ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, partnered with the U.S. Army Cadet Command to support the ongoing Cadet Internship Program, or CIP, by offering test and evaluation approved projects to cadets related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, and administrative/office support for four to eight week rotations during the summer.
After completing a cadet regiment training course in Ft. Knox, cadets have the opportunity to sign up for an internship at an organization to gain real world experiences related to their college degree program. CIP targets upperclassmen in both STEM related majors and other majors supporting career paths in areas such as public affairs, budgeting, legal, program management, human resources, equal employment opportunity, and information technology.
As a result, cadets later commissioned as officers will have received exposure to the research, development, test, and evaluation, or RDT&E; acquisition; and administrative/office support professions; and as their careers progress, they will carry these experiences into acquisition, RDT&E, and private sector leadership roles.
"The value of the program is that it provides cadets with exposure to the acquisition process and shows them how test and evaluation plays a vital role in supporting our customer (the Soldier)," said Christina Bryant, ATEC's Recruitment/Outreach program manager. "As their careers progress, they will carry these experiences with them; whether as a commissioned officer or in a private sector leadership role."
ATEC hosted 24 cadets across the command to include U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, or ATC, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; ATEC Headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground; U.S. Army Evaluation Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground; and U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
ATC recently conducted a tour for 20 cadets to showcase the various facilities and demonstrate some of the capabilities the test center has to offer. Also, cadets were given opportunities to engage in an obstacle course, firing demonstration, and combat vehicle test rides.
Following the tour, Maj. Gen. Joel K. Tyler, ATEC commanding general, addressed the cadets to obtain feedback on the ATC tour and to impart counsel to them about the value of test and evaluation as they progress in their academics and move towards their commissioning as officers.
"You will be involved in tests and evaluations more than you will be involved in combat in whatever time you are in the Army," Tyler said. "You're going to find yourself out in the field probably in your first, maybe second assignment, and you're going to be doing something that directly informs what's going on in the test and evaluation community."
Following Tyler's remarks, he closed out with a mentorship session with the cadets.
To learn more about CIP, contact the ATEC Headquarters CIP coordinator, at 443-861-9901.
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