'It's Like Being Part of a Family': Tinley Dentist Joins Navy (Photos)

It's not unusual for young men and women to uproot their lives and enlist in the military as a way to express their patriotism, as well as using it as an outlet to serve and help others.

For the most part, these are men and women in their late teens and their 20s. Individuals who are just beginning the adult chapters of their lives, with very few commitments and responsibilities tying them down.

VIDEO: Watch a Tearful Zaibak Thank His Mother During the Ceremony

That's why it's a rare thing to see someone in his late 30s, with a wife and daughter and a successful career, re-prioritize his life and join the U.S. Navy, driven by his love of country and desire to always be helping others.

But that's exactly what Dr. Zack Zaibak, a Palos Heights resident with a Tinley Park dental practice, has done.

On Friday, April 5, Zaibak officially became a commissioned lieutenant in the Navy Reserve during a ceremony at Tinley Park Village Hall with friends, families, village officials and fellow sailors.

Why did Zaibak make this dramatic change in his life? How did his wife, mother and other family members react to the news? And what has the dentist done in the six previous months to prepare for this moment?

Patch conducted a video interview with Zaibak earlier this week, where he answered these questions and gave some insight on why helping others always has to be a component in anything he does. Patch also was at Friday's ceremony, capturing the sometimes emotional affair.

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