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Pharmacy student earns commission

  • Published
  • By Airman Ryan Throneberry
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Jennifer Wang, a pharmacy intern with the 87th Medical Group, was sworn into the United States Air Force officer corps Jan. 10 at the Edwards Resource Center here, as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

The HPSP is an Air Force initiative designed to provide financial assistance to students who are physically and academically qualified to become Air Force officers and are interested in attaining one of several types of health-related degrees.

These officers serve a three-year active-duty-service obligation within the Air Force medical service. This program is the main accession source of medical officers for the Air Force, graduating 75 percent of all active-duty medical officers.

"I am really excited about this opportunity," said Wang. "Of course I could not have done it by myself."

Master Sgt. Michael Taylor, Health Professions Accessions recruiter, helped Wang through the application process. He said Wang had a strong reputation within the pharmacy so she had little difficulty finding a good recommendation.

When Wang begins her work as a pharmacist she will ensure safe patient care while enhancing technician training in support of wartime readiness.

"She's ready and able to do the job," said Lt. Col. Glenn Laird, 87th Pharmacy Flight commander. "When she asked for my recommendation, I told her I would give her my strongest."

Wang is in her fourth year at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. and said she is on schedule to graduate in May with a 4.0 grade point average.

"I've been working with Jennifer for awhile and she is very bright," said Capt. Nhon Nguyen, chief of pharmacy operations at the 87th MDG pharmacy. "I am very proud of her accomplishment in receiving this highly-competitive scholarship."

Wang is commissioned as a second lieutenant, but will not serve on active duty until she finishes school.

Nguyen administered the Oath of Commissioned Officers to Wang during the ceremony in front of an audience of commanders and chiefs.

"I have never seen this many officers attend a commissioning ceremony before," said Taylor. "Normally it is just the officer administering the oath and the newly commissioned officer's family."

Wang gave her first salute as an Air Force officer to Nguyen after receiving her certificate of commission.

"To have Capt. Nguyen from the pharmacy; Lt. Col. Laird, the Pharmacy flight commander; and Col. Burks, the 87th Medical Group commander, all in attendance, shows what an impression 2nd Lt. Wang must have made during her time as a pharmacy intern here," said Taylor.

Wang will receive the rank of captain upon her graduation this summer from Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Wang said she does not know where she will be stationed for her first duty assignment, but she hopes she will end up back at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.