Tennessee Medical Command
I spent part of my childhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado; a military town, home to the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson Army Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and NORAD. Living in such close proximity to multiple branches of the armed forces instilled in me a deep sense of respect for our service men and women. I remember witnessing the events of September 11, 2001, and how it fueled a patriotic desire to serve in the US Military. It was that moment that I realized being an American with unalienable rights also comes with significant responsibilities. As a junior in High School I remember conversations with my parents about devoting a period of my life in service to our country and play my part in supporting our freedoms. I thought I would be enlisting after graduation in 2003 but I promised my mother to attend at least a year of college before joining the military.
It wasn’t until the end of my third year of Dental school that the opportunity would present itself to join the Tennessee Army National Guard. The National Guard has a Medical and Dental Student Stipend Program (MDSSP). Its a one-year service obligation for every six months for receiving the stipend. It was a perfect way to offset the rising cost of living in Nashville, TN as well as the astronomical cost of dental training. So June 2015 I joined the Tennessee Army National Guard as a commissioned officer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Joining the Army National Guard not only helped ease the financial strain as a dental student but also provided invaluable experiences. The monthly commitment of a single weekend, didn’t interfere with my clinical training and provided the opportunity to work alongside practicing clinicians at various stages in their careers. The medical detachment was an excellent environment that further exposed me to the multidisciplinary approach to comprehensive health. As a dental student in my final year of training it was refreshing to spend a weekend with the TNARNG Medical Detachment coordinating care for soldiers with dentists, internal medicine physicians, optometrists, audiologists, behavior health and numerous other MDs & nurses.
In 2017 I took a break from residency training to complete a 6 week Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) in San Antonio at Ft Sam Houston. Serving alongside phenomenal individuals from diverse backgrounds further enriched my military journey. This experience provided an additional perspective in the role of a dentist in the Army. It was the first time I actually felt like a soldier rather than a dentist in uniform. From field training, land navigation, medical evacuations, hand to hand combat, small arms and rifle qualification. each day…
Serving my country has been a humbling and rewarding experience. As a dental officer, I evaluated soldiers’ readiness by diagnosing oral diseases, educating them on dental hygiene, tobacco cessation, and nutritional counseling for caries prevention. This role was particularly crucial in ensuring optimal oral health for deployments and annual health reviews.
The honor of serving my country and the opportunity to make a difference made it all worthwhile. It was a privilege to contribute in my professional capacity to preserving our freedoms. Overall, my military experience was atypical but immensely rewarding, instilling in me a profound appreciation for those who serve and sacrificed for our nation.