Photo By 1st Lt. Touacha Her | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Moua, a Squadron Aviation Resource Management...... read more read more
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TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- For some, a life of purpose is a goal to be pursued. For Staff Sgt. Michelle Moua, a Reserve Airman with the 349th Air Mobility Wing, it is a legacy to be honored—a legacy she is building upon with every uniform worn, every volunteer hour given, and every academic milestone achieved.
Moua, a Squadron Aviation Resource Management (SARM) expert in the 70th Air Refueling Squadron, recently accomplished a rare trifecta of success: she earned the prestigious American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Award, completed her Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration, and continues to serve with excellence in the Air Force Reserve.
Her journey is a masterclass in dedication, fueled by a deep-seated inspiration that traces back generations.
“My inspiration traces back to my maternal grandfather who served as part of the 'Secret Army' special guerilla unit prior to the acknowledgement of the Vietnamese War,” Moua explained. Her motivation was further shaped by an aunt who served in the U.S. Army and, most profoundly, by her parents' journey.
“My motivation connects with the early years of childhood and adulthood both of my parents experienced when becoming displaced from their homeland of Laos and resettling in the United States,” she shared. “They encourage my siblings and I to always be better and make something of ourselves for a chance at a successful life. By joining the Air Force Reserve, this decision has led me to hold my beliefs and goals with a more passionate regard.”
The Reserve Airman Identity
That passion is on full display during a drill weekend. As a SARM expert for the wing’s new KC-46A Pegasus fleet, Moua’s role is critical. She manages, maintains, and updates aircrew flight and training records, ensuring every flyer is qualified and mission-ready.
“The importance of tracking accuracy and ensuring compliance is necessary when authorizing aircrew members to fly the aircraft and perform refueling duties,” Moua stated, highlighting the non-negotiable standards of her job.
But for Moua, being a Reserve Airman is more than a list of duties; it’s an identity that honors her entire heritage.
“As a Reserve Airman, I have the benefit of keeping my individuality while proudly serving my country,” she reflected. “The duality in these roles have allowed me to carry on my cultural heritage of the Hmong bloodline while carrying on the evolved culture of the military lineage.”
Service Beyond Self: A Tangible Impact
This commitment to service extends far beyond her military duties. Moua channels her energy into volunteering with the American Red Cross at David Grant Medical Center (DGMC), a role that earned her the SAF Award.
The Red Cross has a special partnership with the medical center, augmenting the patient experience and allowing hospital staff to focus on their primary medical duties. However, recruiting for this crucial role isn't easy. In a Red Cross publication, Nikki Rowe, the organization’s director of Service to the Armed Forces, explained that prospective volunteers must have formal access to the military base, limiting the pool to those, like Moua, who are part of the military community.
As the SAF military treatment facility clinic lead, Moua's responsibilities are significant.
“I am a key liaison in qualifying the medical center with certified/licensed individuals who can assist with providing various healthcare services,” she explained. Her work onboarding volunteers and maintaining their competency folders has helped bring in experts in phlebotomy, lactation, flight medicine, and even a retired lieutenant colonel specializing in neuro-ophthalmology.
The value of this work is not lost on DGMC leadership. According to a Red Cross article, Col. Alexei Kambalov, the 60th Medical Group administrator, the hours these volunteers put in equates to the equivalent of 3.5 full-time employees per month. “That’s 3.5 FTEs for free, courtesy of the Red Cross,” Col. Kambalov stated. “It’s hard to put a dollar value on that.”
For Moua, the drive comes from a deeply personal philosophy. “I always felt that I could make a change in the world and my community,” she said, describing altruism as "a different sensation of happiness."
Every moment spent helping others is meaningful, not because of any single event, but because of the people she serves. “The most memorable significance all of these moments have in common are the recipients,” she shared. “These recipients are appreciative and thankful for the time or commitment volunteers offer. It makes them feel that they are not forgotten.”
Knowledge as a Tool for Change
While juggling her Reserve duties and volunteer work, Moua was also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration—a field she chose for intensely personal reasons.
“As a child, my siblings and I never qualified for most of the services that public assistance programs provided because my mom’s income was considered ‘above’ the poverty line,” Moua recalled. “The eligibility requirements do not thoroughly consider factors such as household size, dependent age, and other expenditures.”
This experience ignited a passion to fix the systems she saw as flawed. “Working within the Public Health Administration, I hope to reform those programs into fairly and equally providing services while taking into account all contextual factors,” she said.
A Unified Purpose
While her military, volunteer, and academic pursuits seem distinct, Moua sees a powerful thread connecting them all: a focus on the health and well-being of people, all rooted in what she calls a "sense of belonging to the military."
As a SARM, she tracks a flyer’s medical readiness. As a Red Cross lead, she helps provide care to service members. With her degree, she wants to improve the very systems that deliver that care.
Juggling these three demanding roles required extraordinary discipline. “Managing my time and making sacrifices are two methodologies I exercise daily,” Moua said. She put military duties first, used her lunch breaks for schoolwork, and came into the office an hour and a half early to get a head start on assignments. This discipline was bolstered by a desire to be a role model for her younger siblings and a strong support system.
Her plans for the future are just as ambitious. Moua’s goal is to earn a commission and become an officer, where she can work to improve the military health system from within. As a civilian, she intends to establish stronger community outreach for at-risk populations.
For any Airman who sees her journey and wonders if they could do the same, she offers direct advice: “I emphasize highly on the idea of sacrifices because the demands of daily living do not make our choices and actions any easier.”
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed by her leadership.
“She is truly an inspiration to us all,” said Lt. Col. Steven M. Chandler, Commander of the 70th Air Refueling Squadron. “She sets the example of what it means to be a 349th AMW Reserve Airman.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by the leaders she supports at DGMC. "The Red Cross volunteers provide added value, with 100 percent return,” said Col. Kambalov. “They contribute to our bottom line and help keep some of our clinics afloat. That’s not an exaggeration.”
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2025 17:28 |
| Story ID: | 549095 |
| Location: | TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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