Major Michael A. Arnholtz retires from Air Force

JULY 15, 2010

Major Michael A. Arnholtz retires from Air Force

Major Michael A. Arnholtz A retirement ceremony honoring Major Michael A. Arnholtz was held on June 4 at Hurlburt Field, FL.

Major Michael A. Arnholtz began his Air Force career with his enlistment in 1982 after graduating from Orofino High School. Upon completion of Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, TX, he attended Postal Specialist Technical School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. He then proceeded to his first duty station, RAF Benwaters/Woodbridge, UK. In March, 1985 he accepted a consecutive overseas tour and transferred to San Vito Air Station, Italy.

Major Arnholtz then cross trained into the Logistics Plans career field and attended Technical Training at Lowry AFB, CO. He arrived at Tinker AFB, OK in September 1986 and worked the mobility plans for the 552 Airborne Warning And Control Wing. In August 1989, he accepted a remote overseas tour to the 604^th Direct Air Support Squadron at Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea where he directed mobility operations and field exercises. He transferred to Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in August 1990 and managed the combat plans and programs for the 41^st Electronic Combat Squadron (Compass Call).

Major Arnholtz was selected to attend the Army Physician Assistant Program, as an Air Force member, and transferred to Fort Sam Houston for Phase I (didactic) training in September, 1991. He completed his Phase II (clinical) training at Fort Knox, KY, in Oct 1993, was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant, and was assigned to the 380 Refueling Wing, Plattsburgh AFB, NY as a staff Physician Assistant.

With the closure of Plattsburgh AFB, Major Arnholtz transferred to the 4^th Medical Operations Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, in July 1995 as a staff Physician Assistant. He was assigned to the Primary Care and Urgent care clinics, and was selected as the 1996 ACC PA of the Year. He transferred to Hurlburt Field, FL, in November 1998, and was assigned to the 16 Medical Operations Squadron. He helped implement the Primary Care Optimization program and managed an empanelment of 1500 patients.

The Major transferred to the 96^th Medical Operations Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL, in July 2002, where he directed the PA Phase II training, in addition to providing primary care to patients in the Family Health Clinic. He was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2002 to May 2003.

Major Arnholtz was selected for an Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Education program and began his studies at the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, in August 2005. He completed his Specialist Degree in Education (Ed.S.) in May 2007 and transferred to his alma mater, now named the Interservice PA Program, at Fort Sam Houston, TX. He taught didactic lectures and directed all six Air Force PA clinical sites.

Major Arnholtz then transferred back to Hurlburt Field, FL, in July 2009 and was assigned to the 1^st Special Operations Support Squadron. After completion of an extensive training pipeline, he was deployed to Haiti in January 2010 to assist in the rescue of people from the devastating earthquake.

His education includes: 1982 Graduate of Orofino High School, Orofino, 1993 Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Associate Studies, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL 1997 Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE 2005 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL 2007 Specialist in Education Ed.S. University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 2007 Doctorate in Education Ed.D(c) University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

He has received the following major awards and decorations, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Also the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with one device, Air Force Overseas Short Tour, Air Force Overseas Long Tour with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Air Force Longevity Service with one silver oak leaf cluster, US Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device, Air Force Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster.

Mike is the son of Sid O. and Ruth Brown of Orofino and the late Fred Arnholtz. He is married to the former Donna Shepard, and they have two children: 1LT Derek Arnholtz, also in the U.S.A.F., stationed at FE Warren AFB, Cheyenne WY and M. Stuart Arnholtz who will be s attending the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.

Attending the retirement ceremony were his parents, and his sister and her husband, Sharon and Mike Larson of Weippe.

This fall Mike plans to pursue his interest in the medical field.