AFA, AFRS Partner to Give Teacher Tours of Military Bases

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is deepening its collaboration with Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS) to ensure educators across the nation gain firsthand insight into the missions, training, and career pathways of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

AFRS Educator Tours, held at technical training and operational bases throughout the year, provide teachers, counselors, and nonprofit STEM leaders with an immersive experience designed to strengthen how they guide students toward informed post-graduation opportunities. The program is designed to equip educators with accurate, firsthand knowledge to better guide students toward post-graduation military opportunities.

By nominating outstanding educators, including AFA Teachers of the Year and recipients of AFA education grants, the association helps AFRS reach influencers who shape the next generation of America’s talent pipeline.

The recruiting service runs two kinds of educator tours each year. Enlisted Accessions tours host high school teachers, counselors, and youth-serving nonprofits. Officer Accessions tours host collegiate educators and advisors.

Spotlight: Goodfellow Air Force Base Educator Tour (July 20–23, 2026)

One example of this growing partnership took place at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, where 24 educators participated in a four-day immersion into the base’s mission and training programs. The AFA Education Council worked with AFRS to nominate eight of the participating educators. These educators were: Laurie Orth (Georgia), Lisa May (Missouri), Nicholas Blash (South Carolina), Thitiya and Massoud Karamooz (Nevada), Sam Madewell, a U.S. Army veteran (Oklahoma), Glenn Yamasaki (California), and Tracey Zelden (Louisiana).

Goodfellow AFB is a nonflying technical training installation under Air Education and Training Command. Its primary mission is to train intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance specialists, as well as fire protection professionals for the Department of War and allied nations. The installation provides joint-service instruction for the Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and international partners.

During the tour, educators toured classrooms, training sites, and operational facilities. Participants met with Airmen across a wide range of specialties, including civil engineering heavy equipment operators, intelligence analysts, security forces military working dog handlers, and language specialists.

“The communication skills, professionalism displayed, and the impressive knowledge demonstrated all stood out to me,” said Laurie Orth, an educator and AFA Education Council leader. “Regardless of their career area they seemed well trained, highly skilled, and motivated.”   

Her comments echoed a common theme among participants: assumptions give way to understanding when educators witness firsthand the breadth of skills required to support Air Force and Space Force missions. Read about Laurie Orth’s experience on tour here.

AFA’s Educators Matter: Building the Talent Pipeline

AFA-nominated educators are uniquely positioned to bring these insights back to their classrooms and communities. Because many have limited prior exposure to military service, the tours help them expand their awareness of technical and national security careers, improve counseling and advising for students considering military service, and support AFA’s Advocate to Inspire Military Service (AIMS) initiatives.  

How AFA Chapters and Educators Can Get Involved

AFRS Educator Tours showcase real training environments and missions, highlight enlisted and officer career pathways, provide educators with accurate, firsthand knowledge, build understanding of the broad technical and support roles behind flying operations, and strengthen connections between military service, STEM education, and workforce development. AFA’s Education Council is working with AFRS to identify and nominate educators for future opportunities.

AFA chapters play a key role in engaging with and identifying outstanding educators who may benefit from military exposure. Chapters can nominate educators for AFA Teacher of the Year recognition, connect local schools and nonprofits with AFA’s free education resources, encourage participation in AFA grants, CyberPatriot, StellarXplorers, and other STEM programs, and may help recruiters engage with educators via AIMS initiatives.

Collegiate educator engagement is a growing priority, and AFA welcomes inquiries from faculty and advisors interested in AFA and future opportunities.

AFA Resources for Educators

Educators should be aware of the wide range of free resources available through AFA: STEM grants and classroom support, CyberPatriot and StellarXplorers competitions, professional development opportunities, and Inspire Military Service (AIMS) materials.

Learn more at www.afa.org/aims/

For questions or information, contact:

Laurie Orth – GA137.eastgeorgia.president@afa.org

Vance Clarke – AIMS.CoChair@afa.org