June 20, 2024

By Aubrey Devries, Purdue University

The Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) has adopted a hands-on approach to learning by offering its scholars opportunities to travel across the United States and apply our classroom knowledge in real-world settings. This summer, two Purdue scholars and I went on a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., to contextualize our in-class lessons.

As someone who excels in application-based learning, the trip to D.C. allowed me to piece together much of what we were taught by our DCTC professor, Dr. Ken Callahan. During our visit, we explored the rich history of our nation and met many dedicated individuals who work hard to protect it. Below are some highlights from our trip!

One of the most memorable moments was meeting the Honorable Cara Abercrombie, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. We visited her office at the Pentagon to share our experiences and enthusiasm for the DCTC program. Our discussion focused on what we learned in the program and how it has shaped our career trajectories. At Purdue, we were taught about the acquisitions process within the Department of Defense (DoD), particularly how programs of record are supported and maintained to achieve DoD missions. With the efforts of Honorable Abercrombie and her staff, the Defense Acquisitions System is effectively utilized to meet our nation’s defense needs. At the end of our meeting, she presented each of us with a challenge coin.

Midway through our trip, we visited Capitol Hill to meet with the staff of Senator Todd Young and Senator Mike Braun. During our time in their offices, we explained the DCTC program and its anticipated success with the participation of Cohort 0. Our classroom lessons covered the National Defense Authorization Act and how legislators authorize and appropriate funding for the DoD. By visiting our senators’ offices, we aimed to secure funding for future cohorts. Both offices were enthusiastic about our program and expressed interest in supporting future DCTC scholars. Before leaving, we took an underground train from the Senate to the Capitol building where we got a tour from Senator Todd Young’s staff!

We also visited the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy and RAND Corporation, which are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). In our DCTC curriculum, we learned about the role of FFRDCs. These private sector agencies use their resources to provide the DoD with research that supports national security goals. During our visits to Krach and RAND, we learned about the specialized research conducted by their organizations and how it contributes to the DoD as a whole.

While our trip focused on solidifying classroom concepts and promoting our program, we also had plenty of time to explore the city! On our first day, we visited Ford’s Theater and learned about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. We also toured the Washington monuments and tried local, nearby restaurants. I was grateful for the opportunity to explore a new city while supporting the program that has given me so much!