First and second-year students in the Career & Technical Institute’s Computer Networking and Cybersecurity program learned how to deploy and stow a satellite, and saw some of the National Guard’s vehicles up close at Camp Smith, in Cortland Manor in March.
The Guard’s Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT) can be put anywhere in the world and provide internet service. Guard members showed the students how the STT worked, then the students set up the legs on the equipment and got it leveled so the STT could be deployed and stowed. A few strokes of a laptop keyboard helped the satellite rise, but much of the other work had to be done manually.
National Guard recruiters visited Dutchess BOCES for a career night where they were introduced to Computer Networking Teacher Michael Lancelotti and explained how Guard members operate in the IT field. They then expressed interest in wanting to have students visit to see some of the equipment that is used, National Guard Staff Sgt. Yulisbeth Reyes said.
“The importance of this visit shows the kids that what they are learning in their IT class is something that the US Army still uses today,” they wrote. “It helps ensure them that this stuff is very important and is still needed in the world today.”
Lancelotti said the visit was important for his students to see that there are other options besides college. They also learned life lessons that are instilled by the Guard.
“It teaches them discipline, accountability, it gets them out of their everyday walls they’re seeing … doing something like this, they can maybe find something else they’re interested in,” Lancelotti said of his students. “I could really tell that they were very much into it.”
Second-year student Nick Tornberg is potentially interested in joining the National Guard as an alternative to college after talking with Reyes during the trip. He appreciates going on field trips like this as it gives him a more well-rounded experience in the program.
“It was a good experience to learn what they have to do on a day-to-day basis,” Tornberg said of the National Guard members. “It was different than normal daily life.”
Second-year student Dmytro Maryniak appreciated getting to hear about the varied career options the National Guard offers and enjoyed helping set up the satellite.
“It’s good to know and have that information,” Maryniak said of hearing the Guard’s career options. “Most kids don’t get to do this kind of stuff at all, it’s a real special experience.”
Students were given National Guard T-shirts and knit hats, as well as ready to eat meals soldiers eat on the battlefield.
