Y-12 Blog
The TRF-200 graduates.
Ten members of Y‑12’s Protective Force graduated from the Central Training Facility’s Tactical Response Force 200, or TRF‑200. This is the first course held at Y-12 in recent years. The training is intense and specific; graduates prove they have the skills to execute recapture/recover and pursuit operations to support any interruption within the DOE environment.
“Graduating from this training takes dedication,” Eric Belcher, director of Y‑12 Protective Force said. “The class members worked their way through a series of tests and evaluations to participate in the course. Training involved intense physical and mental evaluations along with a requirement to demonstrate the potential to complete a 4‑week intense program. Once in the course, they endured a grueling full‑day schedule of training.”
The graduates, who are now members of the special response team, displayed marksmanship skills, battle techniques, mechanical and ballistic breaching techniques, and other defense‑related skills. They applied their skills in live‑fire exercises and force‑on‑force scenarios under day and night conditions.
This class is special; it is the first to attend training at the CTF, but it won’t be the last. The plan is to conduct one course per year. Previously, to obtain the qualification, Protective Force members traveled to the National Training Center to participate in SRT training.
Tactical Operations Manager Neal Wolfenbarger said, “The cadre at our Central Training Facility has worked tirelessly to prepare for and conduct this class.”
Teamwork isn’t new to Protective Force members, especially when coming from a military or law enforcement background.
Wolfenbarger said, “Each of these men have demonstrated the spirit of performance excellence by successfully completing the long road to becoming an SRT member. They understand the importance of teamwork, overcame adversity, made adjustments to achieve success, and most importantly, understand the critical nature of mission success.”
SRT graduate Matt Sexton said, “If one person doesn’t pull his or her weight, the mission fails. This idea is in our daily operations. We’re required as a team to be good communicators and have a commitment to a common goal; both of these are the cornerstones of teamwork.”
Another graduate, Kris Sutton, tied teamwork more directly to mission work. “You have to trust your fellow teammates to have each other’s backs. You also have to understand each shift worker’s positions to ensure mission success.”
The dedicated members of the SRT have set high standards and have a desire to protect the mission. “SRT is something I have wanted to do for a few years now,” Brandon Lambert, another graduate of the program, said. “It was a good feeling of accomplishment. It was also good to see how a group of guys from different backgrounds can come together as a team and accomplish challenging tasks.”
That teamwork mindset is something all CNS employees should have.
ProForce member and graduate Brandon Stockwell said, “Everyone must know their job and be proactive. I think everyone at the site has a sense of duty to our country and wants to be part of Y‑12’s success. I feel proud to be a part of this team and to be around others with the same motivation and drive.”
Ken Harrawood, CNS’s senior director for Legacy Facilities Disposition, accepts the NA-50 award for Y-12 Excess Facility Risk Reduction from NNSA Administrator Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz (Ret.).
The newly designated NA-50 Excellence Awards recently were presented at Pantex by NNSA Associate Administrator for Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations James McConnell and at Y-12 by NNSA Administrator Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz (Ret.). The award recognizes teams and individuals for outstanding accomplishments involving innovation, effectiveness, teamwork, overcoming adversity, and enabling future success.
CNS President and CEO Morgan Smith commended the honorees by saying, “The work we do is unique. We play a key role in the defense of the nation and the stability of the world. We face the challenge of meeting this important mission while working in facilities that are well past their intended life. Your work has helped tackle infrastructure issues that, if left unaddressed, could have exposed a risk to employees, the mission, or the environment.”
At Pantex and Y-12, the CNS Construction team was recognized for its operations with zero recordable injuries in fiscal year 2016, and the Development and Approval team for the Administrative Support Complex (Kirk McCutcheon at Pantex, Tom Smith at Y-12) was recognized for its work to develop the foundation and business case, as well as the extensive approval process.
One other Pantex award included the Outage Process Execution team, being recognized for the high-voltage distribution system outages conducted safely in support of the NNSA mission at Pantex.
Other Y-12 awards recognized: the team replacing some 700 fire suppression system sprinkler heads in Building 9204-2, the team that reroofed three Manhattan Project–era buildings as part of the Excess Facilities Disposition Program Roof Asset Management Program Risk Reduction project, the team that repaired the concrete beam in Building 9204-2, and the team that pursued multiple direct- and indirect-funded projects to reduce risks posed by excess facilities.
Y-12 recently earned the gold-level distinction from the East Tennessee Wellness Roundtable.
Y-12’s LiveWise program recently earned gold-level distinction from the East Tennessee Wellness Roundtable. The program recognizes East Tennessee workplaces that exemplify excellence in wellness. Y-12 is a member of the roundtable, as are several businesses, educational institutes, non-profit organizations, and medical facilities.
“To achieve ETWR gold status, worksites must demonstrate a supportive wellness infrastructure and must meet a certain number of criteria related to physical activity, nutrition, mental health and substance abuse, and tobacco use and prevention,” said Rebecca Ellison, chair of the roundtable. “You all do SO many wonderful things. …You met six out of six of the infrastructure requirements (and only four are required for gold) because you have leadership support for wellness initiatives, have a wellness plan and a wellness committee, you communicate wellness goals and initiatives with employees, you formally evaluate your wellness activities, and you conduct employee interest surveys.”
CNS Health and Wellness supervisor Karen Lacey said that while the ETWR organization is based in Knoxville with many of its resources located there, the recognition is appreciated. “We are thrilled to be recognized for all the great things CNS does to promote the health and wellness of its employees. We’ve had long-term recognition from organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, so adding this accolade to our reputation only helps solidify our commitment to help Y 12 employees maintain the best health possible.”
Lacey added that the ETWR website does offer wellness articles and information about area farmers markets, and Knoxville residents can benefit from information about greenways and parks, as well as fitness and activities.
Ben Green shares Y-12 additive manufacturing capabilities to local STEM teachers.
In an effort to better understand the changing job market, STEM teachers from across East Tennessee attended a professional development day program, sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), at the Y-12 National Security Complex on June 22, 2017.
CNS Vice President and Y-12 Site Manager, Bill Tindal, briefed the group on the history and continuing mission at Y-12; and the importance of having a qualified workforce, both now and in the future. In addition to Tindal’s introduction, the group also toured Y-12’s advanced manufacturing facilities and heard from a panel of professionals on the nature of Y-12’s business and workplace culture. The speakers focused on student learning and how it directly intersects with what is required in the workplace.
The panelists included Ashley Stowe, Renee Harper, Travis Howerton, Mea Reeves, and Mike Thompson.
Harper discussed the pressures students face at an early age and the decisions they are asked to make. She encouraged the teachers to remind their students that, while these decisions are important, they are not set in stone. “These decisions don’t have to dictate the rest of your life,” she said. “You will get plenty of other opportunities to change course.”
Howerton also had some advice for the teachers. “To me, success looks a lot like hard work. Learning the value of hard work matters a lot,” he said and encouraged the teachers to instill that work ethic in their students.
“The entire day was invigorating,” said Linda Reedy, an instructor at Concord Christian School. “We were treated to a demonstration of Y-12’s 3-D manufacturing capabilities and we heard from experts about what we can do to better prepare our students for today’s workplace.”
The visit was part of a professional development opportunity by STEMspark, the East Tennessee Education hub of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and the nationwide STEMx Coalition.
Y-12’s most recent apprentice graduates.
Y-12 recently celebrated its sixth apprentice class since reinstatement of the program in 2008. This class of 13 is the first to include apprentices in the machinist classification.
It has been a long journey for the apprentices. For the nine machinists, that journey included three years of year-round classes on Fridays and evenings at Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC). The four electricians completed their training at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training facility in Knoxville. The electricians are represented by IBEW Local Union 760, and the machinists are represented by Machinist Local Union 480.
Tim Milligan, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration chief steward, noted that the program positions Y-12 for the long term when skilled craft workers are in high demand. He said, “The apprenticeship program is our guarantee that we will be able to meet our future production goals.”
Milligan acknowledged the program’s success was a result of a partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC; the union instructors and training coordinators; the Atomic Trades and Labor Council (ATLC); PSCC administration and instructors; and Y-12’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, which consists of three managers and three union representatives.
CNS President and Chief Executive Officer Morgan Smith addressed the graduates and encouraged them to pay it forward. He said, “Y-12 has an enduring mission—and you will help ensure its success. As your career progresses, use the skills you hone and develop to help prepare that next generation.”
National Nuclear Security Production Office Manager Geoff Beausoleil echoed Smith’s remarks, stating “this apprenticeship program continues to help ensure an enduring workforce dedicated to Y-12’s important national security mission.”
ATLC President Mike Thompson congratulated the new journeymen and assured them they will continue to learn and become more proficient in their skills. He also acknowledged that their success comes with a responsibility. “You are the ones who will take our place and carry on the proud tradition of being some of the most skilled tradesmen in the world,” he said.