University of Delaware Athletics
For Sarah Bessel, Enlisting in the Air Force was an Easy Choice
4/7/2022 4:04:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. - Sarah Bessel is in her fifth year as a member of the Delaware softball program, taking advantage of the additional year of eligibility that the NCAA granted student-athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while many soon-to-be college graduates are anxiously looking for the next step, Bessel already knows what she will be doing as soon as the softball season ends and she receives her degree in health behavior science from the University of Delaware. She will be shipping off to basic training.
Bessel enlisted in the Air Force last August and will be going to San Antonio, Texas to begin her basic training before continuing on to tech school to become a flight medic. Joining the military was always a high-percentage option for Bessel, as military service runs deep in her family. Her brother, John, is a member of the U.S. Army, enlisting after he graduated from high school, and her uncle recently retired after spending 25 years in the Air Force. Additionally, her grandfather is a Cold War veteran having served in the Army as a sergeant.
The Wilmington, Delaware native has been a key member of the softball program in her five years in the Blue & Gold. She will appear in her 150th career game this weekend and is poised to surpass her career highs in hits, runs scored and RBI. In 26 games this spring, Bessel has started at four different positions including all three outfield spots and at shortstop. In Delaware’s current four-game winning streak, she has been a catalyst at the bottom of the order, batting .556 (5-for-9) with a double, two walks and seven runs scored.
Recently, BlueHens.com was able to catch up with Bessel about the fast-approaching start to her military career.
When was it that you made your decision to enlist in the Air Force and what led to your decision?
I have always wanted to enlist in the military but I didn't know when would be the right time or which branch would be the best for me. When we were offered the COVID year, I decided to stay for my fifth year and this also gave me the summer of 2021 to really consider my options with the military. My uncle served 25 years as a master sergeant in the Air Force as a bilinguist, speaking eight different languages, and as a computer programmer before he recently retired. He was able to give me a lot of information about the Air Force route. My grandfather is a Cold War veteran and served as a sergeant in the Army, and my brother is currently serving in the Army as an E-5 specialist. When deciding on which branch to enlist in, I spoke a lot with both my uncle and my brother about their experiences.
I was in touch with an Army recruiter and took my ASVAB Military Entrance Exam through the Army. They offered me a job that was not healthcare-related because that would require me to quit softball and leave almost immediately. After speaking with the Air Force recruiter, they offered me the flight medic position and also allowed me to finish out my last year of school and softball. I swore in on August 31, 2021, and attend drill at the New Castle Air Force Base one weekend a month. They have excused me from drill for the months of March, April and May as I compete in my last season.
You are going into training to be a flight medic. What exactly does that position entail?
As a flight medic, I will work hands-on with patients that are in critical situations. I will be on the plane or helicopter that is traveling to the desired location that needs medical professionals and care for patients in need. I will learn a lot of medical concepts ranging from something as simple as taking blood pressure to life-saving techniques. Depending on where I get stationed, I could also work in hospitals caring for service members that have been injured in the line of duty.
What have you been doing to prepare yourself for basic training?
To prepare for basic training, I have completed a few "Mock PT Tests," to see where I stand physically. These Mock Tests include a 1.5-mile run, push-ups and sit-ups. In order to pass the fitness test, you must get a 75 or higher. The scores are based on how fast you run the 1.5 miles, and how many push-ups and sit-ups you can do in a minute. When I did the practice test, I received a 94 and a 93. I have also been running distance most days during the week to work on my endurance and stamina. Also, I feel like the team lifts are putting me ahead strength-wise to be far ahead of others.
Has there been anything from your softball experience that has helped you prepare for your military career?
Competing at a D1 level has allowed me to not only grow as a player but as a person too. Softball has given me a place to learn how to be a leader on and off the field as I try to lead by example by always doing the right thing when no one is watching. Physically, softball has made me a stronger athlete and given me the mental toughness to push through adversity. When completing the Mock PT tests, I have noticed that I am far ahead of my female peers. I credit this to my coaches and Coach Stefan Pietrobono for providing me and my team with a strength program that keeps us strong and in shape.
Playing softball has also taught me to be selfless. I have learned that in order to reach a common goal, you need everyone and you can't do it alone. Lastly, I have learned to own my role. As a player, I know that the team needs me whether I am in the lineup or not. We all need each other, so, I sell out to whatever role I'm in, whether it's on the field or in the dugout. In the military, I will know how important my role is, even if it seems small. I can always make a difference and it is important to own it.
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