Ithaca 37
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C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\FUU4VPQY\news1.htm
by Jeff Crawley, Staff Writer
A program that uses the vocational skills of inmates at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks is keeping Soldiers equipped and saving the Army millions of dollars every year.
The USDB's Textile Repair Activity refurbishes and rebuilds items such as helmets, body armor, sleeping bags and rucksacks. The items are returned to service at minimal cost and save the Army from having to purchase expensive new gear.
"They do such a wonderful job, it's like new," said Oliver Thompson, chief of the Re-engineering Logistics Branch of U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.
FORSCOM is just one of the many USDB customers. The USDB works with other commands and directly with installations such as forts Benning, Bragg, Knox and Bliss, said Delvin Rosson, manager of the Textile Shop at the USDB.
Two shifts totaling 80 inmates repaired more than 725,950 items last fiscal year - keeping the inmates employed and the Army equipped at a savings of $344,000 every month.
"This is a good thing all around," said Lt. Col. Rodney Morris, deputy commandant of the USDB. The program teaches vocational skills for inmates that they can use when they are released and provides for some of the Army's needs, he said.
Some of the positions inmates fill include sewing specialists, supply personnel, inventory clerks, safety clerks and sewing machine repair technicians. The repair activity uses 90 sewing machines.
The USDB receives FORSCOM items from a collection point at Fort Riley, Kan., said Jim Stone, a project officer at the Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment Repair and Return program at Fort Riley.
Fort Riley sends equipment and virtually every item worn outside the uniform, including load-bearing gear, ponchos, and Nomex and Gore-Tex items in both woodland and desert camouflage patterns.
"They (USDB) have a wonderful range of capabilities," Stone said.
Once received at the USDB, the used items go through a rigorous inspection to determine if they are economically repairable.
About 70 percent of the items are rejected and sent to Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offices for disposition, Stone said.
Before inmates can work in the Textile Shop they go through an extensive training program, Rosson said. Trainees work with an instructor and learn how to sew patterns on paper. They must show proficiency before they are allowed to work on real gear such as the body armor.
"Everything that we repair is done according to the military spec and tech manuals," Rosson said.
An old Interceptor body armor vest can be rebuilt by the USDB for $75 and sold to the Army for $100. A new one would cost $500, Rosson said.
The refurbished vest comes with a new owner's manual and disclaimer label that let the Soldier know that he or she is using a refurbished vest. Refurbished Interceptor body armor is used for training.
"We've had no complaints from the field," Rosson said, referring to the quality of the rebuilt items.
When Morris was in Iraq, he and his Soldiers used some refurbished equipment.
"It performed as a brand new product; it was never even considered to be a concern," he said.
As the Army was preparing for the Global War on Terror there was a shortage of new Interceptor body armor. The USDB had a large stock of refurbished body armor and fragmentation vests and was able to fill the gaps until the new body armor could be put into the field, Rosson said.
FORSCOM began working with the USDB in 1998 and estimates the USDB has saved the command $10.9 million, Thompson said. FORSCOM representatives showed their appreciation to the administrators of the Textile Repair Activity Feb. 2 during a ceremony at the USDB.
Rosson, Assistant Manager Kenneth Coates, Production Coordinator Joseph Perry and Office Automation Assistant Robin Rumley received certificates signed by Maj. Gen. Gary Border, FORSCOM's deputy chief of staff G4.
"This means a great deal because we as a team take great pride in what we do in being able to contribute," Rumley said.
USDB Commandant Col. James Harrison said the recognition would be shared with the inmates who work in the Textile Shop - the majority of whom are patriotic.
"They understand they are criminals, they are confined, but they still have affection for their country," he said.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\FUU4VPQY\news1.htm
by Jeff Crawley, Staff Writer
A program that uses the vocational skills of inmates at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks is keeping Soldiers equipped and saving the Army millions of dollars every year.
The USDB's Textile Repair Activity refurbishes and rebuilds items such as helmets, body armor, sleeping bags and rucksacks. The items are returned to service at minimal cost and save the Army from having to purchase expensive new gear.
"They do such a wonderful job, it's like new," said Oliver Thompson, chief of the Re-engineering Logistics Branch of U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.
FORSCOM is just one of the many USDB customers. The USDB works with other commands and directly with installations such as forts Benning, Bragg, Knox and Bliss, said Delvin Rosson, manager of the Textile Shop at the USDB.
Two shifts totaling 80 inmates repaired more than 725,950 items last fiscal year - keeping the inmates employed and the Army equipped at a savings of $344,000 every month.
"This is a good thing all around," said Lt. Col. Rodney Morris, deputy commandant of the USDB. The program teaches vocational skills for inmates that they can use when they are released and provides for some of the Army's needs, he said.
Some of the positions inmates fill include sewing specialists, supply personnel, inventory clerks, safety clerks and sewing machine repair technicians. The repair activity uses 90 sewing machines.
The USDB receives FORSCOM items from a collection point at Fort Riley, Kan., said Jim Stone, a project officer at the Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment Repair and Return program at Fort Riley.
Fort Riley sends equipment and virtually every item worn outside the uniform, including load-bearing gear, ponchos, and Nomex and Gore-Tex items in both woodland and desert camouflage patterns.
"They (USDB) have a wonderful range of capabilities," Stone said.
Once received at the USDB, the used items go through a rigorous inspection to determine if they are economically repairable.
About 70 percent of the items are rejected and sent to Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offices for disposition, Stone said.
Before inmates can work in the Textile Shop they go through an extensive training program, Rosson said. Trainees work with an instructor and learn how to sew patterns on paper. They must show proficiency before they are allowed to work on real gear such as the body armor.
"Everything that we repair is done according to the military spec and tech manuals," Rosson said.
An old Interceptor body armor vest can be rebuilt by the USDB for $75 and sold to the Army for $100. A new one would cost $500, Rosson said.
The refurbished vest comes with a new owner's manual and disclaimer label that let the Soldier know that he or she is using a refurbished vest. Refurbished Interceptor body armor is used for training.
"We've had no complaints from the field," Rosson said, referring to the quality of the rebuilt items.
When Morris was in Iraq, he and his Soldiers used some refurbished equipment.
"It performed as a brand new product; it was never even considered to be a concern," he said.
As the Army was preparing for the Global War on Terror there was a shortage of new Interceptor body armor. The USDB had a large stock of refurbished body armor and fragmentation vests and was able to fill the gaps until the new body armor could be put into the field, Rosson said.
FORSCOM began working with the USDB in 1998 and estimates the USDB has saved the command $10.9 million, Thompson said. FORSCOM representatives showed their appreciation to the administrators of the Textile Repair Activity Feb. 2 during a ceremony at the USDB.
Rosson, Assistant Manager Kenneth Coates, Production Coordinator Joseph Perry and Office Automation Assistant Robin Rumley received certificates signed by Maj. Gen. Gary Border, FORSCOM's deputy chief of staff G4.
"This means a great deal because we as a team take great pride in what we do in being able to contribute," Rumley said.
USDB Commandant Col. James Harrison said the recognition would be shared with the inmates who work in the Textile Shop - the majority of whom are patriotic.
"They understand they are criminals, they are confined, but they still have affection for their country," he said.
