Moment of Tooth: Dental Soldiers compete for top honors

By Ms. Jennifer Stride (IMCOM)August 10, 2016

DENTAC Warrior
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DENTAC Warriors
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DENTAC Warriors
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DENTAC Warriors
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DENTAC Warriors
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Dental warriors from throughout the Atlantic region, left lab coats behind, donned battle rattle and went into warrior mode to compete for the title of DENCOM Atlantic Best Warrior this week on Fort Jackson.

The 20 dental warriors competing represented Forts Benning, Bragg, Campbell, Drum, Gordon, Jackson, Knox, Meade, Stewart and from West Point.

"It gives us a chance to highlight some of our soldiers and recognize the best that we have as far as our warrior tasking drills," said Command Sergeant Major Antwone Trouble Jones, MEDCOM Atlantic's senior enlisted advisor out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. "It gives our Soldiers a chance to show they are value added to the Army as far as being not only a great commission but also great warriors and we have to promote that in today's shrinking environment."

The competition began here on Fort Jackson Sunday afternoon with a weigh in and winds up today with an awards ceremony naming the winners.

Monday was a long day beginning with a physical fitness test at 5:50 a.m. After breakfast the group headed to the engagement skills trainer to prove their marksmanship expertise.

"At first I did not have any feelings about this competition, but once the competition started my mindset changed," said Sgt. Porsha Bell, a dental specialist at Fort Jackson's Oliver Dental Clinic. "I think it very rewarding to be a part of the 'best' in DENTAC even if I do not win."

After a quick lunch, they were off to the land navigation course to compete in both day and night land navigation, broken up only by the consumption of MREs for dinner. Their long day ended after 8:30 p.m.

After a 6 a.m. breakfast Tuesday, it was time to take on the obstacle course at Fit To Win II that included crawling, running, climbing and jumping around, through and over a multitude of obstacles.

Once that was complete, they all got a chance to rest -- if you can call taking the written exam a break.

As if that wasn't enough, each of them had to combine brain power with physical strength to save a mannequin who was in dire condition in a mock up combat situation at the Medical Simulation Training Facility.

"My favorite part of the competition was the MSTF site," said Spc. Angie Cortez, a dental specialist at Fort Jackson's Hagen Dental Clinic. "The most challenging part of this competition was the obstacle course."

Then came a 'mystery event' at the Oliver Dental Clinic on post. Each warrior was tasked to set up a dental treatment chair with all infection control barriers in place in five minutes -- a task not usually associated with Army warriors.

At 5:20 a.m. yesterday, they embarked on a six mile ruck march on post. The rest of the day was taken up by complex oral boards.

Once the boards are complete and final scores are tallied, winners will be announced at the ceremony today. Those winners will go on to compete for Regional Health Command Atlantic best warrior at Fort Gordon, Georgia. After that, if they win, MEDCOM Best warrior and possibly Army Best Warrior.

"They are the best at giving dental care in the world - bar none," said Jones. "Besides (being great dental specialists), they will be recognized by all the people in the region as the best people, the best NCOs, the best Soldiers of that year group.