And now, we wait!!

Yesterday I submitted the most important application package of my life thus far. I just applied to become an Aerospace Physiologist, which is a commissioned position. That's right, I just might be an officer in the near future! For those of you who are not familiar with the military, the difference between enlisted and officer is astronomical. For one, the pay is way legit, and B.) even an O-1 (a 2nd lieutenant and the lowest officer rank) outranks the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (the highest ranking enlisted member of the Air Force). He would have to salute me. That would kinda rock. The only real requirement to be an officer is that you have your Bachelor's Degree, which I have had the entire time, so I always get asked why I joined as an enlisted member. I chose to join enlisted first because I wanted to learn what it was like to even be in the military before I tried to lead people in the military, and I have gained a lot from my experience so far. I've also got a lot more to learn, but hopefully it will be as an officer now. I received some AMAZING letters of recommendation which I think will help push my package to the top of the stack for this position. I don't know how many people will be applying and there is only ONE slot open this selection cycle, but I know I will be highly competitive for the slot, and I truly believe my chances are good for being the one chosen. As a physiologist, my job would be to basically train pilots and other aircrew members how to adapt to the physiological changes of flight. I would be doing a lot of teaching and briefing, which I love, and I could also branch of into the research portion to find new ways to keep people safe, which would also rock! I'm so excited about everything getting this job would mean and I can't wait to find out what their decision will be. I'll be receiving a call sometime in the next couple weeks where I will be interviewed by one of the members of the selection board, and that will complete my package, so I'll let everyone know how that goes when it happens. Then it's really just a waiting game until they call me to let me know they picked me! =) I should find out by Christmas if I got it or not, so stay tuned!!

I might have a problem...

So it has come to my attention that I am HIGHLY competitive. I have always known this, but I think it may have gotten worse. So yesterday was a wing-wide "Resiliency Day" to draw attention to the fact that Airmen are committing suicide and we need to be better wingmen and women and watch out for our coworkers and such. They opt to do one of these shin-digs about once a year, usually around the holidays because that's when suicide rates go up. I just wish they would give us the day off rather than make me sit around and play touchy-feely with my coworkers, but I get no say. Anyway, it always starts with group activities in your unit before there's a big briefing from the Wing Commander later in the day, and it's up to each individual unit to determine the activities they will do, provided they foster teamwork and opening up and shit. Our unit had a delicious breakfast potluck, then some talking and getting to know each other better I guess, then the competition comes in. We had to split into groups and work together to design an apparatus that would protect an egg in a one story fall. Unfortunately we couldn't go any higher than that, because everyone's device protected the egg, and it wasn't a true testament to who's design was superior. I decided our team was going to model our design after the one NASA used for the Mars Spirit Rover, like this:

BTW we only had access to Dixie cups, newspaper, balloons, cotton balls, and plastic bags. And straws I think, but those were irrelevant. So my plan was to surround the egg in some cushion, then surround the entire thing in balloons like the rover. It was brilliant, and it worked wonderfully, but like I said, everyone's did. Suffice it to say however, I was obnoxious in the design/creation process. I mean, people were laughing so one can assume I was reasonably entertaining, but I think I might have gotten carried away after awhile. I constantly accused others of stealing our design (which they were), I tried to take all the balloons (even though I eventually conceded and let other teams have some), I talked trash, it was a lot. And the prize was some friggin Justin Bieber tattoos! I didn't give a damn about the prize! I seriously only cared about winning for the glory of it all. I don't know why I get this way whenever a competition comes about. It might have something to do with having 3 siblings, or it might just be the Hansen way, not really sure. In the end, everyone had fun and I don't think I ruined anyone's day unless they just weren't saying anything, but I do think I need to tone it down a notch when it comes to competitions. I also maintain that our design truly WAS the best because it fell the slowest, but everyone was a "winner" which only infuriated me more. I guess it is my way of having fun, but I also don't want to ruin anyone else's fun. Does anyone else get like this? I can't be the only one!