12th Air Force (AIR FORCES SOUTHERN) Strategic Competition Mission Team INTERNSHIP

General Description:  (of Organization or Agency)

As the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space, and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.  Air Forces Southern supports U.S. Southern Command to deter aggression, defeat threats, rapidly respond to crises and work with our allies and partner nations to build regional capacity to ensure a secure, free and prosperous Western Hemisphere. 

The Strategic Competition Mission Team (SCMT) is a subordinate team within 12th Air Force responsible for the identification of areas of strategic opportunity within Central America, South America, and Caribbean Islands. The scope of efforts can include, but are not limited to, humanitarian assistance & disaster response (HADR), partner nation capability enhancement, key leadership engagement, activities, operations, exercises, and any other method for supporting CCMD or Component efforts and imperatives.  

Internship Available:       

  • Summer         
  • Fall                
  • Spring

Deadlines: Applicants must apply for the internship program no later than (NLT) 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the academic semester (eg, if the Fall semester begins on August 15, applicants must apply NLT 4 July.

Agency Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
2.0 minimum cumulative GPA

Full-time student status at the University of Arizona

Must have an active, adjudicated SECRET-level security clearance or higher from the United States Government (USG)

Agency Preferred Qualifications:

Air Force ROTC cadets are the preferred candidates for this internship opportunity.

Army/Navy ROTC cadets/midshipmen are the secondary preferred candidates for this internship opportunity. University of Arizona students that are also members of the United States Military, are employed by US federal or state governments, or have a desire for a career in government service in the future are the tertiary preferred candidates for this internship opportunity.

Current or prior military experience is desired, but not required.

Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint desired for this position. Basic proficiency in public speaking desired.

Internship Description:   Unpaid         

Interns will be trained to perform the following functions:

  • Aid in the research in current geopolitical and military activities and developments in Central America, the Carribean Sea, and South America.
  • Aid in identifying opportunities to influence the strategic competition global landscape across the western hemisphere through the DIME (Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic) model
  • Provide presentations, information, and recommendations for courses of action to military leadership. Briefings and reports will likely be presented to an O-6/General-level decision-making audience.

Purpose of the Internship:

The purpose of this internship is to expose students at the University of Arizona to active duty military operations and government service. Interns can expect to learn about the following topics:

  • The difference in roles, responsibilities, and scope in the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of warfare
  • The US Air Force’s doctrinal Air Tasking Cycle, and how Air Operation Centers present air component capabilities to the Joint Forces Commander (JFC).
  • The strategic environment of the western hemisphere, particularly how external state actors are vying for influence in South America at thresholds below the level of armed conflict
  • Joint, interagency, and partner nation engagement/networking/collaboration
  • Supporting an analytical/operational project from conception to completion with high velocity and quality
  • Conducting research and analysis of gathered intelligence
  • Assisting with qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of operations in the area of responsibility
  • How to present information and opportunities to military leadership in a way that aids their decision making process
  • The Department of Defense’s doctrinal, 7-step “Joint Planning Process”
  • Exposure to Air Force culture, customs, and tradition
  • Exposure to working in a multinational environment, and to network with the foreign partners of the United States

Additional Information:

Applicants must have an active, adjudicated SECRET-level security clearance from the United States Government (USG). ROTC cadets that apply will complete their clearance acquisition/adjudication processes through their respective programs.

To Apply:

Applicants must submit the following the documents to the Strategic Competition Mission Team’s Internship Director:

  • Application, Attached
  • 1-Page Resume
  • 1-page letter of recommendation from an applicant’s previous employer, high school/college professor, or military chain-of-command/ROTC cadre member

Expected Contact:

We will contact you via email approximately two weeks after the posted deadline if you have been selected to participate in an interview for the position.

Application: 

Click Here to fill out

Contact Person:

Please submit application package and any questions, comments, or concerns to the current SCMT Internship Director, Captain Michael Caulfield, at Michael.Caulfield.2@us.af.mil.

Agency/Organization Website link:

https://www.12af.acc.af.mil/
Sponsor Organization
U.S. AIR FORCE