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The students met with Brig. Gen. George C. Turner, the commander of White Sands Missile Range. Instead of giving a speech, Turner conversed with all the students about their goals and plans for achieving them.
Source: U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range (via Facebook)
Photos: Courtesy
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (April 17, 2025) – The 2025 Junior Leadership Las Cruces program, which cultivates leadership skills among high school students, is supported by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. As part of their educational journey, the participants recently had the opportunity to visit White Sands Missile Range on April 16. During this visit, they explored the facilities and gained valuable insights into the operations of this significant military installation.
The experience allowed students to learn about the technological advancements and research conducted at the range and emphasized the importance of leadership and teamwork in real-world scenarios.
The students met with Brig. Gen. George C. Turner, the commander of White Sands Missile Range. Instead of giving a speech, Turner conversed with all the students about their goals and plans for achieving them.
“This is a conversation, and there are no right or wrong answers,” Turner explained as he posed questions to the group, such as how they plan to finance their college education and whether they have researched the schools they are interested in attending. The well-prepared high school juniors had clear plans for their future and were eager to share them with the commander of White Sands Missile Range.
The day was packed with exciting and enriching experiences, including an exhilarating rappelling session led by skilled instructors Ed Stahl and Ed Taitano. Their expertise not only ensured safety but also made the adventure enjoyable and educational as participants learned about the physical demands that soldiers face.
The group also had the opportunity to visit the Cox Range Control Center, where they learned about the critical operations supporting various missile range missions.
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“I am excited to learn more about the careers they have here at White Sands Missile Range and the different jobs they have through the military,” said Izabella Ortiz, Centennial High School Junior. “For high school underclassmen, this program is a really good opportunity for them, and I think they would really enjoy it too.”
This program has successfully developed leadership skills for high school students across Las Cruces. For many years, it has incorporated the White Sands Missile Range into its military experiences while also increasing awareness of the career opportunities available on the range. The program connects students with local community leaders and provides professional development and mentoring as they prepare for college and plan their career paths.
