Local communities learned about military capabilities, thanked service members for their service, and affirmed their commitment to supporting service members at the 2011 Military Appreciation Week held April 30th in Ruidoso. Community members came out to the Sierra Blanca regional Airport Saturday morning to meet their local Service members. Soldiers from White Sands Missile Range\'s 2nd Engineer Battalion demonstrated the Buffalo surrogate training vehicle allowing visiting children and adults to operate the vehicle's large mechanical arm. Visitors could also be instructed in the use of a hand held minesweeper that children could then use to locate souvenirs that the engineer's had buried in the ground. Members of the White Sands Missile Range Naval detachments had a static display of some of the missiles they use, as well as giving a rappelling demonstration along with members of WSMR's Directorate of Plans, Training Mobilization and Security. DPTMS had a small but popular tent where they had set up the DARWARS training simulation. The simulation, based on the Operation Flashpoint video game series is used by Soldiers to practice basic teamwork, movement coordination and communications. Airmen from Holloman Air Force Base showed off their law enforcement and counter terrorism tools in the for of a working dog demonstration, showing the effectiveness of military police dogs in the apprehension of a suspect. Members of the 920th Engineer Company, New Mexico National Guard provided a static display of heavy equipment they used to help clear roads and help villages like Ruidoso during the extremely cold weather this past winter. Soldiers from Fort Bliss provided both static and interactive displays of the Patriot missile system, the Avenger air defense system and the Armored Security Vehicle. Also from Fort Bliss member of the Brigade Combat Team Modernization program and the 1st Cavalry Division has displays of both Armored all terrain vehicles like those currently being used in Afghanistan, and a number of portable electronic devices being evaluated for use by Soldiers. The presence of BCTM personnel was important because the program will be conducting a major test later this year. The test is part of the process to develop a wide ranging wireless computer network that will connect Solders all over a battlefield to each other and allow for everything from texting and chat systems to live streaming video from surveillance equipment. It is hoped that the network will give modern soldiers the ability to communicate and share information that they are already familiar with thanks to the prevalence of the internet. Later that evening representatives from the armed forces and local communities signed the Ruidoso and Greater Lincoln County Military Community Covenant at a special banquet held at Ruidoso Middle School. The covenant recognizes that members of Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range, the New Mexico National Guard and Holloman Air Force Base, as well as all the surrounding New Mexico communities are committed to building stronger communities and supporting their Service members and their families. Signing the document were Timothy Hale, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Veterans Services, J.D. Roehrig representing the city of Capitan, Raymond Alborn, mayor of Ruidoso, Mike Petty, mayor of Carrizozo, Gary Williams representing Ruidoso Downs, retired Brig. Gen. Jack Fox, director of military affairs for military appreciation weekend, retired Brig. Gen. Douglas Murray of the New Mexico Military Institute, Col. Randall Lane, Fort Bliss chief of staff, Col. Chris Wicker, WSMR garrison commander, Cmdr. James Harrell, WSMR Naval Detachment commander, Command Master Sgt. Gerardo Tapia, 49th wing command chief from Holloman Air Force Base, Sgt. 1st Class Santiago Mendoza of the New Mexico National Guard and Military Appreciation Weekend President Millie Woods.
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