More than a dozen college students from historically Black colleges and universities visited the Pentagon to learn about the Defense Department and public service. The students, part of a leadership program by the Center for Excellence in Public and Government Service, initially requested a tour of the Pentagon. However, the Air Force decided to offer more, including panel discussions with joint leadership representation from all military services, a tour of the building, a discussion with an assistant secretary of the Air Force, and a mentoring session by a director of the Air Force Review Boards Agency.
The goal of the visit was to expand the students’ exposure to the Department of Defense and demystify the thoughts behind defense work. The U.S. military and government aim to attract a diverse talent pool by educating young Americans about the value of public service. Through outreach and engagement, they hope to increase the propensity to serve in various career paths within the government. The students were able to learn about different career paths within the military and government sectors and gain insight into how they can navigate their own career paths.
One of the students, Bria Witherspoon, a political science and pre-law major, was impressed by the leadership panel’s discussion on both hard and soft skills needed to work within the Pentagon and the military. She expressed interest in working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as an immigration services officer to give a voice to underrepresented groups. Another student, Joshua Caldwell, a criminal justice major, was inspired by the panelists’ stories of how they came into government service. He hopes to use his degree to enroll in the police academy and eventually work at the federal level at the FBI.
Overall, the visit to the Pentagon provided the students with valuable insights into the world of public service and government work. By exposing them to diverse career paths and providing them with mentorship from experienced professionals, the Air Force and Defense Department aimed to inspire the next generation of leaders in public service. The students left with a better understanding of the opportunities available to them within the Department of Defense and the military services, as well as the importance of serving their country through public service.
