Portrait of a Professional: June 2011

  • Published
MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. --  Portrait of a Professional is a monthly profile of an outstanding Staff Sergeant or below. Staff Sgt. Andrea Kratofil, the unit training manager and unit deployment manager assigned to the 129th Logistics Readiness Squadron, is featured in this month's Portrait of a Professional.

What is your favorite memory in the Air Force?
At basic training, when my flight was marching to warrior week, our training instructor called the road guards out to stop traffic. We all had huge duffle bags on our backs and one of the road guards ran out, stopped in position and fell to the ground. She fell straight back on to her duffle bag and couldn't get up, she looked like a turtle stuck on its shell. It funniest part was that our training instructor was hysterically laughing, which until that point we hadn't seen her do. That is by far my favorite memory, it was hilarious.

What motivated you to enlist in the Air Force?
I wanted nothing to do with the military before my mom gave me an ultimatum. Neither of my parents were in the military. I went to an expensive private college and my mom gave me four options, she said I could transfer schools, take out student loans, find a "sugar daddy," or join ROTC. I didn't want to transfer schools, couldn't afford student loans on my own and at the time I didn't want to join active duty. My mom did a lot of research regarding the military option when she learned about the National Guard and brought me to a recruiter. So I enlisted into the Wisconsin Air National Guard with the 128th Air Refueling Wing. It was the best decision that I've made.

What's the most important lesson you've learned in the military?
Think before you speak, be clear and concise because everyone is on a time crunch. Always have a positive attitude because things can and will change and you need to be adaptable and keep up morale.

If you could deploy anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I have never deployed, so I would like to go anywhere. Germany, Italy or anything in Europe would be awesome. I hear Diego Garcia is really nice.

If you could choose any Air Force job, which would it be? Why?
Public Affairs was one choice, it goes along with my degree in international business and marketing. Otherwise, I would like to work in Intel or antiterrorism.

Where did you grow up?
I was born in California but mostly grew up in Wisconsin before returning to California for my job at Oracle.

What is your job in the civilian world?
I began working on base full time about three months ago as the 129 LRS unit training and unit deployment manager.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I was super shy when I was little, like afraid of my own shadow, now I'm quite the opposite. I've never had a cavity and I can't cartwheel to save my life.

What are your hobbies?
I like to run, it clears my mind. I love to travel and I like to socialize.