Department of defense opens starbase at joint base mdl

Department of Defense Opens STARBASE at Joint Base MDL

by
May 16, 2022
···

BROWNS MILLS, NJ – It’s nothing like the Death Star or Starkiller in the Lucasfilm Star Wars movies, but the Department of Defense has announced a new STARBASE program at its Joint Base MDL.

On May 5, 2022, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst welcomed its first class of fifth-grade students from Fort Dix Elementary School to its new Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration (STARBASE) program.

“STARBASE is a Department of Defense funded youth program developed in order to amplify and encourage the understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The curriculum is taught by certified instructors who use hands-on activities and technology to educate fifth-grade students,” the DOD said.

“When students are in a traditional classroom environment, there are tests and standards they have to meet,” said Christina Fletcher, Director of STARBASE at JB MDL. “When they come to STARBASE, it’s more of a hands-on approach, making it more engaging for the students being able to see Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outside of a piece of paper.”

“This is really about focusing on at-risk youth.” said April Boatner-Allen, a school liaison specialist at JB MDL. “These students that are coming may not have had this opportunity to engage with STEM fields anywhere else which is why it’s important to have this program here at JB MDL.”

Regional schools have developed partnerships with the STARBASE program.

“JB MDL has created community partnerships with the local school districts of Pemberton, North Hanover, Manchester, and Lakehurst in support of the STARBASE program, along with an additional partnership with the Camden Dream Center,” the military said in a press release last week. “Community partnerships like this help encourage local agencies and the military community to connect and empower the youth with STEM knowledge.”

“The goal of this program is to ignite the passion for STEM,” said Boatner-Allen. “It’s also helpful for our students to understand that the sky is not the limit.”

Students are provided 25 hours of STEM instruction during the five-week program, and integrate dynamic learning experiences with the exploration of STEM-related careers on and off base. To find out more information about DoD STARBASE, visit www.dodstarbase.org

Information from this article was provided by the Department of Defense.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

As the founder of Shore News Network, Stilton oversees editorial operations, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage while working closely with journalists, public officials, and community leaders. His reporting has covered municipal government, state politics, federal policy, public records investigations, emergency management, and major news events affecting local communities.

Stilton is committed to factual reporting, source verification, transparency, and providing readers with accessible, accurate information that helps them better understand the issues shaping their communities. Through Shore News Network, he continues to focus on delivering trusted news coverage and original reporting to audiences across New Jersey and beyond.

For story tips, corrections, or media inquiries, readers can contact Shore News Network through its official website and social media channels.