military has looked to private industry for the vast majority of


its procurement. 148 Army AL&T Magazine January–March 2014


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