Airman Spotlight:Senior Airman Micahela Lishay Kearse

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OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Name: Senior Airman Micahela Lishay Kearse

Unit:  51st Dental Squadron

Job title:   Dental Technician

Job description and its impact on the overall mission:  My AFSC is 4Y0X1, Dental Assistant.  My daily duties include, but are not limited to, assisting the dentist in the delivery of dental health care, processing radiographs, and other dental administrative tasks.  Patient care is vital to dental readiness.  The Squadron is currently at No. 1 in PACAF for dental readiness classification.  I have also received additional training in dental lab which is another dental AFSC.  I am able to augment that flight when their manning is low.   I can help with tasks such as pouring casts and making sportsguards.  This gives dental lab technicians time to work on more complex cases and meet their suspenses.  Overall, I am flexible and will work wherever I am needed.  I don't mind working in various areas of the clinic performing different tasks.  I make sure to give my best effort in everything I am tasked to do because it expands my knowledge and skills. 

Time in the military:  3 years on Nov 8 2014.

Time at Osan: 4 months

DEROS: May 2015

Family:  I'm single and I don't have any children.  I have two older sisters.  I also have twin nephews and a niece that I enjoy spoiling.

Hometown: Portsmouth, VA

Hobbies:  I love to sleep!! Other than sleeping, I like to do anything that keeps me entertained; for example, card games, outdoors activities (not running), and anything that allows me to be creative.

Why did you join the military?  I joined the military to better myself.  I have many goals that I want to accomplish in life.  I wanted to be able to pursue an education while still being financially stable.  Joining the military was an opportunity to serve my country, achieve my personal goals, and help my family.

Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years?  In 20 years, I see myself as a retiree with my own private dental practice, a family, and a house in Florida.

What do you do for fun here?  I love to shop.  I joined the military the same year I graduated high school.  Until then, I was financially dependent on my mom.  Now, I have the ability to buy what I want without my mom complaining and that is the greatest feeling to me.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?  There isn't a single accomplishment that I am most proud of.  I grew up in a house with few extras.  My family was only able to provide the essentials for me and I am truly grateful for that.  I may not have been given the best of everything but I was taught that I could achieve anything.  With that being said, I feel everything that I have done is an accomplishment in some way.  I am continually learning and growing.  I am grateful that God has bought me this far and I am motivated to continue to improve myself.

Who are your role models? My role models are my mom and my grandmother.  My grandmother raised me until I was about 13 years old.  Her love and commitment to our family was more than I could ever ask for.  She is the greatest person I have ever met and she will always remain close to my heart.  My mother has come a long way from her past.  She went through a rough period but was able to turn her life around for the better.  My mother taught me that no matter what your battle is in life, you can always get through it.  She has influenced me to always have hope even in the worst situations.