Keesler diversifies high school students’ career choices

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Suzanna Plotnikov
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs

Ten Mississippi gulf coast high schools participated in the fourth annual science, technology, engineering and mathematics diversity outreach day Sept. 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. here.

The purpose of the event was to educate students on the opportunities the Air Force can provide and inspire them to pursue a STEM career in the service.

Airman 1st Class Hannah Reichert, 81st Infrastructure Division firefighter, said the event provides the students an opportunity to know what they’re getting into if they were to choose a career field they were shown.

Airmen from seven different career fields had the opportunity to brief the students about their job, perform demonstrations and answer questions at the end of their time slot.

Security forces, fire department, office of special investigations, cyber, air traffic control, 403rd wing personnel and weather departments were in attendance.

In previous years the STEM diversity outreach day event was held in one of the large aircraft hangars here, but this year they expanded their venue.

“Based on feedback from the schools, we pulled them out of the hangar and we placed them outside as a captive audience so everybody is focused on the presentation at hand,” said Gerald Cross, 81st Force Support Squadron school liaison officer.

The event was well received by the students in attendance.

“It’s really interesting learning the diversity of the different jobs,” said Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Madelyn Carmichael Junior ROTC student from St. Martin High School. “It shows my group that there are different types of jobs other than pilots in the Air Force.”