GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- We all know the popular saying among military members, “Hurry up and wait!” You may hear an old NCO sarcastically say it while waiting for an exercise to begin or it may be in reference to waiting on your orders to drop. For me, it’s been about waiting on results. Whether it be waiting on staff sergeant results, waiting to pin on staff sergeant or waiting on Medical Service Corps accession results, I’ve become very accustomed to the feeling of uncertainty. But what does it really mean to wait? Does waiting mean your work is done and you can just relax? In my humble opinion, it’s the exact opposite.
Waiting for something is all about continuing to push yourself toward your goals. Look at this quote by a prominent figure in American life for the last 30 years: “Now we play the waiting game. Ah, the waiting game sucks. Let’s play Hungry Hungry Hippos,” said Homer Simpson. Homer didn’t keep his eyes focused forward. I try to live by a quote from 19th century American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and learn to wait.”
The way I find peace during the wait is by working as if I’m not going to get the results I desire. I continue to pursue opportunities to develop as a person and as a professional, keeping my ultimate goals in mind. If I find out the results were not in my favor, then the wait still paid off because my work and development can’t be taken away. If I find out the results were in my favor, then I will be in a much better position to succeed in my next endeavor.
So today, I sit here at my computer waiting on the results of the Accession Year 2019 Medical Service Corps Board. I have two months to build my leadership skills and continue to prepare for the jump to the officer corps, but if I’m not selected at least I know I’ve made myself a better NCO. So as you wait, work.