MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- A dental officer with the Navy’s 1st Dental Battalion recently earned the Lt. j.g. Weeden E. Osborne Memorial award for inspirational leadership and technical expertise contributing to supported Marine units.
Navy Lt. Sherry Caraveo, stationed here for the past three years, is scheduled to receive the award in the next few months.
“This is an honor and earning the award feels great because It's gratifying to have your efforts recognized,” said Caraveo.
The Colombian native became a dental officer after serving as a construction equipment mechanic in the Army.
“I’ve always wanted to do something that can help people,” said Caraveo. “Navy dentistry affords me this opportunity.”
Not only does Caraveo enjoy helping her patients, she also assisted In the Implementation of the Fleet Marine Forces Officer Qualification Program while in Iraq. This program allows officers to earn their FMF designation, explained Cmdr. Karen Lynch, the director of the MCAS Miramar dental clinic.
In Caraveo’s nomination letter, Lynch explained how Caraveo ensured planned, organized and implemented the FMFOQP for the entire surgical company, while deployed.
“Her expertise and teaching skills were instrumental in the 100 percent pass rate (of participants),” according to the letter.
While deployed, along with taking responsibility for the execution of the FMF program, she provided emergency dental care and assisted in the treatment of combat related dental injuries.
Throughout the deployment Caraveo treated more than 800 service members, provided dental cleaning and boosted troop moral, according to Lynch.
“My favorite part of my job is the interaction with my patients,” said Caraveo. “Because of my ability to treat a variety of injuries and dental problems I saw an array of patients while deployed. I really enjoyed being able to help them.”
Along with earning the award, Caraveo, has been selected by the Navy for an orthodontic residency at the Loma Linda University, Riverside, Calif. Her residency begins in June and she expects to be there for a little more than two years.