On Wednesday, SIG SAUER took another step forward in support of the foot soldier.

Formal dedication of their 210,000 square foot Jacksonville Arkansas Ammunition Center (JAAC) was irrefutable proof that the company has become a major player in the military contracting world, and an economic driver in a state that eagerly supports SIG’s expansion efforts.

But it is also part of a longer vision, a vision formed more than a decade ago by a former Israeli Defense Force foot soldier named Ron Cohen.

Nearly a decade ago, Cohen told me an ambitious goal he had in mind for SIG SAUER. At that time, it was far closer to the near-bankrupt status of yesterday than the ten-digit-plus juggernaut it has become under his leadership.

His goal?

To change the world of the foot soldier. In his vision, that would be achieved by SIG developing weapons that would make them better warfighters. I was intrigued, because I knew Cohen was speaking from experience. As an IDF footsoldier, Cohen had humped the weapons he knew in his heart SIG was capable of improving.

The dignitaries speaking at the groundbreaking Wednesday validated Cohen’s faith in the engineers and abilities at SIG.

United States Senator John Boozman (top) told attendees it was “never more important to invest in our military” and the “entire Arkansas delegation supports the efforts. Arkansas Governor Sara Huckabee Sanders (bottom) said her administration’s goal was to “make Arkansas a state as positive as possible for the creation of an infrastructure positive to the defense industry.” She was also adamant that Arkansas “stands with our military- and with Israel.”

Arkansas’ Senator John Boozman recounted Arkansas’ support of the military, and said he was impressed with the new facility, but he most “looked forward to touring the plant when it was bustling..and maybe shooting some of your stuff.”

That played well, as did Governor Sara Sanders making it plain that Arkansas was pro-military, pro-defense, and very pro gun. She also told how the development of a working relationship with SIG and CEO Cohen helped her see the dual benefits for defense of the United States and the economic prosperity of Arkansas.

But it was Cohen who brought home the single-minded goal he has had throughout SIG’s move into the military arena.

“I’m proud to be a soldier,” Cohen told the crowd, “and this is a revolution for the soldier.”

In explaining why SIG chose Arkansas, CEO and President Ron Cohen told the crowd how a phone call from Governor-elect Asa Hutchinson convinced him to take a serious look. “We’re not accustomed to government working with industry,” he said, “but that’s from being in the north.”

The soldier Cohen identifies most with isn’t like one of the many generals in the crowd. The soldier Cohen identifies most with is “the soldier who walks on the ground…the one who will have to shoot someone.”

His goal - and SIG’s has been simple: to support the foot solder. To make their load-out lighter, their weapons more lethal and their ability to do the job better.

“For the people of SIG,” an occasionally emotional Cohen explained, “this is not a job, it is a calling. We chose to do something that matters. We understand the mission. And we believe we are on a mission to change the world.”

“If I were an enemy of the U.S.,” he said, “I would not want to start a war with us.”

To prove his point, attendees were invited to tour the displays that will soon be replaced by manufacturing machines. The displays demonstrated how the JAAC facility would make the half-billion rounds they estimate producing annually, along with the rifles, pistols, optics, and suppressors being supplied to the military by SIG.

SIG’s Daniel Horner explained the advantages of SIG products currently in use by the U.S. military to attendees (top). One product not currently being offered, but under development is a drone equipped with a SIG P365 pistol. Drones are changing the face of warfare.

At the end of his remarks, Cohen made it clear that Wednesday’s event was only a lull in the action for the 3500 people of SIG, especially the nearly hundreds that work in Jacksonville, many of whom will soon be moving into the new building.

“Christmas is not far away,” he told everyone, “this building will look very different by then. And in a year, you probably won’t be able to find a place to park.”

He’s probably not exaggerating.

We’ll keep you posted.

— Jim Shepherd