U.S. Army Col. Flora Phipps, a 63A General Dentist assigned to the Medical Detachment in Las Vegas, Nevada, Army National Guard, is working in a different environment for this year's annual training. She, as well as another Dentist, Col. Christine Ancajos, participates in NVARNG’s largest exercise, Desert Forge 2026.
Phipps graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University Dental School, moved to Las Vegas, and worked as a civilian contracted dentist for the NVARNG initially before deciding to join the service. Phipps says she was encouraged to join the National Guard because a close friend of hers was already serving and enjoyed the co-workers, friends, and environment she worked in. She was very familiar with the military beforehand, having a parent of hers come from a military background. Her father was in the Air Force and her mother previously worked in the Department of Defense.
Phipps was drawn towards dentistry as a career for her love of science and working with her hands. She found a career that blended technical skill with the scientific field. The journey to become a dentist came easily to her; however, it still required many years of dedication to school and hard work.
While the Army has many missions and objectives, Phipps believes that soldiers' dental health is one of the most important factors in soldier readiness. “Oral health is something we should be focusing on more,” said Phipps. “A lot of our soldiers need to be battle-ready and do not need to worry about a dental problem.”
In her many years as a dentist, Phipps emphasized that one of the most fulfilling parts of her job is helping soldiers develop good lifelong habits for taking care of their teeth and attending their dental check-ups, so they are healthy and mission-ready for whatever comes. “I love it when a soldier comes in and says, ‘Hey ma’am, now I started going to the dentist regularly.’ Or ‘I already went to my dental appointment.’ Which means I know they’re getting routine dental care,” says Phipps.
While out in the field in Desert Forge 2026, Phipps serves a slightly different role. Acting as one of the several medical care professionals in a deployment or operational setting. Doing a triage on a soldier who comes from the battlefield, assessing what type of care they need. “As a unit, we haven’t been out in the field in about 10 years,” said Phipps. “So, it is good we are out here and training in the field again.”
When asked what advice she would give to her younger self, Phipps said she would tell her high school self: “You can do anything you put your mind to; it may be hard work, but hard work doesn’t mean that something that you should give up.” Through her years of education, military service, and dedication to soldier readiness, she continues to live by that message today.
| Date Taken: |
06.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
06.11.2026 18:03 |
| Story ID: |
567400 |
| Location: |
HAWTHORNE ARMY DEPOT, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: |
134 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Highlighting Nevada Army National Guard Dental Officer - Col. Flora Phipps, by PFC Chris Lara Martinez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
