JoAnne Bass

We're going to continue serving, but it may be out of the military.

But I was being looked at for chief master in the Air Force.

And

And, you know, going through the interview process, which is, you know, pretty selective.

And I got a note from my team when I got into work that day.

And they said, hey, the future chief of staff, General C.Q.

Brown out of Hawaii, out of the Pacific, is going to call and let you know if you were or weren't.

And so I was like, okay, no pressure, right?

So I go home for lunch and it occurred to me like, man, I haven't even prepared what I'm gonna say when and if he calls.

And so I started thinking about what am I gonna say when he says,

You weren't it, right?

Like, because I'm, you know, again, in my mind, not thinking that I will be the chief master surgeon in the Air Force.

There are so many other strong, qualified, capable leaders.

So I'm preparing for my I'm not going to get it speech.

And he calls.

And, you know, again, my birthday, and he's like, you know, hey, Chief, I just wanted to let you know that I selected you to be the next Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force.

So I was shocked.

I didn't prepare for what I was going to say for that.

And the only thing that came to mind was, General Brown, sir, you made the right damn decision.

And I don't remember anything else.