Page 3 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, April 2022

www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
National Security visit
“Members of Business Executives for National Security visited with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (GREYWOLF) during their training rotation at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. During the two-day engagement, Brig. Gen. Curt Taylor, Commander, NTC and Col. Steve Carpenter, Deputy Commander, Sustainment, 1st Cavalry Division, accompanied the group to a section of the training area called the “Dragon’s Bunker” where they were able to observe the brigade conducting live-fire training. This provided an opportunity for the group to view the execution of collective training using modern equipment and warfighting techniques designed to support Large Scale Combat Operations.”
USO welcomes military service members,
families to the new center at NTC/Fort Irwin
High Desert Warrior 3 April 2022
Community
Fort Irwin launches Dental Assistant Training program
By Gaby Coyle
Sr. Development & Communications Manager USO WEST
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – In 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt established Fort Irwin, home to the U.S. Army’s world-renowned national training center, set to train Armored Brigade Combat Teams to “Win the First Fight.” The following year, in 1941, the USO was enacted by President Roosevelt as a way for American civilians to support our troops. Today, the USO is proud to announce the grand open- ing of a new permanent location at Fort Irwin on April 6, 2022. The new Bob Hope USO center will provide services and programming to more than 12,000 troops and military families living on base, and 50,000 rotational forces each year.
“The USO is thrilled to establish a permanent presence at Ft. Irwin and bring our world- renown service and programs to the soldiers and families of the National Training Center,” said Bob Kurkjian, USO West President. “This was a group effort, and I’d like thank USO’s Inland Empire team for their grit, determination and commitment, as well as thank Brigadier General Taylor and base leadership for their partnership.”
The Bob Hope USO at Fort Irwin will pro- vide a home away from home, where service members can maintain a sense of normalcy while on duty. The center will provide lounge areas with comfortable furniture for resting and leisure activity, complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages, access to computers, Wi-Fi, cell phone charging stations to stay in touch with friends and families, and an entertainment area fully equipped with television, movies and games. In addition to the centers’ many amenities, the Bob Hope USO at Fort Irwin will also provide a wide range of programs and services such as family strengthening programs,
military spouse networking, holiday programs, meal delivery, entertainment and much more. Military service members and their families will have direct access to USO resources such as the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program, Military Virtual Programming (MVP), and our USO Transitions program that are offered globally.
The USO is the Force Behind the Forces®, leading the way to unite all Americans to ac- tively express gratitude and support members of the military and their families, at home and abroad. For more information about the USO, to donate, volunteer or explore sponsorship op- portunities with Bob Hope USO at Fort Irwin, please visit BobHope.USO.org.
About the USO:
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private nonprofit organi- zation, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, the support of our corporate partners, and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission and learn more about the USO, please visit BobHope.USO.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
By Kimberly Hackbarth
Weed Army Community Hospital Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Fort Irwin Dental Clinic Command began the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Training program Feb. 7 at the Shuttleworth Dental Clinic, here.
The Dental Assistant Training program is open to military spouses and family members 18 years and older and provides participants didactic and hands-on dental assistant training.
Jessica Moore, a dental assistant at Shuttle- worth Dental Clinic, previously taught the pro- gram for three years in Hawaii and currently teaches the course on Fort Irwin.
“We do all the training, teach them dental spe- cialties, give them hands-on experience for 1,000 hours, and then at the end of the 1,000 hours they get a certificate of completion,” she said.
Though the program itself is free, par- ticipants do pay out of pocket for their X-ray certification and Basic Lifesaver Course.
During the 1,000 hours of training, partici- pants gain a wide range of experience.
“While they’re here, they’re going to go through [the sterilization process], X-ray, radi- ology, learn how to work in the lab, watch every specialty that we have here, learn how to work the front desk, how to make appointments, file the records away, and learn our whole filing system,” Moore said. “They watch for a couple of weeks and they have an assistant in the room for a couple of weeks to make sure they’ve got everything down ... and after a couple of months they get to be on their own.”
Upon completion, graduates of this pro- gram can use their dental assistant training to work in dental offices in both the military or civilian sector.
Stephanie Haydt, spouse of Brian Haydt, the command sergeant major of the National Train- ing Center, chose to participate in the program after hearing about it from a prior coworker who had switched into the dental career field.
“She told me how much she loved it and ...
I decided that sounds like a great change for me,” Haydt said. “I wanted to change careers and work with Soldiers and civilians, and get to know the community.”
Haydt said she also wanted to prepare for the future after her husband retires.
“Whether we stay near a military base or not, I just needed a career that I could grow into,” she said.
For Haydt, the goal of her participation in the program is clear.
“[My goal is] getting the certificate and being able to serve the military,” Haydt said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Moore encourages anyone who is interested to participate in the program.
“AllIhavetosayisIlovemyjobandIdon’t want to do anything else for the rest of my life except for dental, so if you’re even thinking about it, give it a shot,” Moore said. “Look it up, and hopefully we can do this again next year and more people can sign up.”
For more information about the program, please contact Jessica Moore at jessica.a.moore83. civ@mail.mil.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin