Bright Smiles for Medical Readiness: Maryland Guard Helps Neighboring Guard w/Dental Exams
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600221113880{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Davis Jr., Maryland National Guard Public Affairs[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600285339773{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]
On September 12, 2020, the Maryland Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment provided dental examinations to nearly 30 D.C. Army National Guard Soldiers at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation near Reisterstown, Maryland, to ensure that the DCARNG Soldiers met their annual medical requirements and sustaining mission readiness for the Army.
Over the past few months, service members in National Guard units across the nation shown themselves to be ready and there to support their state and its first responders responding to COVID-19. The MDNG has taken the term “neighbors helping neighbors” to the next level by helping its next-door Guard component—the D.C. National Guard—in their time of need.
Capt. Alberto Alejandro, a dentist with the Maryland Army National Guard, conducts a dental examination on a D.C. Army National Soldier.
“We had a pipe burst in our clinic last Thursday, and [it] will be down until the flood damage is repaired,” said Lt. Col. Paul Tumminello, commander of the DCARNG’s medical company and Deputy State Surgeon. “[The Maryland National Guard’s] assistance could not have come at a better time.”
In addition to the facility issues, Tumminello said conducting dental procedures have been on a standstill because the DCARNG has been activated to respond to missions related to COVID-19 and civil disturbances.
“Across the country, COVID-19 has caused a problem with readiness,” said Col. William M. Fox, Deputy State Surgeon for the MDNG. “Maryland, however, was able to keep working safely by ensuring distancing, wearing a mask, and over the past six months, we completed our readiness mission without incidents.”
Members of the MDARNG’s medical detachment worked alongside three dental technicians, one dentist, and the state medical readiness non-commissioned officer with the DCARNG.
“I think it’s critically important that we work together,” Fox said. “In the past we’ve provided periodic health assessments for a few Soldiers who may have traveled from the West to East Coast and can’t matriculate into a new state, but to my knowledge, helping this large number of soldiers from a different guard unit, to fulfill their medical readiness, has not been done before.”
Lt. Col. Stafford Conley, the senior dentist with the MDARNG, said the Maryland Guard is unique because it’s a full-time medical detachment, and it does all dental examinations and PHAs in-house as opposed to relying on outside contractors.
“It would be nice if all Guard units had this ability because it would save the Army a lot of money,” Conley said. “Also, the ability to provide dental work five days a week versus one weekend a month gives people more options and flexibility, and it increases readiness.”
The MDARNG ranked number five in the country for medical readiness at 90.4 percent, which is above the national standard.
“Our mission is to ensure our state is ready, and we certainly have the capacity to help other states,” Fox said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]