At U.S. Army Arctic Regions Test Center (ARTC) near Delta Junction, Alaska, the most important attribute for a potential employee to possess is ruggedness.
Tasked with testing military equipment in one of the world’s coldest places, ARTC’s employees spend countless winter hours outside in the natural environment, in temperatures where nostrils freeze shut and breathing hurts.
It is a tall order, and one that Marine Corps veteran and current Alaska National Guard NCO Steven Prewitt has readily accepted.
After serving as an active duty Marine, Prewitt was a civilian test officer for the Corps. Recently recognized as ARTC Employee of the Quarter, he was only dimly aware of the test center’s existence in his former work life.
“In my time working for the Marine Corps as a civilian I had heard of the cold natural environment testing that took place up here, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of ARTC.”
The Georgia native never expected to reside in Alaska.
“My son had graduated high school, my brother-in-law was retiring from the Air Force and he and his family were moving to Alaska. We saw it as an opportunity to look for a job in Alaska—we weren’t really tied to anything at the time.”
Making the decision even easier was the serendipitous job posting for a test officer at ARTC.
“In reading the position description, it was uncanny how it lined up with my experience. My wife was excited about it—it got us closer to the nieces and nephews.”
His first winter working at the facility was an eye-opener. While working on the major multi-week test of the Army and Marine Corps’ Next Generation Squad Weapon, for example, temperatures dipped below -50 degrees Fahrenheit, and one week never saw a minute above -30.
“Test officers, especially at Arctic Regions Test Center, touch all aspects of planning the test, as well as arranging the test support. Sometimes you are your own test support—snow has to be moved, or targets have to be moved. It’s a small environment and we have limited resources, so we all tend to help one another when possible.”
Prewitt credits the tight-knit ARTC crew’s willingness to help for the test’s success, and for cementing his desire to stay at the test center.
“It’s hard to say that I’ve ever worked with a harder-working or more caring group of people. I think everyone in our organization feels like they are part of a team. We’re definitely stronger together and can provide more to the customers by working together.”
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