Former enlisted ‘Dragon Medics’ commissioned

Second Lts. Donelle Clark, a former technical sergeant and member of the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, and Jessica Shealey, a former staff sergeant with the 81st Dental Squadron, pose after graduation where they were commissioned as second lieutenants during a ceremony May 8, 2012, in the Keesler Hospital’s Don Wylie Auditorium at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo by Steve Pivnick)

Former enlisted 'Dragon Medics' commissioned

Published June 6, 2012
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two formerly enlisted "Dragon Medics" were commissioned second lieutenants during a ceremony May 8 in the Keesler Hospital's Don Wylie Auditorium. Capt. Brandon Shealey, 81st Medical Support Squadron, administered the oath of office.

Second Lts. Donelle Clark, a former technical sergeant and member of the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, and Jessica Shealey, a former staff sergeant with the 81st Dental Squadron, completed the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program upon their May 12 graduation from the two-year program at William Carey University's Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at Traditions, near Biloxi. They were selected for the training in June 2010.

Both will attend six weeks of Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., followed by nine weeks of Nurse Transition Training. Clark will complete NTT at the San Antonio Military Medical Center and Shealey in Scottsdale, Ariz. Following NTT, he will be assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and she to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Shealey was enlisted for six years before entering the NECP. Clark had served 15 years when he began the NECP. He learned he had been selected for promotion to master sergeant the week before the NECP announcement.