North La. academic institutions collaborate to create new digital fluency program for Airmen

BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA) – A new curriculum created through a collaboration between Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), the Cyber Innovation Center, and Louisiana Tech University will serve as the model for digital fluency across the Air Force and Department of Defense.

And it’s starting with the men and women of Barksdale Air Force Base.

The Digital Education Training for Enhanced Readiness (DETER) will increase digital fluency among Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Airmen while instilling a culture of data proficiency among action officers (AO).

“Digital fluency is an essential skill for anyone living and working in the modern era especially our military. DETER’s overall goal is to essentially shorten the learning curve for Airmen entering AFGSC so they are fully equipped to start their career path,” Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson said.

“The DETER Program which is a digital education, training and enhancement readiness. That is going to be a six-tiered education program that we are bringing across the board to our AOs,” Chief of Data Analytic Education Requirements Connie Carr said.

According to Carr, the program and partnership will make the process of educating and advancing the men and women of Barksdale even easier.

“Sometimes we have all this data behind us, and it’s time to bring it to the forefront,” Carr said.

Major Nathan Haluska, the military deputy to the chief scientist, says preserving the legacy of B-52 is key and also creates jobs.

“So if you think about platforms like the B-52, we’ve got almost 60 years of data. By harnessing the power of local academia, local industry, we’re not only able to solve key challenges for the command and national security, but in the process we’re also able to create STEM jobs within northern Louisiana and the greater ArkLaTex,” Haluska explained.

Officials with BPCC say DETER will consist of BPCC instructors leading 4-day bootcamps with small groups of people in order to provide further curriculum and training to grow skills.

The first two boot camps are scheduled to take place in late July.

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