Youth served: Teen takes leadership to new heights

  • Published
  • By Adam Duckworth
  • 919 Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Alix Bikker is only 14 years old, but the Niceville High School freshman is quickly becoming a positive influence in the military community. When she's not busy playing the French horn in symphonic band or participating in varsity track, she takes part in the Air Force Reserve Teen Leadership Council.

According to its mission statement, the AFR Teen Leadership Council is a nationwide group of AFR dependant teens that provide a youth perspective in the planning, implementation and evaluation of AFR youth programs.

Alix is no stranger to the life of a military dependant. Her father, Lt. Col. David Bikker, is an Air Force reservist assigned to the 5th Special Operations Squadron as a combat systems operator. The squadron is a subordinate unit of the 919th Special Operations Wing.

"I know what it's like to move around and have my father deployed," she said. "I want to help other teens in the same situation."

Alix became involved with the AFR Teen Leadership Council in the summer of 2010 when her mother informed her about the Teen Leadership Summit where she learned leadership principles and assisted veterans. There, she along with 300 youth was invited to apply for membership in the council. From the hundreds invited, Alix was one of 16 actually accepted.

Alix does not take her role in the council passively. Since last summer, she has attended several Yellow Ribbon Events - a pre and post-deployment information seminar for Airmen and their families. She also maintains a web site for the council (afrtlc.tripod.com) while making preparations to teach 300 people about first aid on the battlefield over the summer. In the meantime, she is developing a proposal for free child care to Air Force Reserve spouses who are attending college.

For someone who isn't even old enough to receive a driver's license, one may wonder where she gets her inspiration.

The answer to that question is simple enough.

"My father. He's my role model."