Lajes' own selected for commission Published March 22, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Erica Horner 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs LAJES FIELD, Portugal -- Every year the Air Force selects the top enlisted members to attend Officer Training School, as well as Commissioned Officer Training for chaplains, lawyers, and medical personnel. This year a technical sergeant from the 65th Medical Support Squadron at Lajes Field was selected to attend COT. After waiting six months from the time she submitted her package, Tech. Sgt. Lenita Robinson, NCOIC of Laboratory Services, was notified Feb. 8 that she is one of only seven enlisted members selected to be commissioned as a U.S. Air Force laboratory officer. "I feel very blessed and grateful for being selected," said Robinson. "I was excited and had an overall deep appreciation for all of the people who have supported me and pushed me throughout this process, and my career." Since she joined the Air Force, Robinson has had the desire to become an officer, and if you take a look back at her career, she has done a tremendous amount of work to get to this point. As a single mother of two boys, Amariae, 14, and Alijah, 7, Robinson was awarded the 2002 Air Force Special Operations Command Medical Laboratory Technician of the Year award, was a Distinguished Graduate in Airmen Leadership School, and has deployed twice -- once to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, and another to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. She also completed her bachelor's degree in Health Sciences, with a major in Medical Laboratory Technology, and attained her American Society of Clinical Pathologists national certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician and as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. "This is a 'win-win' scenario for both Tech. Sgt. Robinson and the U.S. Air Force," said Maj. Anthony Caruso, Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics flight commander. "She has certainly earned the honor of being selected; she has the professional qualities -- knowledge and experience -- and compassion (patient care is number one) to become a superior officer," he said. As one can see, the process to become an officer is no easy task. One of the basic requirements to become a laboratory officer is to have a bachelor's degree and a national certification. While most officers are fairly interchangeable, and can move from office to office, Biomedical Science Corps officers work only in their specialty. Robinson likes that her carreer is so specific. "I don't mind the BSC being specialized, because I enjoy the laboratory career field," she said. The selection process for COT typically takes place annually, but this was the first selection board held since 2009. Although the process is lengthy, Robinson has some encouraging words for those wanting to submit a package for OTS or COT. "I would say do it! You don't want to have any regrets, and the worse they can say is 'no.'" And according to Caruso, he's not surprised at all the Air Force said 'yes.' "The Air Force is retaining a fully-trained medical professional who already understands customs and courtesies, proper uniform wear, and the Air Force Core Values," he said. He also mentioned Robinson is currently enrolled in her last two courses to earn a Master's degree in Public Health. "I am so proud of Tech. Sgt. Robinson being chosen to attend COT!" said Caruso.