Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Michael Shea

Staff Sgt. Michael Shea, 319th Medical Operation Squadron NCO in-charge of primary care, injects Staff Sgt. Jere Ross, 319th Air Base Wing chaplain assistant, with a flu vaccine Oct. 10, 2014, at the Community Activities Center on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The 28-year-old from Clear Lake, S.D., was named the Grand Forks AFB Warrior of the Week for the third week of October 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Michael Shea

Staff Sgt. Michael Shea, 319th Medical Operation Squadron NCO in-charge of primary care, informs 1st Lt. Ryan Davis, 319th MDOS physician’s assistant, that a patient is ready for his medical consultation Oct. 9, 2014, at the family health clinic on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. In addition to managing a 17-member clinic, Shea works closely with health care providers to ensure patients medical needs are addressed appropriately. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Michael Shea

Wearing blue latex gloves for protection, Staff Sgt. Michael Shea, 319th Medical Operation Squadron NCO in-charge of primary care, uses disinfectant wipes to sterilize and prepare a consultation room for the next patient Oct. 9, 2014, at the family health clinic on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Routine procedures such as this one are practiced and enforced by Shea and his team in order to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Michael Shea

Published Oct. 15, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --
Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Michael Shea

Unit: 319th Medical Operations Squadron

Official Duty title: NCO in-charge of Primary Care

Time in service: 9 years, 1 month

Time on Station: 2 years, 7 months

Hometown: Clear Lake, S.D.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
I believe that service to others is the highest calling a person can have as a profession. Serving as a medic in the Air Force is important to me because it has helped develop me into the leader I am today. I have supervised Airmen and Soldiers at Wilford Hall's old ER, Soldiers at San Antonio Military Medical Center, and been on two deployments in Afghanistan where I had the responsibility of taking care of Airmen exposed to traumatic situations involving mass casualties and attacks on convoy operations. The Air Force has prepared me to take on any challenge for life.

What moment or accomplishment as a Warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?

The accomplishment that I'm most proud of as a Warrior of the North was becoming NCO-in-charge of a clinic as a staff sergeant.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is helping people at a time they really need medical assistance, and then seeing them leave better off than they were.

Who or what inspires you and why?
Bad NCOs inspire me. I'll explain. I absolutely hate laziness, mismanagement, excuses, and being lied to. Every bad NCO who has done these things taught me what not to do, and what I expected from myself as an NCO. I realized from leading Airmen that I can make a difference to them about what the Air Force can be, and I can show them what the difference is between rank, and an NCO.

What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?

The first thing that made me think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather was the fact the base is close to loved ones. I have family a short three-hour drive south.