MARINE CORPS SUPPORT FACILITY BLOUNT ISLAND, Fla. – Marines endure long hours and endless days of training so they can be prepared to deploy. They spend large amounts of time in preparation, whether learning in the classroom or in the field. The Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise is one such field exercise.
Not only is this training crucial for mission accomplishment but also the training wouldn’t be complete without 100 percent medical and dental readiness.
Sailors with 2nd Dental Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group are in charge of maintaining dental readiness for the 339 Marines taking part in this year’s Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Jacksonville, Fla.
Navy Lt. James Shaul is the officer in charge of dental operations for the MPFEX this year; he explained that they are here to provide emergency dental work for the Marines. Their goal is to also provide the Marines with full dental coverage to maximize unit readiness, he explained.
“Our job is to ensure 100 percent dental readiness for the Marines we serve,” Shaul said. “If we do our jobs on our end, the Marines can do what they have to do on their end. It’s all about one team, one fight.”
This year, two dental technicians and one dentist are supporting Combat Logistics Regiment 25 throughout the evolution of MPFEX. Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Krebs, one of the dental techs from 2nd Dental Battalion, is motivated to participate in the exercise.
“This is a great exercise, it’s always good to be able to get out into the field to see what the Marines do and be able to help the Marines with what we have to do for mission accomplishment,” Krebs said. “I am glad to be part of the exercise this year; I feel that everyone should be able to do things like this at least once.”
“It is a big responsibility to help maintain the dental readiness of the Marine Corps, but we are confident in our training and are ready to complete the mission so the Marines may accomplish theirs,” Shaul said.