The Crew Behind The Uncrewed: Carmen Zurita
What is your position at UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and how long have you been working here?
I have been working at UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía since July 2010, in its offices located in San Sebastián de los Reyes, (Madrid). My position is Administration Manager in the Administration department, reporting hierarchically to the Financial Manager of UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía. It is a department that brings together various tasks in addition to those strictly related to Finance.
Outside the company, you are part of the Voluntary Reserve. What does this program of the Armed Forces consist of?
Yes, since 2007 I am proud to be a Volunteer Reservist of the Army with the rank of Lieutenant. For me, being a Reservist Volunteer means, above all, commitment.
What was the motivation that led you to become a reservist?
For me it is a pride and an honor to be able to contribute with my two cents to society through the Voluntary Reserve. I did the camp in San Fernando, Cádiz, where I received military training, I did my instruction and learned how to shoot, and I also did one of the most beautiful acts of my life: the Pledge of Allegiance.
What kind of work do you do and how long have you been doing it?
I request to be on duty during my holidays, usually 4 weeks in a row. The publication of the duty appears in the Official Defense Gazette (Boletín Oficial de Defensa) and it occurs at the request of the destination unit.
There they assign me with the task that is most appropriate at that particular moment: tasks related to Administration and Management, Personnel referring to the Reserves... But without a doubt, the task that I appreciate the most while being on duty is in the Academy Archives a wonderful place full of very valuable extraordinary documents that need to be managed and organized. I share my work with extraordinary professionals who welcome me as one of their own.
What does this activity bring you on a personal level?
And for your work in UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía? It makes me extremely happy being a Reservist and that way of being is contagious. It involves a lot of sacrifice, especially on a personal level. I leave my family every year without summer family vacations. My daughter is 8 years old and she somehow thinks that her mother has "a very important mission" to accomplish in Valladolid. But, at the same time, they assume it, respect it and understand it because they know that for me it is a great honor, a great privilege and a great responsibility to be part of the Voluntary Reserve.
I want to thank UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía for giving me this opportunity. In addition, there are fundamental values that the Army promotes that I try to introduce into my daily routine, including at work: the sense of duty, responsibility, sacrifice and effort, well done teamwork...
I am very happy being a Reservist, where I hope to reach the job of Reservist Captain in a few years, and grow in UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, a company that I have seen evolve and become a key player in the UAV industry.
