1971
1971 After demolition of the Olin Mathieson DDT plant facilities on RSA, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration supervised a decontamination and restoration project at the former plant site. The results of tests conducted on fish taken from streams in the area showed that the fish contained higher levels of DDT than the level of tolerance established by the Food and Drug Administration. These results contributed to the prohibition of fishing on arsenal controlled portions of Huntsville Spring Branch and Indian Creek.
4 January 71 Three MICOM elements were established as separate activities: the Army Metrology and Calibration Center, the Missile Intelligence Agency (MIA), and the Redstone Arsenal Support Activity (RASA). In addition, the Troop Command was redesignated as Special Troops and reassigned from MICOM Headquarters to RASA. The latter organization had been known formerly as the Arsenal Support Operations Directorate.
4 January 71 The Air Defense Special Items Management Office (ADSIMO) took over the residual functions from the NIKE HERCULES and REDEYE Project Offices when they were discontinued effective this date.
4 January 71 The Land Combat Special Items Management Office (LCSIMO) assumed the functions of the Land Combat Weapons, Aircraft Weapons, and SERGEANT Commodity Offices, which were discontinued effective this date.
4 January 71 Action on a number of new MICOM staff elements were implemented on this date. Some of the actions taken included the creation of the Special Assistant for Project Management; the assignment of the Administration and Protocol Offices to the Secretary of the General Staff, which became an operating office; and the organization of the Security Office.
4 January 71 Quality, reliability, and maintainability functions from the functional directorates were combined with the former Product Assurance and Test Management Office (PATMO) to form the new Product Assurance Directorate (PAD).
4 January 71 The CHAPARRAL Management Office was redesignated the CHAPARRAL Special Items Management Office.
1 March 71 LCSS began supporting the deployed TOW system. With the fielding of the TOW supplementary kits by 30 January 71, LCSS became the first true military system test equipment in the field army.
3 March 71 DA inactivated 27 NIKE HERCULES firing batteries and 7 support shops in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California, New York, Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and New Jersey.
April 71 MICOM began hiring veterans under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Program authority. Veterans were placed in General Schedule (GS) and Wage Grade (WG) positions at grades 1-5 in activities serviced by the MICOM Civilian Personnel Division.
8 April 71 The ADCAT Project Office had to be reorganized because of the establishment of a PM for Army Tactical Data Systems (ARTADS). The latter organization reported directly to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Electronics Command (ECOM) and provided overall policy guidance and coordination of the data automation techniques used to support tactical command and control functions.
12 April 71 A Special Assistant to the Commanding General for a Modern Volunteer Army (MVA) was appointed to emphasize the MVA program at Redstone Arsenal. MICOM instituted a number of improvements to further the MVA concept, including the provision of additional and upgraded medical services; ongoing changes to make the barracks more livable; and general improvements such as an "open door" policy, no distance limitation on passes, elimination of sign in/sign out, bed check, and daily reveille; contract kitchen police (KPs) in mess, and new recreational facilities.
15 May 71 The "Riviera PX" opened at the Military Recreation Area on the Tennessee River. The new shop stocked picnic supplies, fishing tackle, gas, and oil for purchase by campers and boaters.
30 June 71 By this date, MICOM was completely operational under the standard commodity command concept.
30 June 71 The SHILLELAGH Project Office was terminated, and its functions were transferred to LCSIMO.
July 71 A 27-unit guest house for transient families was constructed on Redstone Arsenal. The motel-type facility was open on a first-come, first-served basis to military and their families who were clearing post or awaiting occupancy of family quarters.
26 July 71 DA approved Standard "A" type classification for the PERSHING 1a.
27 July 71 The first live REDEYE missile firing in the Hot Brick Program occurred. As expected, the missile missed the MGM-61 drone target equipped with the "Hot Brick," a countermeasure device against conical scan, infrared seeking missiles.
August 71 A DA study concerning the feasibility and requirement for a SAM-D nuclear and antitactical ballistic missile capability began, supported by ARADCOM, the Research Analysis Corporation, and AMC.
August 71 Redstone Arsenal became a "Home Post." An MVA concept then being tested, this designation made it possible for dependents to occupy government housing at an installation while the service member served overseas where family could not go.
17 August 71 All activity on the Improved HAWK self-propelled launcher was terminated.
18 August 71 Laser semiactive guidance was used to direct a helicopter launched missile to a ground target for the first time at RSA. The test missile used for the Terminal Homing Accuracy Demonstration Program consisted of a modified M58 propulsion unit in a HORNET airframe and a modified SIDEWINDER seeker.
September 71 The President Richard M. Nixon ordered a national counteroffensive against drug and alcohol abuse. As part of this effort, DA selected RSA as one of 34 CONUS installations to include a Halfway House in its program.
21 September 71 The Targets Special Items Management Office was established to manage MICOM's target programs.
1 October 71 The ADCAT Project Office disbanded after management responsibility for the AN/TSQ-73 ADCCS transferred from MICOM to the ARTADS PMO of ECOM. The other ADCAT managed fire control and coordination systems went to ADSIMO for management.
8 October 71 MICOM established the XFIM-92A (REDEYE II) Management Office (Provisional) to direct and control work on this new system.
November 71
The new Post Gym on Honest John Road in the troop area opened. The new facility replaced the old gym south of Martin Road that had been used since early 1956. Converted from a World War II pumping station, the old gym continued to be used by the Civilian Welfare Fund basketball league.
Excellence in Missilery:
Introduction,
1962,
1963,
1964,
1965,
1966,
1967,
1968,
1969,
1970,
1971,
1972,
1973,
1974,
1975,
1976,
1977,
1978,
1979
