The petroleum lab at Defense Logistics Agency Energy Europe and Africa is training high school students how to test aviation fuels in the Kaiserslautern, Germany, community.
Students attending local high schools in the Department of Defense Education Activity Europe serve as interns in the lab through the Career Practicum Student Internship Program which matches a student with a professional experience based on their interest in a career field.
“The internship can help the student gain exposure as well as enhance their educational goals and shape their career choice,” said Army Sgt. Yhadira Meadows, petroleum specialist at DLA Energy Europe and Africa. “Most of the students who participate are seniors and they get hands-on experience while receiving credit for school.”
With an interest in learning about the strict standards of military fuel, Ramstein High School student Karla Robillard has been in the lab running various tests on fuel samples to identify contamination or deterioration as well as learning how to maintain the lab and keep inventory of the supplies needed.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Tejada, noncommissioned officer in charge of the DLA Energy Europe and Africa petroleum lab, said the student internship benefits both the student and the laboratory staff.
“I’m able to develop new training techniques that enhance both of our experiences,” he said. “I can use these techniques when training the military because now I can anticipate questions from a different perspective.”
While Robillard is learning about fuel testing, other students have worked with quality assurance specialists to gain knowledge on lab safety and quality control methods, Meadows said.
“I am a supporter of this program and everything it stands for,” Tejada said. “It sets these students up for a successful transition from high school to employment.”
“Helping at the DLA Petroleum Lab has opened my eyes to all the opportunities and choices I have going into college,” Robillard said. “I am extremely grateful for the inspiration and knowledge I have gained through this program and all the amazing people I have met.”
Students in the Department of Defense Education Activity Europe in Kaiserslautern, Germany, who are interested in the program should contact their school’s coordinator.