NYC

After Advanced Camp, I shipped off for an internship with the Army through the Cadet Troop Leading Training (CTLT) program. I worked (get ready for it) under the following hierarchy in descending order (as best I can piece together):

I sat on a plane in Louisville, KY for a while before they said that the weather in Detroit was going to delay the flight for quite a while. I would’ve missed my connection, so I exited the plane and boarded a flight to Atlanta. Upon landing in Atlanta, my flight was delayed for weather, so I finally arrived in DC at Reagan around 0130 instead of 2200. I was pretty bitter because CDT Fink’s school bought him a last-minute ticket that had him leaving Sunday before graduation, so that got changed at camp to a direct flight. My school planned ahead, and I got screwed. Oh well. Our supervisor, a Major, picked me up and took me back to Post.

The next day started at 0900. I’m sure it was a lot of in-processing and touring. We only spent 3 hours doing stuff and were cut loose at noon. It ended up being perfect because I had a really bad infection on the tip of my finger. It started to flare up the night before, and it was the spot where they did the finger-prick to check for iron at the blood drive on Saturday. Swell. Literally. It was a sensitive balloon of pus. They drained it with a syringe, though, and gave me some drugs. That ended up being complicated, too, because they sent me to the pharmacy with a prescription for a different “Johnathan Miles Henderson”. The only reason I caught it was because the guy’s birthday was in the 80s.

After that mess was figured out, it was onto putting out the next fire. The lady-sergeant at BYU-I messed up my orders and didn’t include a rental car. It got resolved, but we somehow had to figure out how to get back to Ronald Reagan in DC. Without a car. Luckily, I was able to call up Patrick, who took us there. We picked up our rental and went to Bdubs. It just so happened to be Traditional Tuesday, so our order was like $10!

Day 3 had us in a minivan driving around campus with a young lady that works at Ft. Belvoir as a civilian full-time who is also an officer in the US Army Reserves. After work, we went and saw Spider-Man: Homecoming with Katie at The Alamo movie theater. I actually wasn’t super impressed with the movie. I think they did a fantastic job, and Tom Holland plays a great Spidey, but even with my Tony Stark in it, Homecoming couldn’t knock The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield out of my Top 5! Looking back, though, and having rewatched it, it was very well done.

During my first few days on the job, a two-star General came to receive demonstrations on all the research at the facility. The General scooped us Cadets up and had us tag along to see everything. It was fantastic. So much future tech to see.

That night, I went home, grabbed my siblings, and we went to Reston Town Center for lack of things to do. Not as fun as I remember, and it was initially awkward, as they adjusted to being around me again after so long.

A particularly beneficial opportunity for us was our lunch with a few Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs). They gave us advice on how to interact with the Enlisted side of the Army, as well as on how to succeed as a fresh 2nd Lieutenant with no real knowledge of the Army.

Later, I had a follow-up appointment at the hospital. They said my finger was healing fine! After the hospital, I darted back to Ashburn for a delicious dinner with Walt, Blair, and Katie at Carolina Brothers BBQ, followed by a game night. My two favorites were The Grizzled and Fuse.

Saturday was a blast. What started as hoping to jump on an organized trip from DC to NYC through Ft. Belvoir ended up being Katie and I paving our own way. We bought tickets for like $40 each. We were on the shadiest of Asian tour buses, checking in at what could’ve been an underground money laundering operation in DC’s Chinatown. We took the 4-hour bus ride up, and I didn’t pull any punches. I wanted to see it all. I had a list that, for the most part, worked out. We had a good time and certainly got our 10,000 steps in! My list was as follows:

Other favorite memories included eating Shake Shack for the first time, stopping by the Disney store, trying to find food to eat (we really wanted Japanese ramen, but ended up grabbing pizza to eat on the bus ride home), and bonding with the ghetto bus riders. I also asked our Uber (who hauled us across town from the 9/11 Memorial to catch our bus) where Avengers Tower was. He didn’t get it. I did, however, steal a kiss from the security dog at Trump Tower!

I was able to attend church in the congregation where I grew up (Brambleton Ward). It was fantastic! I didn’t tell anyone that I was coming, and I scooped up Connor and my sisters to attend with me. I got to say “hi” to President Holtom and Jonathan Linton, my youth leader growing up. Another tender mercy was sitting down where I did. A couple walked in and sat in front of us. They looked familiar, so I asked them their names. I had guessed correctly—it was the Dowdles. I grew up with their daughter, Stephanie. So good to see them again. After church, I stopped by to see the Cottones and was there for forever. They were excited to see me, and Bonnie kept forcing food on me (I wouldn’t have it any other way!).

Our 8th day was fairly uneventful in comparison. We had an Officers lunch (just our immediate supervisor and his supervisor) at the golf course club. Later, we ate a delicious dinner at Pica Taco there in Alexandria.

