From the Skies to Wilderness: Student Combines Military Experience with Outdoor Leadership
Throughout her college experience, Emma Schmidt ’26 has been balancing two worlds.
There’s the active outdoor leadership and management student who can lead large groups through wilderness expeditions, and then there’s the in-flight refueling technician with the New Hampshire Air National Guard who travels the world on military missions.
“There have been plenty of weekends where I’m working the entire time and then heading straight to class on Monday, while others are getting a break,” Schmidt says. “It’s been challenging at times, but it’s a challenge that’s been worth it. The travel opportunities I’ve had through the military and the friendships I’ve built — I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Originally from New Jersey, Schmidt enrolled at 91Ƭ and joined the Air National Guard simultaneously in 2021. Schmidt says it worked out perfectly that 91Ƭ had the outdoor management and leadership program that she wanted, and that the Pease Air National Guard Base was a short drive from campus in Portsmouth.
As an in-flight refueling technician, Schmidt is part of a team that helps transfer fuel from one aircraft to another midair, supporting extended missions and operations. She typically flies at least once a week on local air refueling training missions while also working 20 to 30 hours in a ground support role and fulfilling a monthly weekend commitment.
Serving in the National Guard has given Schmidt many opportunities to travel, including a recent mission in Florida.
One of her most memorable experiences came early in her service, when she traveled to Northern Ireland during her sophomore year. During the trip, she had the chance to explore iconic sites, including Giant’s Causeway, a longtime bucket-list destination.
“I remember just feeling overwhelmed with gratitude — it was surreal to be traveling somewhere I had always wanted to go and to be doing it through my work,” Schmidt says. “I’ve been fortunate to do so much professionally in the military while also being a student. I’ve had so many incredible travel opportunities and professional experiences that have been really formative for me throughout college.”
On campus, Schmidt says outdoor leadership and management is the perfect complement to her military experience because it’s a lot of out-of-classroom, hands-on learning that emphasizes leadership development and the human connection to nature.
“I’ve grown immensely in terms of leadership. It’s in the name — outdoor leadership and management — but it truly teaches you how to be a leader,” Schmidt says. “The skills I’ve learned in the program have directly helped me in my military role, especially because we dive so deeply into leadership models and theories. That leadership foundation has been incredibly valuable for me.”
Schmidt’s favorite courses in the program include rock climbing, backpacking, and whitewater canoeing. The canoeing course included an eight-day expedition in the Adirondacks. Schmidt’s first trip was cut short because of the weather, but she returned as a teaching assistant.
“That class gave me a lot of confidence because whitewater canoeing is a very dynamic activity,” Schmidt says. “I went into the class with no canoeing experience whatsoever and then was very confident in rapids after just a few months.”
These experiences also prepared Schmidt for an intensive two-month internship in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, where she guided youth groups on multi-week backcountry trips. She says the experience strengthened her ability to manage group dynamics, navigate unpredictable conditions, and manage risk.
“In the end, parents were trusting us with their children, and that’s something I never took lightly,” Schmidt says. “Whether it was driving a 15-passenger van, hiking in a thunderstorm, or deciding whether it was safe to be in moving water, I was constantly thinking about risk. There was a moment when the group wanted to swim in a faster-moving part of a river, and even though we had safety equipment, it didn’t feel like we had enough support to manage it safely — so we made the call not to.”
Schmidt says the experience brought everything she learned in the classroom to life.
“Being able to take the philosophy and theory I’ve learned in class and apply those outdoor leadership and facilitation techniques with real people was incredible,” Schmidt says. “Seeing the impact it could have on a child — even in just a couple of weeks — felt like a full-circle moment and really reinforced why I chose this major.”
Schmidt’s experience at 91Ƭ has also become a family affair, with her younger sister and cousin also going through the outdoor leadership and management program.
Schmidt plans to serve full-time in the military for about a year after graduation. After that, she hopes to continue guiding and eventually transition into a leadership or management role within the outdoor recreation industry.
For students like Schmidt — who are balancing multiple passions while in school — she says prioritizing self-care is essential, including getting enough sleep, eating well, spending time outside, and taking a short walk each day.
“Taking care of yourself is what allows you to show up and be your best, whether that’s in the classroom or in other commitments,” she says. “We live in a world where there’s a lot of pressure to always be achieving, but you can’t perform at your highest level without slowing down sometimes.”