CPT Mara Pagan is an Army dentist who left a lucrative but stressful 15-year career in the civilian sector to find deeper meaning in Army service. She describes burnout, corporate pressure, and how insurance plans hampered her ability to care for patients.
Despite taking a significant pay cut, CPT Pagan highlights how the Army gave her the clinical freedom to treat patients based on their medical needs rather than their financial limitations. In the Army Dental Corps, she has found a renewed sense of purpose in being the dentist she always wanted to be.
Music title "Phoenix" by Scott Buckley (@ScottBuckley) – released under CC-BY 4.0.
When a training accident happens in the field, minutes matter.
At Fort Riley, those minutes can determine whether a 1st Infantry Division Soldier makes a full recovery or suffers a career-ending disability. With the arrival of a new ambulance fleet at Irwin Army Community Hospital, those minutes are now better protected than ever.
The upgraded vehicles bring capabilities designed for the conditions of military training like rugged off-road terrain, unpredictable weather, and high-risk environments.
Emergency Medical Services at Fort Riley operate differently than most civilian systems. While civilian EMS primarily respond to emergencies on paved city streets, Fort Riley’s EMS must be prepared to enter live-fire ranges and training...
04.16.2026 | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
Story by Jorge Gomez
This isn't just an ambulance; it's a Soldier's second chance. With the ability to navigate rugged, off-road terrain and deliver advanced trauma care, these new vehicles at Fort Riley serve as a critical lifeline. A new fleet of ambulances arrived at Fort Riley, Kansas, March 2026. These upgraded vehicles ensure that 1st Infantry Division Soldiers injured in the field receive faster, more effective care, which increases the likelihood of a full return to duty.