Tuesday, our Measurement and Modeling Services department went out for lunch at and MSS lunch at a Peruvian chicken place, followed by an evening out at Great Falls with Fink, Katie, and Sadie (her pup). This was on Fink’s list of things to do, which was fun, because I wouldn’t have picked it myself, but ended up loving it. How had I never (if memory serves) been there, when I grew up right around the corner?! That night, we had Mookie’s BBQ.

Apparently uneventful.

We picked Shalene up! So good to see her. Long overdue. We had been away from each other for 41 days! A guy at work had recommended a local Japanese restaurant, which Fink took his girlfriend to, and they loved it. So that night, Fink, Shalene, and I went, but it was only mediocre. Turns out, we went to the one Fink tried, but not the one that was originally recommended.

After a delicious lunch at Bozzelli Bros. Deli on Post, the rest of the night was a circus. We had gifted my family an Olive Garden gift card two years in a row with the stipulation that they all have to go out to dinner together. Well, we finally forced them to use it when we were all out there (and not just because it’s Shalene’s favorite). We stopped by to see the Cottones beforehand since they wanted to meet Shalene, thinking it would be a short visit. Bonnie doesn’t work that way! I also forgot to call in a reservation to the restaurant. I never go out to eat in a big party, Shalene and I just show up! We invited Walt and Tamara, who were kind enough to exercise a little patience with the family. They did invite two other friends (Patrick and Cynthia) as a back-up in case it didn’t work out. It was a fine time, though! Walt and Tamara got to meet Shalene, and we all had a good evening just chatting!

We woke up Saturday morning, drove to Ashburn, and grabbed breakfast with Blair and Zee at IHOP. My favorite server, Tori (a black boxer), was still working there, and she is hilarious. It was fun to have a little double-date. It was also the first time I had met Zee, oddly enough (we’ve interacted through social media plenty). Afterwards, we packed up the fam (those who would go) and headed down to see Monticello and the University of Virginia. It was supposed to be everyone, but Jenna didn’t sleep well the night before, Patrick was his usual self, and Robert was working. Unfortunately, that meant we’d all fit in one car except for one. Dad opted to sit out, which was sad because he had never been.

It was hotter than sin that day. So sweaty and sunny. I came to have mad respect for how much of a renaissance man Thomas Jefferson was! We had a good time though, and after we got to see the sites at Monticello, we drove through UVA’s campus, as I was heavily considering grad school in aerospace engineering there. Shalene and I agreed that we’d ultimately end up in Virginia, as it’s both a perfect blend of all of the defense engineering jobs and historical sites.

After a terribly long Saturday of driving, we woke up really early and drove down to Yorktown, where we got breakfast with Brandon and Janet at Food Craft (only like a mile away from JJ and Alyssa’s old house!). After breakfast, we headed to Busch Gardens with JJ and Alyssa. They have a season pass, and Shalene and I got in for free (military members get a free trip for themselves and 4 dependents per year)! It was so fun just being with JJ again. It was also the first time I had met Alyssa and the first time Shalene had met either of them. Shalene got super sick from the Viking ship ride, swinging back and forth, plus there was a storm warning that shut down the rides for a while. We ended up chilling in the German village “bierzelt” and played Ellen’s Heads Up for a while. Just spending time together was enough.

Monday, Shalene was supposed to hang with my dad, but she had a much-needed rest day coming her way. She stayed home to recuperate from a summer babysitting alone, and after work, I grabbed Chinese, and we stayed in the room watching shows. There was also a big storm that day that dropped a tree limb inches away from the rental car!

On Tuesday, Shalene and Katie went to Mt. Vernon and some other local sites, while Fink and I got to tour the experimental airfield and take a tour of DC in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter! Afterwards, we had a fantastic lunch at Mission BBQ, my new favorite Nova restaurant!

Wednesday, we went down to Quantico to talk drones with another program, then we took Shalene to the airport. Goodbye wasn’t quite so hard, as I’d be home in a week-and-a-half.

On Thursday, one of the employees at NVESD took us on a group trip to Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier. He was an excellent guide and gives tours often. He even knocked on the Tomb Guards’ quarters and got us a tour! We got to speak with a few of the Soldiers who serve at the Tomb. Wow! Incredible standards and discipline.

The next day, we loaded up into the van and drove up to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. We met up with a bunch of other Cadets, including one from my Platoon at Advance Camp, and toured the facility, including all of the Army’s new Cyber assets! A Major General met with us and presented each of us with a challenge coin—my first one came from a two-star General! After getting back, I went over to Jarrod’s for a game night. His roommate, Luke, was there, as well as an old high school friend, Brendan! We played Betrayal at House on the Hill.

