On July 17, Civil Air Patrol Cadets visited White Sands Missile Range to learn about STEM careers on the installation. Their tour included stops at the Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Activity Calibration Lab, the White Sands Museum, and the J.W. Cox Range Control Center. At each stop, they learned about WSMR's vital role in the local community, the United States Army, and the Nation. Cadets were introduced to the wide range of STEM and non-STEM careers at WSMR, the U.S. Army, and the Department of Defense.
The day began at the Calibration Lab with an informational briefing by Jessica Sosa, Army Test and Evaluation Command WSMR G1 Human Resources Specialist. Sosa provided an overview of the WSMR Command Team, the organizations that make up Team WSMR, and the vast array of careers available on the installation. Cadets were encouraged to engage with subject matter experts and ask questions throughout the tour.
At the Calibration Laboratory, calibration technicians led discussions and demonstrations highlighting areas such as force, torque, static and dynamic pressure, microwave frequency spectrum, and direct current. Saul Uribe, Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Activity Calibration Laboratory Chief, emphasized the importance of the WSMR TMDE Calibration Laboratory not only to testing at WSMR but to the entire U.S. Army Calibration Network over the Western Hemisphere of the United States.
"Our Area Calibration Laboratory receives equipment in need of calibration-and sometimes repairs- from other TMDE Calibration Laboratories," Uribe explained. "Equipment from other U.S. Army Installations like Yuma, Dugway, and Fort Huachuca are sent to WSMR as we are one of the largest Calibration Laboratories. We also receive equipment from U.S. Army Installations overseas, including Germany, Japan, Kuwait, and Korea."
Uribe continued, "Our mission ensures precision, accuracy, reliability, and readiness across the joint force and defense communities. The success of our customers' missions depends on having properly calibrated equipment."
Next, Cadets toured the WSMR Museum, where Darren Court provided a deep dive into local and military history. Topics included the Bataan Death March, the Cold War, and World War II. Court described the early use of rockets during the Mongol Empire, the inner workings of the V2 displayed at the museum, and WSMR's contributions to the 'Space Race.'
Court also traced the region's history from Mexico's sale of the area to the United States during the Gadsden Purchase to present-day testing.
During a working lunch, Cadets learned about career development programs, including the Student Intern Program, Army Fellows Program, and the SMART Scholarship Program, from Dianna McDaniel, Army Test and Evaluation Command WSMR G1 Human Resources Specialist. McDaniel shared her career path alongside Uribe, highlighting their transitions from uniform military service to civilian roles and the benefits of such a career trajectory.
Commander of the White Sands Test Center, Col. Matthew D. Johnson, joined the Cadets at J. W. Cox Range Control Center, where he shared his recommendations about attending school, joining the military service, and completing college.
"Always be open to learning. Read books: history, military history, and your subject of study. Keep learning. Become and stay proficient," said Johnson.
The Cadets finished their day with a guided tour of the control center by Albert Sterling, Computer Engineer. Cadets toured a Classified Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility in the Internal Range Control Center and learned how it can transmit visual feeds and data across a national network from Leslie Alvidrez, Mechanical Engineer. Cadets were especially astounded by the amount of cabling needed to operate the SCIF.
In the Network Operations Center, Cadets learned about the communications network throughout WSMR and saw the inner workings. The IT Specialists explained the connections, the importance of the fiber optic infrastructure to WSMR and the critical mission support the facility provides.
White Sands Integrated Target System introduced Cadets to target operations and the utilization of targets during testing. Cadets were fascinated by the concept of flying a target, often a full-scale aircraft, from WSMR with no visual reference to the ground.
An introduction to the instrumentation used during testing and the vital role of communication from the field was discussed on the Operation Control and Display Floor. There, Sterling explained how data from the field instrumentation is used to update live feeds for customers and to make critical mission decisions, with safety being the top priority.
The final stop for the Cadets was the Air Force's Air Traffic Control. Having previously visited the ATC Tower at Holloman Air Force Base, Cadets were able to compare both sides of ATC support. Tech Sgt. Hernandez explained the vital role of the ATC to WSMR's mission and fielded a variety of questions from Cadets.
The visit concluded with an after-action discussion in which the Cadets shared their learnings and suggested improvements for future tours. They remarked on the enthusiasm of the professionals they met, the excitement they felt about the type of work, and the willingness of these professionals to share their personal career journeys. The ATC tour was a significant highlight, while the museum left many feeling inspired by the rich history available in their backyard.
More information about Civil Air Patrol Cadets can be found at: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/
More information about the Summer Intern Programs and the Army Fellows Program: https://portal.chra.army.mil/afp
More information about the SMART Scholarship Program: https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart
More information about the White Sands Missile Range Museum (open Monday- Saturday, 9:00-4:00): https://wsmrmuseum.com/
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