Eglin academy gives students dream job preview

Crestview High School student Tiffany Berkely experiences what it's like to be an air traffic controller recently at the Eglin Range Control Facility. Her lesson, with Maj. Mark Oden, 96th Operations Support Squadron flight commander, is part of the 96th Test Wing Academy's Affirmative Employment Program, a base mentoring initiative.

Crestview High School student Tiffany Berkely is preparing for the U.S. Air Force. 

Latanya Bryant, the 96th Test Wing's chief of financial management, Tiffany's mentor, has shared her experience of managing a team of budget analysts. The job entails calculating costs of meeting a mission need for a new air traffic control system from the initial concept, through construction, upgrading technology and current operation.

Tiffany is one of six local teens receiving such monthly lessons.

“The 96th Test Wing Academy is an Affirmative Employment Program initiative that recruits high-achieving students for the Air Force, while simultaneously allowing them to experience various science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine work areas,” said Cecil Williams, Eglin’s Equal Opportunity office director.

The Okaloosa County School District suggested that schools choose someone with at least a 3.5 GPA interested in STEMM.

Academy participants will return to the program, which began this past school year, two more years until graduation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin academy gives students dream job preview