Me in MOPP4! (and reflective belt!)
Hi! Well I’m a bit more of a ‘minority’ than an ‘oxymoron’ but oxymoron sounded like more fun! Let me explain. No I am not Military Intelligence. I am a female. Yes yes I know, there are quite a few females out there in the military. It goes deeper than that. I am a Cyber Transport Systems Technician. That’s the Air Force’s fancy new way of saying “Network Tech”. I kinda miss our old AFSC’s name. “Computer Networking and Cryptographic Switching Systems Technician” Mouthful hu? But let me put this oxymoron thing into prospective for you. In six years I’ve worked with two other females. And in our Squadron of about 150 personnel, we have nine females. That’s including civilians by the way.
Ooo some more fun non-traditional female activity that I engage in: I am a gamer. That’s right guys, drool it out. Sorry I’m already taken. I’ve played video games ever since I can remember. Waaaay back in the days of Atari. I know I’m dating myself here. I was young then. I remember when my neighbor had a Super Nintendo with Mario Brothers. Oohh how I felt bad because video games were not a girl thing to do but I loved it just the same. Never did grow out of it. My tastes gear towards RTS and RPGs including MMOs. Mostly it’s World of Warcraft (where, no don’t laugh, I met my husband) with a little EVE for a while. I tried Star Trek Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and we’re looking forward to Knights of the Old Republic Online.
I also like to work on my own vehicles, I know Self Aid Buddy Care which comes from being in the military but I also find as important in the ‘real world’ too. I build my own computers and troubleshoot my own computer issues. I enjoy firearms as both an eventual necessity in target practice and the fun of skeet shooting!
Oh yeah, I’m also a biker. No, not those human-powered bicycles, I’m talkin’ about two wheels powered by 1000ccs between my thighs. I ride a Yamaha YZFR1. He’s a bit of a whiner but once you let him have his head and just go with it he’s my winged iron horse! His name is Sigh. Yes I name my things. Mostly just the things I love like motorcycles, cars, computers, and the like. Something I can project a personality on. Sigh has gone through several names. The first being BB or Butt Buster! (you try riding two-up for 2k miles on an unexpected motorcycle trip and tell me that’s not a good name!) then he went to being “The R1” for a long time while my husband had claim of him. When he turned back into my hands I had a good mind to give him a good name. I started with Iron Horse but it just wouldn’t stick. But then I noticed that every time we got out on the road, even just to go to work, I would sigh. It was like there was a release. Just for that time, even just the few miles to work, we were free. So his name is Sigh. Soft name for a mean bike but hey! He and I like it :3 (or so I tell him)
Honestly I’m not sure what I plan on filling out this blog with. The unique perspective of a female in my situation? My never-ending strive to become a better leader and a better person? Maybe just whatever comes my way. I guess we’ll find out together
Military Oxymoron 