In Honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Anniston Army Depot

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize the 75th Anniversary of the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama. The Depot has a very rich history for its work in defense over the years. It continues to serve as an economic engine for Northeast Alabama.

In March of 1940, the War Department began planning construction of the Depot and by early 1941, construction began. By September, the Depot's workforce was made up of four individuals, but by November of 1942, the workforce number grew to over 4,300 individuals.

In the 1950s, the Depot's mission was to overhaul and repair combat vehicles. By the 1960s, reconditioning for a number of vehicles began.

In August of 1962, the Depot was renamed to its current name today, the Anniston Army Depot, and became an installation under the jurisdiction of the Army Materiel Command. By 1963, maintenance and storage of chemical munitions began.

In the 1970s, new vehicle overhauls began as well as conversions of vehicles and in the 1980s, missile maintenance was added as a new mission.

In August of 1992, the Depot's general supply mission was assumed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and in 1993, the Depot became a forerunner in Public-Private Partnerships.

In the mid-1990s, a chemical stockpile was transferred to the Anniston Chemical Activity under the Chemical and Biological Defense Command.

In August of 2001, the Depot was designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Combat Vehicles, Artillery and Small Caliber Weapons by the Secretary of the Army. In 2002, the partnership with General Dynamics/General Motors on new production of Stryker vehicles began.

In August of 2003, the Depot's stockpile of chemical munitions began to be safely and securely destroyed at the Anniston Chemical Disposal Facility. By December, the Depot and other TACOM installations fabricated Armor Survivability Kits for HMMWVs in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

From 2004 through 2006, the fabrication sustainment for DOD M1 systems culminated in the creation of the Joint Assault Bridge and Assault Breacher Vehicle programs and by early 2006, production on damaged Stryker vehicles began.

In March of 2006, the Depot named the DoD Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for ground combat vehicles (excluding the Bradley), assault bridging, artillery and small caliber weapons. In October, the Depot was named the U.S. Army's organic maintenance depot facility for the Stryker.

By 2008, the first full-rate production Assault Breacher Vehicle was shipped to the U.S. Marines and in early 2009, production of the Army's Assault Breacher Vehicle began.

In August of 2009, production operations began at the Powertrain Flexible Maintenance Facility for overhaul and repair work of reciprocating diesel engines began and by December, the Depot and General Dynamics Land Systems began a 50/50 partnership program to repair and reset Stryker vehicles.

In March 2011, the new industrial wastewater treatment plant was completed and by May the first Stryker variant pilot overhaul program began for the Infantry Carrier Vehicle.

In September 2001, the Anniston Chemical Activity completed demilitarization of chemical weapons along with the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.

In January 2012, production operations started in the Small Arms Repair Facility, collocated with DLA's small arms storage facility.

In May of 2012, production operations began at the Powertrain Transmission Facility.

In May of 2014, the Depot held an induction ceremony for low-rate initial production of the M109A7 family of vehicles in partnership with BAE Systems.

By August, the Depot held a rollout ceremony for the Stryker Double V Hull Exchange Program in partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems. In September, the Depot was awarded the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence for accomplishments in ABV program.

Currently, construction has begun on a solar array in collaboration with Alabama Power, the Office of Energy Initiatives, the General Services Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mission and Installation Contracting Command.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Anniston Army Depot for the important work they do for our country and our warfighter and congratulate them on their 75th anniversary.

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