Going to the dentist can be quite an experience for some.
Whether it is a toothache, a need for a cleaning or to have a cavity filled, dental personnel with the 618th Dental Company in South Korea are always "Ready to Fight Tonight."
And with a dual mission, the training of newly arrived personnel takes top priority.
One crucial part of the company's quarterly training is a Situational Awareness Exercise, commonly known as an STX.
Soldiers from Area II recently completed their STX Sept. 16-18, 2014.
"We are the only Dental Command in Army Dental Care that has a dual mission of providing both Armistice dental care and transition to hostilities dental care," said Col. John Marley, Area II Dental Clinic #2 commander. "This STX gives these junior Soldiers the training and challenges they would face in the field and helps them to better understand the "big picture" from something that they would normally only see during a field training exercise."
Throughout the three day event, incoming personnel worked side by side with experienced personnel while adhering to all the parameters required in a clinic that has moved to a field setting.
"This exercise is designed to not only train our newly arrived soldiers on how to operate field equipment,'' said Marley, "but to give them experience in working in an austere environment. A lot of the training is on the job training that these young soldiers do not get in Advanced Individual Training."
Being "ready-to-go" is a key training factor in the eyes of Area II Dental Clinic Platoon Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Deborah Greer. "The STX is conducted every three months throughout the peninsula and is a team effort within all Area II dental clinics. We have all the functions of a 'brick and mortar' clinic here in the field setting that allows a hands on approach to field patient care and familiarization of equipment."
With the high turnover rate of personnel, events such as the STX according to Greer help ensure that dental personnel within the 618th are knowledgeable of their equipment during a dual mission exercise.
The entire 618th Dental Company will pack up and head to Camp Carroll Nov. 17-24, 2014 for a field training exercise.
As a result, all primary dental clinics throughout the peninsula will be on minimal staffing providing only sick call and basic care treatment.
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