1 00:00:01,850 --> 00:00:04,090 I'm first Lieutenant Melinda Benson . I 2 00:00:04,099 --> 00:00:06,809 graduate tomorrow in 24 07 . Officer 3 00:00:06,820 --> 00:00:08,931 trainee Jeff Benson . I'm in class 24 4 00:00:08,931 --> 00:00:11,420 08 . I graduate in two weeks . Uh , 5 00:00:11,430 --> 00:00:14,130 we've been married 11 years . This year 6 00:00:14,140 --> 00:00:17,879 is 12 years . Halloween October 31st 7 00:00:17,889 --> 00:00:21,020 2012 . It's like OTs . We didn't plan 8 00:00:21,030 --> 00:00:23,030 on that particular date . We didn't 9 00:00:23,030 --> 00:00:25,141 plan on being here at the same time . 10 00:00:25,141 --> 00:00:27,252 It just kind of worked out that way . 11 00:00:27,252 --> 00:00:26,879 It's been hard because we're going to P 12 00:00:26,889 --> 00:00:29,120 CS right after he's done . So we have 13 00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:31,290 to navigate us both being here and 14 00:00:31,299 --> 00:00:33,869 trying to get all the logistics stuff 15 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,936 together for our next duty station . 16 00:00:35,936 --> 00:00:37,547 Having my wife here has been 17 00:00:37,547 --> 00:00:39,602 interesting . A lot of the other OTs 18 00:00:39,602 --> 00:00:41,769 have noticed like , hey , you have the 19 00:00:41,769 --> 00:00:43,936 same last name as someone in the class 20 00:00:43,936 --> 00:00:43,869 ahead of you . Are you guys related ? I 21 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,936 was like , yeah , that's , that's my 22 00:00:45,936 --> 00:00:48,240 wife . We've been able to support each 23 00:00:48,250 --> 00:00:50,361 other a lot through the training . It 24 00:00:50,361 --> 00:00:52,583 has been challenging for both of us not 25 00:00:52,583 --> 00:00:54,528 being able to be around but , uh , 26 00:00:54,528 --> 00:00:56,583 whenever I had issues or I was upset 27 00:00:56,583 --> 00:00:56,319 about something I could talk to her , 28 00:00:56,479 --> 00:00:58,849 she's able to do the same for me . Jeff 29 00:00:58,860 --> 00:01:00,804 has a lot of leadership experience 30 00:01:00,804 --> 00:01:03,159 being prior listed master sergeant with 31 00:01:03,169 --> 00:01:05,779 almost 17 years of service . So I think 32 00:01:05,790 --> 00:01:08,012 this just kind of tweaks his leadership 33 00:01:08,012 --> 00:01:10,500 style and very good at leading airmen . 34 00:01:10,510 --> 00:01:13,089 I'm really excited for uh for mel to be 35 00:01:13,099 --> 00:01:15,099 able to actually go out and fly and 36 00:01:15,099 --> 00:01:17,321 deploy and kind of fly the line and get 37 00:01:17,321 --> 00:01:19,210 that experience as a new air crew 38 00:01:19,210 --> 00:01:21,266 member . Um she's had to watch me do 39 00:01:21,266 --> 00:01:23,377 that for the past 1617 years . Um I'm 40 00:01:23,377 --> 00:01:25,543 ready to hang that up and do something 41 00:01:25,543 --> 00:01:25,010 a little more stable . So I think for 42 00:01:25,019 --> 00:01:27,130 her to be able to get that experience 43 00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:29,186 and go out and be a flight nurse and 44 00:01:29,186 --> 00:01:31,019 deploy and see the other side of 45 00:01:31,019 --> 00:01:33,130 everything and just kind of take that 46 00:01:33,130 --> 00:01:35,352 action to help save lives and just care 47 00:01:35,352 --> 00:01:35,019 for people . I think that's gonna be 48 00:01:35,029 --> 00:01:35,889 really exciting .