By FiSamuel Reggans
As the First Sergeant of a Dental Company Area Support (DCAS), I’ve long understood how critical dental readiness is to combat power, and that is no different in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). However, the doctrine and equipment we had did not meet the current operating environment requirements, and so we had to innovate. Not only are we creating a forward dental platform, but we have also learned key lessons about the culture required to make innovation successful.
Over 20% of non-battle injury (NBI) evacuations are dental-related, and so the dental community’s adaptation has high stakes and significant potential impacts. The question then became, how in a LSCO environment, do we prevent those evacuations? The answer, found through building a culture of trusting our subject matter experts, became a dental clinic that moves with the fight.
The initial idea was simple: take the essential functions of a dental treatment room – suction, x-ray, sterilization, and power – and package them in a truck that can move with the unit. The execution, however, was anything but simple.
Our unit is in the testing phase now. We’ve selected a platform that can hold the equipment and are experimenting with both generator and solar power. We’re looking at blackout capabilities, how to set up a two-chair configuration, and how quickly we can go from parked to patient-ready.
We’re evaluating heat retention for sterilizers, airflow for suction, layout for privacy, and how it all holds up in the field. We planned our own maintenance plans, sourced parts creatively, and figured out what works and what doesn’t through hands-on trial.
Even in testing, we’re already seeing impact. During field exercises, we’ve simulated dental emergencies. In every case, having the truck on-site allowed treatment without evacuation, which preserved readiness, saved time, and prevented Soldiers from being sidelined.
What made this effort effective is who is leading it: the people who’ll use it in combat. Our dental specialists (Military Occupational Specialty 68E) mapped out the flow of patient care, flagged inefficiencies, and helped design a workspace that could operate under pressure. Our senior NCOs brought an operational perspective to safeguard patient privacy in a tactical environment, ensure provider safety, and sustain continuous care under field conditions. Our mechanics assessed movement durability, power draw, and long-term maintenance requirements. Every element was scrutinized from the perspective of how this system would perform when it mattered most.
We didn’t give them a checklist; we gave them trust. We created the space, resourced the effort, and let them lead, and in return, they built something better than we could have outlined ourselves. This wasn’t just a technical build; it was a deliberate act of empowering the NCO Corps to lead innovation from the front.
Our next step is gathering hard data: how fast can we set up? How many patients can we treat? What does this cost in fuel, power, and sustainment? It’s not just about “Can this work?” but also “Is it worth investing in?”
No one told us to build this. We saw a gap and decided to act. That mindset of anticipating needs and moving without waiting for orders is what all units will need in Large Scale Combat Operations. Doctrine will catch up, and budgets will shift. If we wait for perfect conditions, we risk losing Soldiers to problems we could have prevented.
We’re proving whether this platform can keep up with the fight without compromising mobility, tactical posture, or patient care. There was no technical manual for building this or a pre-approved solution, but we knew that wasn’t a reason not to innovate.
Whether you are in a medical, maintenance, logistics, or other formation, consider building your own solution. Start small, use what you have, and ask your NCOs what they’d do differently. You might be surprised by what’s already possible.
This isn’t just about building a truck; it’s about keeping one more Soldier in the fight.
1SG FiSamuel Reggans is a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army and currently serves as the senior enlisted leader of the 257th Dental Company Area Support, 44th Medical Brigade, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
