Dental Corps Officer (63)
Medical and Emergency Army MOS Information

Posted Thursday, November 24, 2005

• Officer
• Active Duty
• Army Reserve

An Army Dental Corps Officer is responsible for the dental health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for providing health care to Soldiers' families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community. During combat, the Dental Corps Officer assists in the emergency medical management of casualties; identifies casualties through dental records and makes sure Soldiers are combat ready when it comes to their health.

There are several other areas to specialize in within the Army Dental Corps:
* Comprehensive Dentist
* Endodontist
* Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
* Orthodontist
* Pediatric Dentist
* Periodontist
* Prosthodontist

The responsibilities of a Dental Corps Lieutenant may include:

• Commanding and controlling the Dental Corps units during emergency and non-emergency medical situations
• Coordinating employment of Dental Corps Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

Requirements:

You must be a graduate of an accredited dental school by the American Dental Association.

Training:

As an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer, you won't participate in the Basic Training that enlisted Soldiers go through. Instead, you'll attend an Officer Basic Course (OBC), a basic orientation course to the Army Health Care system and the Army way-of-life.

Officer Basic Course for Active Duty Officers is held four times a year at the AMEDD Center in Fort Sam Houston and lasts from ten to 14 weeks. Officers in the Army Reserve go to OBC for two weeks.

Your training time depends on your chosen specialty and whether or not you have prior military experience. You must also meet height and weight standards, as well as pass the Army Physical Fitness Test.

After completing OBC, AMEDD Officers report to their initial Active Duty assignment. Students return to their academic training following successful completion of OBC.

Advanced Responsibilities:

Dental Corps Officers may continue to specialize and serve in the Dental Corps at ever increasing levels of leadership and responsibility.

Responsibilities of a Dental Corps Captain may include:

• Commanding and controlling part of a Field Hospital, installation Dental or Medical Activity (DENTAC or MEDDAC), or larger Health Services Command.
• Coordinating employment of Dental Corps Soldiers at all levels of command, from company to division level and beyond, in U.S. and multi-national operations.
• Developing doctrine, organizations and equipment for unique dental and health care missions.
• Instructing dental skills at service schools and medical training centers.
• Serving as dental or health care advisor to other units, including Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve organizations.