[What would the Taxed Enough Already Party be doing about the Rock Island Arsenal? We can’t answer that, but Second District Congressman Dave Loebsack is working with Republican Bobby Schilling of Illinois to “make the Army a more agile, cost-effective organization.” Following is a letter sent by Schilling and Loebsack to Secretary of the Army John McHugh pointing out the potential efficiencies of the Rock Island Arsenal.]

August 26, 2011

Dear Secretary McHugh:

Thank you for your openness and willingness to work with us regarding issues at the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). As you know, we are committed to ensuring that the Army takes advantage of RIA’s strong flexibility and the capabilities that exist there. In light of the work of your Army Transformation Commission, a panel charged with finding new ways to make the Army a more “agile, cost-effective organization,” we urge you to look closely at the RIA as a model of efficiency.

RIA is specifically designed to address multiple mission requirements for seamless support to the Army and the rest of our U.S. military forces, and to do so without adding further expenses to the taxpayer. Because RIA hosts the Army Sustainment Command (ASC) as well as the Joint Munitions Command (JMC) and the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC), these groups are able to work together seamlessly to address the needs of our troops in a moment’s notice.

For example, in 2006when our troops were faced with the need to improve the safety of their vehicles quickly in Iraq and Afghanistan due to improvised explosive devices, not only was the JMTC able to design and manufacture the FRAG 5 kits that were needed within a week, but this was accomplished faster than specified in the original contract. In fact, ASC was able to ship needed protective parts out to our troops just three weeks after requisition, delivering more than 6,000 interim FRAG 5 kits to the field within six months.

This example of rapid problem solving and development of real solutions to challenges faced by our warfighters illustrates how vital the seamless coordination – which in part comes from being co-located on RIA – between JMTC and AMC is.What is more, the rapid fielding of critically needed equipment would not have been possible without the dedicated and highly capable civilian workforce at RIA and JMTC. They were able to do for the Army what contractors are not always achieve. Ensuring that these programs, backed by a highly capable workforce, continue to coordinate seamlessly at RIA is vital to the safety of our troops and the cost efficient goals of our government.

The RIA continues to support our entire military with the ability to work together quickly and efficiently at very low cost to our taxpayers. We agree that it is important to make our Army a more “agile, cost-effective organization,” which is why we would encourage you to consider how important the work is that is done at the Rock Island Arsenal and how efficiently that work is done.

We are, therefore, also very interested in reviewing the task force reports that are focused on the transformation of the Army management structure. We would appreciate receiving these reports as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time and your support for our troops and the missions on the RIA. We appreciate your consideration of this important issue and look forward to future conversations on these matters.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Bobby Schilling

~ Dave Loebsack is serving in the United States House of Representatives from Iowa’s Second District. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and on the House Armed Services Committee. He is also seeking re-election to a fourth term. To learn more about Congressman Dave Loebsack, click here.