Combat Airlifter of the Week: Senior Airman Candie Cura

Name and Rank: Senior Airman Candie Cura

Unit: 19th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron

Official Duty title: Physical Therapy Technician

Hometown: Dededo, Guam

Time in service: 2 years

Time at Little Rock: 2 years

Goals: Playing outside hitter for the Air Force volleyball team and retire at 20 years

Hobbies: Coaching and playing volleyball and soccer

As the 19th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron unit physical therapy technician, Cura has filled Physical Therapy’s noncommissioned officer in charge position during a four-month loss, managing 2,123 patient’s care to save $280,000 in network costs, earning a coin from the Maintenance Group commander.

Additionally, Cura wins with an excellent work ethic, tripling her Air Force Specialty Code’s workload average and consistently being the top two performing Physical Therapy technicians in the Air Force, rehabilitating 1,300 patients. Her hard work has been key to the Little Rock AFB clinic’s recognition as the AF’s top producing clinic, per capita.

Finally, Cura navigated the Medical Group's first ever Physical Therapy "Acute Care Clinic", creating an Urgent Care, absorbing 258 patients from Active Duty clinics to cut 568 lost appointment hours, and saving the AF $28,000 in Emergency Room costs.