The United States Army Operational Test Command continued a 10-year-old tradition last week when it hosted its annual Civic Leaders' Day at West Fort Hood.

The event was designed to show civilian leaders throughout Central Texas what goes on beyond the gates at the Operational Test Command and how soldiers utilize the equipment the command's directorates had a hand in testing. The event's guest list represented people from all aspects and all types of backgrounds of Central Texas communities, said Eloise Lundgren, command spokeswoman.

They included leaders from civic groups, churches, schools, businesses and organizations. Mayors and city managers of local communities were also invited. Gatesville's mayor and city manager and Harker Heights' mayor attended.

Those who took the command up on its offer included Copperas Cove photographer Larry Letzer and his guest, Gov. Rick Perry's personal pilot; Sharon Wilson, trustee of the Dr. Ralph Wilson Jr. Foundation and Wilson Plastics of Temple; Glenn Morrison, acting Killeen city manager; Leslie Hinkle, Killeen community grants director; and Susan Kamas, executive director of the Central Texas Workforce, and her guest, Andres Alcantar, of the Texas Workforce Commission.

Officials from units across Fort Hood also participated in the day, from attending events to manning displays to highlight their capabilities.

The command's activities often get less attention than others on post because of the classified nature of many of its tests. The command tests and assesses military equipment and systems using soldiers to " determine whether the systems are effective, suitable and survivable," according to www.otc.army.mil/OTCHome.

Jim Amato, the command's executive director, said the command was much like the Consumer Reports of the Army.

The highlight of the day was a visit to Fort Hood's Antelope Drop Zone, where soldiers from the 36th Engineer Brigade's 20th Engineer Battalion demonstrated a typical counter-roadside bomb scenario they encountered during their recent deployment to Afghanistan.

The platoon used a combination of surveillance from soldiers hidden in the grass and a Telluride unmanned aerial vehicle to get information on an area suspected to have bombs and enemy fighters before moving in with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles; a Buffalo, an armored vehicle with a large articulated arm that can reach out and dig for buried bombs; and a remote-control robot that can be deployed to search for and detonate explosives.

All the equipment the engineers used was on display later in a West Fort Hood hangar. The static display included everything from military vehicles and aircraft to smart phones.

Fort Hood units that participated in the day, which included providing support, manning displays or conducting demonstrations, were the 20th Engineer Battalion; III Corps; 1st Cavalry Division; 5th Aviation Battalion from Fort Polk, La.; and the Fires, Intelligence Electronic Warfare Test Directorates from Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Sill, Okla.; and Fort Huachuca, Ariz.