Congressman Freylinghuysen's Youth Advisory Council visits Picatinny

By Mr. Eric Kowal (Picatinny)April 12, 2018

Congressman Freylinghuysen's Youth Advisory Council visits Picatinny
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - High school students from New Jersey's 11th Congressional District received a broad exposure to the scientific and engineering work at Picatinny Arsenal during a visit on March 28.

The students, who are enrolled in the 2017-2018 class of Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen's Youth Advisory Council, had an opportunity to speak with engineers and scientists at the U.S. Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC).

Those direct interactions help students to learn more about Picatinny's mission of supporting the warfighter through science and technology. Picatinny Arsenal is the Joint Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition, and of the U.S. Army's premiere laboratories.

Approximately 25 juniors and seniors were greeted by Col. Richard Hornstein, ARDEC Military Deputy, before watching a video overview about the installation.

They later received hands-on experience with military equipment developed at Picatinny.

"First and foremost, the mission of the Army is to fight and win the nation's wars, and the only way we can do that is the instruments of warfare that are produced at Picatinny," Hornstein said.

"Picatinny is responsible for 90 percent of the armaments and lethality in the Army," the colonel added.

After the welcome, students broke into four smaller groups at the Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz Armament Software Engineering Center.

The facility provides the U.S. Soldier, Army, Department of Defense, and other customers a Center of Excellence for Software Engineering and Software Acquisition support services.

Students also learned how gaming, interactive technology and virtual reality can be used to help support the warfighter and reduce training expenses.

They also toured inside an Abrams tank, operated robots designed for Explosive Ord?nance Disposal, and learned about work performed in ARDEC's Innovation Lab.

"Picatinny is a very important part of Morris County, the community, and the country, so this trip is to educate them on what the employees do here," said Nicholas D'Alesio, Field Representative, Office of Congressman Frelinghuysen.

"Not only to show them the importance to the community but also how Picatinny relates to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiatives," D'Alesio added.

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