MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- “My father, who also was in the Navy, had a huge influence on my decision to join the Navy,” said Dentalman Joseph P. Kirk, a dental technician assigned to the 21st Dental Company, 3rd Dental Battalion, home based in Okinawa, Japan. “It also gave me many opportunities and gave me a chance to travel and see the world.”
Kirk, 26, attended Easter Illinois University for two years and studied physical education, before joining the Navy.
“I used to really want to be a P.E. teacher for high school students,” Kirk admitted. “When I do get out of the Navy, I plan on going back and finishing my schooling — maybe take administration classes.”
Kirk, a Mattoon, Ill. native, said he didn’t realize he wanted to be a dental technician until he graduated from the Navy’s Dental Technician “A” School in Wichita Falls, Texas, and actually got to the job and started working.
“I didn’t have my mind set on the job or anything, but the job did sound interesting,” said Kirk. “There are a lot of requirements I have to keep up with, like a lot of knowledge online courses. Plus, there are always opportunities to go through more courses.”
Kirk has not been on any deployments but said he thinks that if it came down to being deployed, he could get the job done.
“It would be tough leaving my family, especially now that my daughter was just born,” said the father of 8-week-old Marah Kirk. “But it’s my job and there is always the possibility of being deployed — when being stationed with Marines — that’s what I’m here for.”
Kirk is currently working toward obtaining a Fleet Marine Force pin. The pin is presented to those who successfully complete a course of instruction that culminates with participants taking and passing a written test and an oral board before being certified.
“To get the pin, I’ve had to get signatures saying I’ve completed many tasks from Marine Corps history to drill,” said the motivated dental technician. “I had to learn a lot of the things Marines learn in boot camp. When I get all of my signatures and finish all of the requirements, I have to stand in front of a board to tell what all I have learned.”
Senior Chief Petty Officer Elmer M. Esmeralda, senior enlisted leader, 21st Dental Company, 3rd Dental Battalion, said for being such a young Sailor, Kirk knows as much as Sailors with more time in grade.
“Kirk always does it right the first time and is highly professional at his job,” said Esmeralda. “The reason for this is because he is very dedicated and loves the work that he does.”
Kirk said his job has been amazing and that he never expected it to be as enjoyable as it is. Not only is he more than satisfied with being stationed in Hawaii, he said the hours he works — from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — allow him to stay in shape.
“There’s really nothing bad about this job. I get to wake up, physical train and go to work. Plus, the hours I do work are awesome, so I’ve got no complaints,” said Kirk. “Not to mention, it makes me feel really good go know I’m serving my country and helping Marines and Sailors who put themselves in harms way to protect our freedoms.”
Kirk said he thought about being a firefighter because of the physical activities it entails, but is glad that he chose the career path that he did.
“I’m glad Sailors like Kirk are going to be taking over my job in the future,” said Kirk’s senior enlisted leader. “I’ll be sitting in an armed forces retirement home and won’t worry about the Navy because of Sailors like him.”