Department of the Army civilians from the U.S. Army Operational Test Command had an opportunity to see the fruits of their labor last week when they watched a Bradley gunnery exercise at Fort Hood’s multi-use range complex.

Guests of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the DA civilians ate some dust and heard from Soldiers first-hand about the effectiveness, suitability and survivability of equipment, systems and technology they had a hand in testing over the years. OTC’s senior enlisted Soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, arranged for the professional development opportunity, something he said he plans on establishing as a norm.

Brig. Gen. Scott Spellmon, OTC commanding general, applauded Graham’s program.

“Since taking command here, I’ve discovered that many of our civilian employees have not had the benefit of active-duty military experience,” Spellmon said. “All military are required to participate in professional development opportunities, which enhance our abilities and make us better Soldiers.

“This exposure to the Army culture is something most of our civilian employees do not encounter during their daily duties,” he said. “I want our DA civilians to have that same opportunity, and this gunnery exercise is just the first of similar opportunities being planned.”

Comprising, but not limited to, engineers, human resource specialists, research analysts, administrative assistants, financial management specialists and audio-visual technicians, OTC’s finest were enthusiastic about the experience.

“It was an awesome opportunity,” said Dan Welsh, electronics engineer, Test Technology Directorate. “This is the first [officer professional development] of which I’m aware in the 11 years I’ve been at OTC.

“I hope our leadership continues to find and support these developmental opportunities for us because we don’t often see the equipment in action with live rounds going downrange,” he added.

Olga Roche, financial management specialist, G8, appreciated getting an entirely new perspective on her job and looks forward to more OPDs.

“It was a very instructional experience,” she said. “Being the wife of a retired Soldier, I am very aware of the mission and dangers in the field, and every day I am proud of the work our Soldiers do.

“As we are finalizing our budget for the next year, this [officer professional development] enhances the awareness of what we are funding and the mission needs of the Soldiers,” Roche added.

Although Amy Hammonds, program manager, G1, has been a DA civilian for 30 years, she has never been in or near a Bradley.

“The opportunity to climb in and on the tank was fun and educational,” she said. “I was amazed at how small the quarters were and the conditions that soldiers have to endure while in the Bradley.

“Talking to Soldiers and having them show us how everything worked was interesting and fascinating,” she said. “I am looking forward to more of these professional development events.”

With 30 years combined military and civilian service, Ralph Hughart isn’t new to field training exercises. Hughart, an operations research systems analyst with OTC’s Methodology and Analysis Directorate, said he appreciated the change of pace.

“The experience was interesting and the Soldiers who briefed us were uniformly articulate and knowledgeable on their system,” he said. “I think it gave all attendees a better sense of the importance of what OTC does in support of these Soldiers.”

According to OTC photographer/videographer Larry Furnace, who photographed the day’s activities, this kind of interaction makes it real.

“Not everyone has an opportunity to participate directly in the moving parts of operational tests and observe soldiers in the field,” he said. “This was good that it allowed OTC folks who work behind the scenes to see results of their efforts.”

OTC, the Army’s only independent operational tester, tests and assesses equipment, systems and technology in a realistic operational environment using typical soldiers to determine whether systems are effective, suitable and survivable in varying environments.