> Personally I'd love to go to the Arctic or Antarctic as a civilian as it would be an interesting challenge.
This is actually possible! Friends of friends have done it (with NSF I believe).
Research expeditions to the arctic sometimes take civilians as support (janitors, IT, cooks, medics, etc). It can be a cool way to spend a few months aboard a boat in the arctic.
Others join to broaden their horizons and see the world. This unit would check that box too.
Personally I'd love to go to the Arctic or Antarctic as a civilian as it would be an interesting challenge.