Published Jun 11, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
A certificate training program at Fort Polk, La. offers transferable skills for military spouses, veterans and others
It's been six years since the U.S. Army partnered with the American Red Cross at Fort Polk, La. in a pioneering dental assistant program that trains military spouses, veterans and other military family members in a specialized field of work. Individuals are once again reaping the benefits. The hiatus was mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of dental clinics as partners in the program. Now it's back, with dozens of trainees participating in the program in Louisiana, across the country and worldwide. "It was really the pandemic. Outside dentists and dental assistants didn't want to come on post out of fear of getting sick," Lina Arena, a regional program manager for the Red Cross, told Military.com. "There has to be buy-in from dental clinics for the program to be a success."
Kayla Sharp, a graduate of the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program at Shira Dental Clinic, Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. (Army.gov).
Fort Polk, La., is one of dozens of military installations operating the Red Cross dental assistant certification program. The installation's partnership with the American Red Cross and Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital’s Shira Dental Clinic provides military spouses, dependents and other eligible military members an opportunity to gain professional healthcare training while supporting patient care and military readiness.
