Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Heather Kurak

Published Aug. 10, 2012
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Rank/First & Last Name: Staff Sgt. Heather Kurak

Deployed Unit: 386th Expeditionary Medical Group

Duty Title: Dental Clinic NCOIC

Home unit/station: 75th Dental Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah

Family's military heritage: Grandfather is a retired Air Force colonel

What is your mission here?
My mission here is to assist the dentist in treating patients who are in pain, and get them returned to duty. We also provide patients with orders of 365 days or more on Ali Al Salem with exams and a cleaning.

What are some of the best parts of your mission?
I think the best parts of my mission would be meeting people from all over. Even some of the highest ranking people I have ever met have been in my dental treatment room. I am a people person and I love to talk to people and network, there is nothing like getting to know someone new every day, and I love that my job gives me that.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
Some challenges here are not having enough instruments for mission capability. When there are several patients within a certain time frame, there also needs to be a certain amount of time allotted for the instruments to be cleaned and sterilized. Since it's just me to assist the dentist, wash the instruments, wrap, and sterilize them, it can take a while, especially if there are multiple patients.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
My job here is completely different than at home base. Here I come in and if there are no appointments than I either work on my additional duties, sterilize instruments, help out somewhere else in the clinic, or wait for emergency patients to contact us while I do those things. My opportunities to volunteer here are numerous. For the past two and a half months I have been the events coordinator for the 5/6 council, the sort manager for the Airman's Attic, Dorm Mayor, and many other thing. Back at home my main position and focus is on patient care and so I do not get as much time to do as many additional duties as I would like. At Hill I was mostly doing dental cleanings and assisting the dentist. Here I wear many more "hats" and I really enjoy it!

How many times have you deployed?
This is my first deployment

What makes this deployment unique?
This deployment is unique because as dental technicians we normally deploy as third country national escorts, and I was very happy to be deploying as an actual dental technician.

Why did you join the Air Force?
I joined the Air force because I wanted to continue my education and become a dental technician. I already had an Associate's Degree and really wanted to pursue my Bachelor's, while gaining experience in the dental field. I love the Air Force, and hope to be in for a while!