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| News > There she is: Miss Rhode Island United States |
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SrA. Cara Lustig (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by W.C. Pope)
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There she is: Miss Rhode Island United States
Posted 1/17/2013 Updated 1/18/2013
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by MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
1/17/2013 - WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- "I had to low crawl for 100 feet. It was during a three-day combat training scenario called the 'beast,'" recalled SrA. Cara Lustig, lowering her shoulders to demonstrate. "Dirt was in my teeth, in my hair, it was everywhere. A TI crouched over me and shouted, 'Get your face in the sand!' I said to myself, 'What am I doing here?'"
The formative experience that pits thousands of basic trainees each year against those physical challenges stayed with SrA. Lustig. "The military teaches you values that you need to instill in yourself," she said. "Discipline from the military has been a driving factor in my life. My inner strength came out that day at Lackland. It's helped me ever since."
The senior airman spoke about her life as a reservist, a graduate student, working full-time as military enrollment advisor for the University of Phoenix (Boston campus), and, most recently -- Miss Rhode Island United States for 2013.
SrA. Lustig competed in the Massachusetts state pageant in November, and though she didn't advance, found out through a phone call that her military experience, resume, and natural beauty helped her don another New England state's crown -- just a few days shy of Christmas.
It began with her phone call to the Miss Rhode Island United States pageant -- simply asking questions about it. "The director said the candidate from Rhode Island had moved. Based on my experience he thought I was a perfect fit for the title," SrA. Lustig said. "I was blown away. Being in the Miss Massachusetts pageant gave me a lot of experience. I'm so blessed. Everything fell into place," said the Narragansett, R.I., native. As she readies for the Miss United States pageant, she credits the Air Force with helping her attain her goals. Within the first few days of her enlistment in fall of 2010, she realized she had enough stamina and determination to get through one of the most demanding aspects of basic training.
SrA. Lustig's goals in the Air Force include gold bars. In 2012, she was selected to earn her commission as a medical officer in the 439th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.
She balances the demands of the military, pageant, graduate school, and civilian work using time management skills and sheer determination -- and the enduring influence of her father. "My father was a very, very hard-working man." SrA. Lustig said. "He raised my younger brother and me by himself."
Behind the exterior glossiness of a beauty pageant, there's an unglamorous side too, she said. "There's a lot of hard work to get there - rigorous exercise, and dieting. It's 20 women trying to get to one spot."
As for the master's degree in business administration (focusing on health care management), SrA. Lustig manages her time with the reserve's 439th Communications Squadron and the full-time job while taking two classes: one online, the other one on campus.
She's already earned an associate's degree in information management from the Community College of the Air Force, and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island.
"I want to be the best person I can be," SrA. Lustig said. "Education provides a purpose in my life. It resonates with positives."
In July, she will compete in the Miss United States pageant in Washington, D.C. SrA. Lustig will hold the title of Miss Rhode Island United States throughout the year.
"It seems that I'm busy every minute of every day," she said.
"I'm focused on this, at this stage of my life. Through it all, from the low point of my first day of basic to the high point of my career -- earning a commission -- I know I couldn't fail. You drive yourself to be better." |
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