Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students

Abstract

Recent initiatives by the Department of Defense directed greater outreach to local Native Alaska students due to lack of representation. To bridge this gap, the "Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students" is an impactful initiative aimed at providing a unique educational experience to underserved students residing in remote areas of Alaska. This project serves as a vital component of Air Force outreach, fostering connections with local communities and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The primary objective of this project is to expose students from remote Alaskan villages, often referred to as "the bush," to opportunities and career paths they may not have access to otherwise. By doing so, it not only enriches their educational journey but also empowers them to envision a brighter future for themselves and their communities. This will be a one day execution event for the immersion tour on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska. Additionally, this project aims to permanently set up an office or set up as a function of an office to carry out this endeavor so this effort may continue as part of the organization. In summary, the "Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students" is a project with a far-reaching impact, designed to bridge educational gaps, foster community connections, and inspire future leaders within the Alaska Air National Guard. It underscores the Air Force's commitment to outreach and engagement while offering students the chance to explore a world of possibilities. This project successfully resulted in 28 students enjoying a military base immersion tour and in creating a repository of best practices for future tours to use for continuously improved processes. This repository will be used as the basis for turnover to a future office for primary responsibility in supporting outreach tours.