148th Fighter Wing Airman receives internship at Walter Reed

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Amie Muller
  • 18th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DULUTH, Minn. --  "I get to give back to the military community and to those who have sacrificed so much," said Staff Sgt. Kai Mitchell, a logistical planner at the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn.  "Being able to work with veterans at my dream location will be quite an honor."

Mitchell is a student who is working on the final steps of his two-and-a-half year Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.

He has spent his time outside of the classroom employed at the St. Scholastica Veteran's Resource Center as well as volunteering to plan veteran activities and is an advocate for student veterans.

After being selected as one of two candidates nationwide, Mitchell will be departing Duluth in June of 2015 to intern for six months as an occupational therapist at the world's largest military medical center and the flagship of the United States Military Health System, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

"I cannot wait to help patients gain back their day-to-day activities and watch their progression," said Mitchell.  "The technology and research that is available at Walter Reed is spearheading the field of occupational therapy and I get to play a role in that.  I am very excited."

As an occupational therapist, Mitchell will be helping patients recover several basic skills they may have lost due to a physical, mental, or developmental disability.  An occupational therapist's career goal is to help their patients to lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives.  Mitchell is hoping after he returns to Minnesota to join the active duty Air Force as an occupational therapist.