FORT BLISS, Texas -- More than 40 students in Nolan Richardson Middle School's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program had the chance to learn about a new shared information network system during a field trip to the Brigade Modernization Command here Tuesday afternoon.
Several units on Fort Bliss are partnered with schools across El Paso to mentor, tutor and participate in special events with the youth of El Paso, but the BMC's testing of a new signal network for the Army had a particularly applicable draw to children in the STEM program, which encourages them to pursue interests in the scientific fields.
"This is our way to give back to the community that gives so much to us at Fort Bliss and El Paso," said Capt. Dustin P. La Duke, adjutant general, Brigade Modernization Command. "We're letting them experience what we do for the military, but also getting them to see what they're going into by following a science, technology, engineering and math philosophy."
Before heading to the BMC's System of Systems Engineering and Integration building for some hands-on time with the technology, the students had some hands-on time with military food at the Bamford Dining Facility here. After the meal, it was time to see how the network of radios and computers creates a shared viewpoint of a potential battle field.
"The students were exposed to, and had the opportunity to take a look at, various technologies today," said Col. Terrece Harris, director, Capability Package, System of Systems Integration. "From that perspective, it just gives them a sense of awareness as to where we have come from, some of the directions we are going, some of the technologies they are familiar with and how you incorporate some the those capabilities into the systems we see today."
"We learned everything that they use in the computers with math to protect the city and the USA," said Axel Castaneda, 8th grader at Nolan Richardson Middle School. "They showed me math that I never thought would exist in computers. I want to be one of those guys who protects the United States with all this stuff."
One of the goals of the STEM program is to foster an interest in technology at an early age, and cultivate it into a sense of focus throughout high school and college, Harris added. If Castaneda is any example, the students trip to the BMC has done exactly that.
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