`Save our Rock' main goal at Arsenal

From its humble beginnings as a frontier outpost in the early 1800s to playing a key role in arming American soldiers in every war to worries about closures and layoffs at a time when the post Cold War military is downsizing, the Rock Island Arsenal has been at the center of Quad-Cities history.

The ``rock'' as military insiders affectionately call the island military installation faces an uncertain future entering the 2000s. From an employment peak of 18,467 during the height of World War II, the Arsenal work force has shrunk to a little less than 7,000 employees, and is operating at only 26 percent capacity according to Commander Col. Alan Kruse.

Layoffs and downsizing, and the threat of possible closure, have dogged the island through the '90s. But a concerted effort by Arsenal workers, local business and political leaders and the congressional delegations of both Illinois and Iowa are working hard to reverse the trend and keep the rock a viable part of the local economy and national defense.

Last November, the Arsenal hosted a workshop on forming partnerships and strategic alliances between the government and private industry, looking for ways to evolve the Arsenal's mission.

During the workshop, Col. Kruse said a bright future for the Arsenal may hinge on an ability to attract non-governmental business partners to the island and market its capabilities to the private sector.

Another goal is to reinforce the installation's reputation for quality, hard workers and efficiency in its current mission, said Thom Hart, new director of the Quad City Development Group.

While many in the Army itself support the arsenal system, some high level leaders in the Department of Defense believe it is outmoded and are pushing for more and more private contractors to do work once the private domain of arsenals. Mr. Hart was heading to Washington in mid-January to address these issues with the Quad-Cities area congressional delegation.

``When you look at work force, educational level, productivity, quality of life and cost of living, we rank very well,'' Mr. Hart said, noting the Arsenal has fared well in base realignment and closure studies. ``But when we are ranked on a political level, which they often do, we get nervous about that. We've been pretty discouraged over the past few years over lack of support from the Department of Defense. We spend a majority of our time making the case that we're a good fit.''

With the military trying to decrease its infrastructure, there is no doubt there will be consolidation of bases, arsenals and other installations, Mr. Hart said. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Arsenal, he added.

``We're not foolish, we recognize the threat,'' he said. ``At some point there's going to be consolidation and we want to the Rock Island Arsenal to be a site of opportunity. There is potential, but ultimately the decisions will be made by Congress and the Department of Defense.''

That is why lobbying politicians and military leaders as well as showing a willingness to adapt to a changing military environment has been key for Arsenal supporters the past few years.

There have been a few victories. The base was visited last fall by Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, who said he was tremendously impressed by the investment in the plant and equipment and work force on the island, and would share those impressions in Washington. An A76 competition study, which in the past has pitted government-owned facilities against private contractors and led to personnel cuts, was canceled shortly after Mr. Caldera's visit.

In addition, one of the strongest federal employee unions, the American Federation of Government Employees -- which represents 600,000 workers nationwide and 2,600 Arsenal workers -- has made retaining and bringing jobs to the Arsenal a priority.

At a ``Save Our Rock'' rally last July, AFGE national leaders said a grassroots, political and lobbying effort would be undertaken to put pressure on the military and Congress to steer work back to the Arsenal.

Staff writer Tory Brecht can be reached at 786-6441, Ext. 271, or by e-mail at toryb@qconline.com.