Trip Opens Student's Eyes About National Security

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg High School junior Kyle Martin spent a week last month in Washington D.C. as a participant in the 2016 National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) for Security, Diplomacy, Intelligence and Defense. He says experience gave him a bigger picture of government and helped solidify his plans for the future.

NYLF is a career development opportunity that introduces students to firsthand experiences and career opportunities in national security and related fields. Over six days, students participate in specialized simulations dealing with current world issues, hear from top leaders and policy makers, and make site visits.

To be accepted into the program, Martin had to write a letter explaining his interest in diplomacy, intelligence, and defense. He wrote about the example of three key figures who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our rights, families, and country.

Martin's grandfather, Davey Lee Weaver was awarded a Purple Heart in the Vietnam War, his father serves and protects as a corrections officer at the Washington State Penitentiary, and his grandfather, Wayne Pelley, served in the US Navy before serving 30 years as a police officer.

Martin said that when he joined the other 400 students from across the U.S., he expected the program to consist largely of touring Washington D.C. Instead, students dressed in office attire and were busy attending seminars, workshops, simulations, and tours from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. each day.

Martin and his colleagues heard talks from leaders such as Wade Townsend, US Homeland Security; Keith Alexander, Director of the National Security Agency; and Dan Miller with the Wounded Warrior Project, who served 29 years in the military.

Martin said one of his favorite exercises was a simulation in which they were tasked with preventing a drug lord from bringing drugs into the U.S. The large group was split up into areas of intelligence, diplomacy, media, defense, legislative, and executive.

Martin was with the intelligence group and chose the role of Director of the FBI. The multi-faceted simulation included everything from intelligence to budgeting to getting bills signed and passed. In the end, Martin said his team failed the task when an ICE agent accepted a $50 million bribe to have them killed.

"It gave me a much bigger picture of what goes on behind the scenes and in the different areas of government. When you see something on TV or in the media, you just see one little part of it," he said.

Martin did get to visit several places in D.C. including the White House, Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, several monuments, and several of the Smithsonian Museums. He said the White House was a lot smaller than what he expected it to be.

His favorite stop was at the International Spy Museum, which was "pretty intense." The museum had arranged a special simulation for the program participants in which they had to find a nuclear reactor. The task required finding hidden documents, finding a key, picking a safe, interrogating suspects and deciding whether or not to attack with military force.

"It was like being in a real spy movie. We ended up accomplishing our task, but they gave us a grade on it and we did really bad because we were so noisy," he said, laughing.

Martin said he left the program with a strong interest in pursuing a career as an FBI agent. He plans to gain five to seven years of criminal justice work experience in the military and then apply to the FBI.

Martin spent his summer working to raise funds for the trip, which he estimates cost approximately $4,000. Donations from friends and family covered the rest.

Martin earned airfare by driving his grandfather, Skip Winchester, to Ohio, which was an adventure in itself. With only a learner's permit, Martin drove 700 miles the first day and 2,300 miles overall. Along the way the duo visited Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Sturgis, S.D., Notre Dame College, and took in a Pirates game in Pittsburgh.

Martin said he highly recommends the NYLF program to any student interested in diplomacy, intelligence, or defense. In addition to gaining a broader understanding of government and intelligence, Martin said he made some incredible friendships.

Learn more about the NYLF National Security Forum at http://www.envisionexperience.com.