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Empowering others through representation 

  • Published
  • By 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

When Tech. Sgt. Anika Dexter joined the Air Force in 2011, she quickly realized she was one of the few Native Americans in the Air Force — a reality that left her feeling isolated and underrepresented. 

“All the girls in my BMT flight, they didn't know my ethnicity. One thought I was Filipino, one thought I was from Guam or some type of Islander. And I was like, no, I'm Native American from the Navajo Nation,” said Dexter, who now works in the 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron. 

Dexter remembers people telling her that she was the first Native American that they’d ever met. “They associated me with Pocahontas,” she laughed. 

Tech. Sgt. Anika Dexter from the 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is from the Navajo tribe. Native American representation has been a powerful motivator for Dexter, pushing her to become the role model and mentor she never had during her early years in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)

Tech. Sgt. Anika Dexter from the 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is from the Navajo tribe. Native American representation has been a powerful motivator for Dexter, pushing her to become the role model and mentor she never had during her early years in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)
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At all of her assignments, Dexter remembers looking at her squadron and chain of command and realizing there were no Native Americans. "I felt alone," she admitted. "People clique up based on where they're from or their ethnicity, and I was always by myself. I didn't fit in anywhere."

According to the Department of Defense's 2022 demographic data, Native Americans make up about 1% of the active-duty military force. Determined to reach others within that 1%, Dexter became involved with the Indigenous Nations Equality Team, an organization within the Air Force that provides mentorship and support to Native American Airmen. As part of INET, Dexter has had the opportunity to reach out to young Native Americans across the country, showing them that a future in the Air Force is possible, and that they don't have to navigate their careers alone.

Dexter talked about one recruitment trip she went on with INET, saying, “we went to the northern part of our reservation [in New Mexico] and visited about five or six schools. We spoke to around 1,000 students, highlighting how the Air Force has helped us in our personal lives and how it has made us better."

For Dexter, working with INET is about more than just recruiting—it’s about providing the support and representation she never had when she first joined the Air Force. "Now, I try to advertise INET to all the young Airmen coming into the Air Force,” said Dexter, who was an Military Training Instructor at her last assignment.  

According to Dexter, Native American representation is “rare, and hard to find”. But that never stops her. 

“I always tell my husband, everywhere I go, I will always find the Navajo,” said Dexter. One of her favorite connections happened at Lackland, between herself and a Navajo trainee. 

“One of my fellow MTIs came up to me and was like ‘Hey Sergeant Dexter, I have a trainee that wants to meet you’. I was like ‘why?’”

Dexter's MTI teammate explained that a trainee had seen Dexter’s jewelry and realized that they were from the same tribe.  

Dexter greeted the trainee with a traditional Navajo greeting, “yá'át'ééh”. Dexter remembers the trainee immediately breaking down and saying that she was lonely and missed her siblings. 

Native Americans are very family oriented,” explained Dexter. “And when she said I miss my siblings, I was like [...] I miss my sisters all the time. So it hit big." 

Military Training Instructors (from the left) Tech. Sgt. Madison Smith, Tech. Sgt. Anika Dexter and Tech. Sgt. Shenan Six-Begay pose in front of the Military Training Instructor monument on Jan. 26, 2024. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Kate E. Anderson)

Military Training Instructors (from the left) Tech. Sgt. Madison Smith, Tech. Sgt. Anika Dexter and Tech. Sgt. Shenan Six-Begay pose in front of the Military Training Instructor monument on Jan. 26, 2024. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Kate E. Anderson)
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At the end of her tour as an MTI, Dexter met two other Navajo MTIs from her reservation. “If you see pictures of us together, we all look alike - the same high cheekbones and round faces,” said Dexter.  “That was the first time in my career where I felt seen.” 

Representation has been a powerful motivator for Dexter, pushing her to become the role model and mentor she never had during her early years in the Air Force. For Native Americans who might be considering a career in the military, seeing someone like Dexter, a proud member of the Navajo Nation and also a proud Airman, can make all the difference.