Army training program promotes DoD networking, opportunities for students

by Rosemary C. Gonzalez, Military Personnel Division chief, U.S. Army Operational Test Command

WEST FORT HOOD, Texas -- Nineteen Central Texas area college students connected with U.S. Army Operational Test Command (OTC) mentors as part of the test unit's Externship Friday. The Externship serves as an opportunity for OTC to reach beyond Central Texas to attract potential volunteer, intern, and developmental employees and to continue DoD partnership with Academia. "This is a great opportunity to experience government service, but more importantly, to meet people and network," said Col. Christopher Albus, OTC deputy commander and chief of staff, as he welcomed students on their visit. "Networking is so very important in educating and informing yourself of career opportunities," Albus said. It was the first iteration hosting students from Central Texas universities and colleges with the aim of attracting student volunteers and future graduates to the OTC workforce. "The Army Educational Outreach Program present to students a better idea of how their field of study may be applied in support of the military and government," said John W. Diem, OTC's Executive Director. During the day-long event, the students toured OTC's Fort Hood test locations and experienced a demonstration of the Test Technology Execution Complex and also got an up-close look at a Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system. One student, Armando Cruz, a Killeen Independent School District senior and Applied Mathematics major at the Texas Bioscience Institute, Temple College, said the Externship was a very eye-opening experience and showcased the many different jobs available within the government. "The Externship displayed the many different STEM-oriented careers that can be pursued through the Operational Test Command," he said. "It also gave a sense of the importance of work done at OTC and how the work that they accomplish influences the military's decisions and ultimately saves lives." Raul Chambers, a Biochemistry major at Baylor University, said, "OTC provided brilliant, young minds the opportunity to shadow some of the most honored and experienced people in the state of Texas. "Can't wait to refer my friends at Baylor to the next Externship!" "The Externship program was the ideal vehicle to extend partnership through academic outreach and bring more interest to volunteer service opportunities to new candidates," said Dr. Laura Walden, Lead Analyst with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Chief Management Officer. Walden is working with OTC on an experiential activity associated with her training in the Defense Leader Development Program. "We are thrilled with the results from this first of many Externships and look forward to ongoing collaboration with our academic partners," she said. Texas A&M University College Station, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, University of Texas, Temple College, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Baylor University were among the universities to participate in the Externship. As the Army's only independent operational tester, OTC tests Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using typical users to provide data on whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable. USAOTC is required by public law to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer -- the American Soldier.

Nineteen Central Texas area college students, who connected with U.S. Army Operational Test Command mentors as part of the test unit's Externship, stand in front of a Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system. The Externship gave a sense of the importance of work done at OTC and how the work that they accomplish influences the military's decisions and ultimately saves lives. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo) Rachel Engelbrecht (left), a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Texas at Austin, listens to Sara Van Dusen, deputy director of the Aviation Test Directorate at the U.S. Army Operational Test Command. Both took part in OTC's first Externship with local university college students Jan. 11. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo) Col. Patrick Walden (right), a data scientist in the Methodology & Analysis Directorate of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command, talks with Armando Cruz, a Killeen Independent School District senior and Applied Mathematics major at Texas Bioscience Institute, Temple College. Both took part in OTC's first Externship with local university college students Jan. 11. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo) Michael J. Saluto (left), a computer scientist in the Test Technology Directorate of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command, talks with Angelica Jones, a student with Texas A & M Central Texas, who studiers Computer Science there. Both took part in OTC's first Externship with local university college students Jan. 11. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo) Central Texas area college students stand along with their mentors in the foyer of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command Jan. 11. Nineteen Central Texas area college students connected with U.S. Army Operational Test Command mentors as part of the test unit's Externship. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo) Dr. Laura Walden, Lead Analyst with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Chief Management Officer, speaks to students, introducing them to the U.S. Army Operational Test Command's Externship Jan. 11. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)