Commentary: With the right attitude, preparation and determination, anything is possible

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Jennifer Crossman
  • 100th Operations Support Squadron
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The first time I was airborne was as a child when my pony, Cricket, carried me over 2-foot fences. Soon I was watching my Dad do touch and go's in a C-5 and I knew I wanted to breach the 2-foot barrier and soar in the sky. Spending an entire Christmas Eve with my Mom in a helicopter transporting AIREVAC patients cemented my desire to slip the surly bounds of earth.

College ROTC got me closure to my goal, but life had a funny way of throwing obstacles my way -- bigger than the fences Cricket and I faced.

Elation over earning a pilot slot was deflated by the news that there were too many pilots and my pilot slot was taken away. I had a choice of either becoming a civilian or becoming a non-rated officer.

Yeah, that took about two seconds to decide.

Having faith in selfless service to our country paid off because I wanted to serve in uniform even if it meant losing a grasp on my dreams to fly, and here I am today. During the past 19 years of my career I have encountered many obstacles but my parents taught me to take each challenge and learn from it. I've had my challenges and I have learned from them. I also know more lessons and challenges await me, and I look forward to 'em!

When I thought I wasn't going to get the chance to fly, I was devastated but kept a positive attitude.

Sure enough, right after graduation I received a letter stating that the flying slot would be re-instated but I would have to wait a couple of years before heading off to pilot training. So as a young butter-bar, I was a Munitions Maintenance Squadron Section Commander at Barksdale Air Force Base, La..

That was a great assignment and taught me many lessons about leading a squadron of more than 250 people. Many of those responsibilities, experiences and lessons continue to serve me as a commander today.

Then one day I received a call from a program manager asking if I was still interested in flying. Because I had been waiting and hoping for this day, I had maintained a current medical flying physical, and because I was prepared, I could accept the short-notice notification.

I had been selected to attend one of the first combined-service pilot training classes with the Navy. I was so excited that I hung up the phone and ran to my boss giving him the good news, and his first question was "So you're giving up your commission as an Air Force officer to join the Navy?"

I guess I hung up the phone too quickly to get all the details but as it turned out; I would remain in the Air Force but learn to fly Navy style. During the phone call, I'm pretty sure all I heard was, "Are you interested in flying?", because anything after that was irrelevant.

Yes, I am interested in flying and no, I didn't care if it meant flying with (or even joining) the Navy.

One of my biggest challenges I had in pilot training was when I received a phone call from my dad telling me that my mom had survived a crash in her rescue helicopter. I was afforded some time off to go home and see her in the hospital. The determination on her face was overwhelming; she had just walked away from a horrific crash and was ready to fly again.

I applied that same determination to my own career whether it was in the cockpit or on the ground.

Over the past several years I have learned that with the right attitude, preparation and determination, I can do anything. As a new commander I have relied on these three things and as a fellow Airman, I offer them up to you for use in your daily lives.