SAN ANGELO, Texas — US Air Force Staff Sgt. Shatora Dunkin's peers and superiors spoke highly of her before hazardous materials training Friday morning at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Dunkin is one of only a few female fire instructors at the Louis F Garland DoD Fire Academy at the base. She gave her previous instructors credit for shaping her teaching style and said her upbringing laid the foundation for the way she treats people.
"I’m from the South, so we are big on respect," she said. "If you didn’t say or do the right thing you would get repercussions. So, it was instilled in me to always show respect, and I’m big on treating people like people."
Dunkin said becoming an instructor was challenging, but said her mentality has carried her through the difficulties she has faced in the Air Force. She said she wants to inspire other people to follow behind her and push her students the same way.
"You have to understand that you can do what the other guys are doing," she said. "It may take a little bit more, but as long as you keep putting your right foot in front of your left and your left in front of your right and never stop, you’ll be alright."
Dunkin said she wants to become a first sergeant in the future and continue helping people in her role as a firefighter.
