WORKERS SOUGHT FOR WEAPONS DISPOSAL

By Bobbie Crockett /OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Washington Demilitarization Co. is seeking more than a few good men and women to assist with the disposal of chemical weapons at the Pine Bluff Arsenal.

Officials have 100-plus positions to fill before work gets under way.

WDC recently held two job fairs -- at Pine Bluff and LIttle Rock -- looking for people to work in plant operations, operations support and maintenance. Because of the scope of the various jobs, basic qualifications range from a high school diploma to a college degree in chemistry.

The disposal operation will begin later this year or in early 2005, so officials are trying to get staffing levels up.

"We're looking for munitions workers who would be moving and handling the weapons," said Chris West, communications director for Washington Group International.

WDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Washington Group International, an engineering and construction firm. WDC has more than 32 years of experience with the U.S. chemical weapons elimination program and is the prime contractor at the Pine Bluff facility.

The Arsenal stores 12 percent of the nation's original chemical weapons stockpile, which includes blister agent and mustard gas, and the nerve agents VX and sarin. It is one of eight sites where chemical weapons elimination has been set in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty.

WDC has been contracted by the U.S. Army to build the Pine Bluff disposal facility, test it, operate it and decommission it.

Officials have already interviewed some job candidates and will likely hold other job fairs before the disposal operation begins.

Because of the military's discipline and emphasis on safety, a military background is a plus but it's not required, said Ken Keeler, human resources consultant.

"There is a fairly extensive clearance process because of the work that we do," he said

Details: Visit www.wgint.com.