Saturday morning, I hit NovaCon with Jarrod and Luke. It was lots of fun! It was at The Ritz-Carlton in Tyson’s Corner, and Jarrod’s sister, Jenna, had a booth with her friend. I picked up a lot of cheap comic books and shook hands and chatted with Barb and the teacher from Stranger Things, as well as the dad from Flash and Lady Deathstrike from X2 (she loved my widow’s peak). Overall, it was a pretty good event for it being their first year. Afterwards, I went to Under Armor with Patrick, and he hooked me up with new running shoes, shorts, and a shirt since he worked there. Then, for my mom’s belated birthday, I treated her to Pei Wei, and we got to catch up one-on-one.

Sunday morning, Fink and I woke up, picked up Katie at a nearby gas station outside of Post, and headed down to Quantico for The Freedom Fighters 5k/Half benefiting the Semper Fi Fund. It was our (Fink and I) first half marathon. We kept talking about how we regretted signing up for it, especially after a grueling camp experience, but it was a blast. My headphones quit on me at the starting line, so it was a full race with just my thoughts. We ran through Prince William Forest Park the whole time (map of route), which kept the entire course shaded and cool. It was fairly hilly for the last half, but I managed to maintain ~10 min/mile for all but the last mile! It’s the farthest I’ve ever run in one go, and I finished in 2:16:36. After the race, we really wanted chicken and waffles, so we went to Waffle House, which doesn’t even sell them. Instead, we went to IHOP, and I wanted to die after eating way too much.

The next day, I was sure to try the chicken and waffles in the cafeteria at work—so delicious. That night, we met up in Manassas to get Cafe Rio with my mom and the siblings.

As you can see, this trip revolved around food haha! We tried Thai Herbs for lunch, which was alright. I was glad to branch out and try some new things. There were a few dishes I loved (Kapow Chicken and Green Curry Chicken), and others I did not…

There’s a machining and wood shop in the facility where we worked, so we asked for a tour. It was super interesting going through and seeing their capabilities. They even said that their resources are there to make the Army function and that when we get to our units, we can request things to be made through their facility, provided our unit has the funds! That night, we collected nighttime images for one of our projects. It had to be totally dark, as we were collecting thermal imaging, and the ground had to finish releasing its radiant heat. It was also Fink’s birthday, so he celebrated a day late.

On the 3rd, we had lunch at Mission BBQ, made last-minute preparations, and then presented on our projects that we worked on while in the facility. We processed so much data for so long, that afterwards, the project manager said he had been waiting years for the results we provided the facility! We’ll also have an opportunity to publish as the research comes to a conclusion! We got dinner at Chipotle, then I drove home. My dad, myself, and another sibling or two went and got froyo at Zinga, then Dad grabbed some Dominos next door. There was a 3-star General sitting in Dominos eating! How random. But I suppose that’s Nova for ya. Then we picked up Robert from work. It was great seeing him in action, in a position that’s pushed him.

On our last day at work, the staff took us out to El Paso, we said goodbyes, then we hit the road! Fink and his girlfriend, Erin, drove separately from me since Erin wouldn’t be coming home with us. We headed out to Westover, Maryland, where his family had rented a beach house for a reunion. I was super nervous at first, but I ended up having a great time. I beat Fink and Erin there, though, and I was driving through corn fields late at night trying to find a house in the dark after Google Maps cut out. It was a good time haha!

I actually had a lot more fun than I anticipated! I didn’t get in the water at all (it was windy and choppy), but I read a lot out on the beach and started a giant puzzle on historic Virginia. I also facetimed Shalene and Eva before we ate.

The crab was so good! We ate a ton of crabs that we caught ourselves as well as a bushel covered in Old Bay that someone picked up locally. What an experience. Those suckers sure make you work for their meat! We left much later than I had hoped, so I eventually had to trade out driving with Fink for the last 30-45 minutes. We did, however, finally get our Lucky Charms milkshakes from Burger King—an internship-long quest! They didn’t taste like what I had expected, and I don’t think I’d get another one, but we had been talking about it for our entire internship.

Sunday morning, we hit the airport. We got all our bags checked and went to the USO. We had never been before, but apparently, most US airports have a military lounge with free wifi and tons of snacks—Monster, microwave meals, popcorn, trail mix, protein bars, etc. Not the lame stuff.

My flight to Minneapolis was fine. I slept most of the flight. I was super uncomfortable, but really tired. The flight from Minneapolis to SLC was also fine. I had to wait in SLC for an extra 1.5 hours, though, as they repaired my plane. Shalene wasn’t super stoked about that. She had shown up to the airport early because she was so excited and ended up hanging out for 2.5 hours with Eva…Luckily, Jim, Sue Ann, and Sara brought Stephen and Tara’s kids down, too. They at least had company for a while. It made for a perfect end to a tough and rewarding summer!

As for what I did during my internship, I’m  not allowed to talk about most of it, so this is what I have on my résumé:

Worked in the Measurement and Modeling Services (MMS) Branch of the Modeling and Simulation Division (MSD) of the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. My involvement covered two projects: