Building Tomorrow’s Defense Machinists
How the U.S. Army's Watervliet Arsenal prepares the next generation of manufacturers with Mastercam
At the U.S. Army’s oldest continuously active arsenal, the future of defense manufacturing is taking shape in a dedicated workshop where apprentices learn to program CNC machines before they ever touch the shop floor. Watervliet Arsenal’s new apprentice machine shop opened in August 2025,—gives trainees hands-on time with Mastercam and production equipment, bridging the gap between classroom theory and the precision work required to build cannons, howitzers, and mortar systems for American warfighters.
Overview
Project Details
Closing the Gap Between Classroom and Shop Floor
Watervliet Arsenal’s four-year machinist apprenticeship program pairs on-the-job training with coursework at Hudson Valley Community College. But classroom lab time has limits, —class sizes of up to 11 students, shared equipment, and schedules that don’t always align with learning curves.
Former Apprentice Training Administrator Thomas Mulheren recognized the problem: talented apprentices were struggling to meet academic standards, not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked practice time. The arsenal was losing promising machinists before they ever reached journeyman status.
His solution was a dedicated workshop where apprentices could get the repetitions they needed—on their schedule, with one-on-one guidance from experienced machinists.
"The machine shop benefits apprentices by enhancing their confidence in the skills they are developing. The opportunity for one-on-one sessions with experienced arsenal machinists addresses the challenges posed by classroom sizes and limited machine availability."
From Design to Prove-Out
The workshop mirrors the college lab setup: manual lathe, Bridgeport mill, HAAS CNC lathe, and Super Mini Mill. But the real differentiator is the software environment. Apprentices use Mastercam and SOLIDWORKS to design programs, then prove them out on actual equipment—the same workflow they will follow when they are programming production parts.
This is not homework help. Apprentices arrive prepared to machine parts, working through blueprints from their coursework and running “dry runs” that build muscle memory and confidence before their next lab session.
The result is apprentices who show up to class with a distinct advantage over their peers —and the skills to back it up.
Supporting the Mission and the Transition
Beyond apprentice development, the workshop takes on small projects from the shop floor, supporting production lines during breakdowns. It is real work with real stakes—exactly the environment that prepares trainees for the demands of defense manufacturing.
The arsenal is also developing a SkillBridge program to bring transitioning service members into the workshop, giving them hands-on machining experience before their final active-duty date. It is another pathway into a career building the weapons systems that protect American troops.
A Legacy of Making Machinists
Watervliet Arsenal has been training machinists since 1905—apprentices who went on to build weapons for every major conflict from World War I to the present day. The new workshop ensures that legacy continues, producing Department of Labor certified journeyman machinists with associate degrees in advanced manufacturing.
For an arsenal that has been continuously active since the War of 1812, investing in the next generation isn’t just strategy, it is tradition.
About Watervliet Arsenal
Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility in Watervliet, New York — the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States. Today’s arsenal produces advanced cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems for U.S. and allied militaries, supported by a workforce that includes apprentices trained through a rigorous four-year program combining 8,000 hours of hands-on experience with an associate degree in advanced manufacturing.
This story originally appeared here and was repurposed with permission by the U.S. Army.
Quick Facts
- Product Used: Mastercam Mill and Lathe
- Industry: Defense Manufacturing
- Location: Watervliet, New York
- Program: Four-year machinist apprenticeship with Hudson Valley Community College
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