Kayla Sharp, a student in the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program, conducts dental radiography procedures during clinical training at Shira Dental Clinic, Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Graduates of the program complete classroom instruction and clinical competencies designed to prepare them for employment as dental assistants. (Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
The American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program has returned to Fort Polk after a six-year hiatus, graduating four students into new healthcare careers and marking a milestone for Fort Polk’s Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital (BJACH).
Misty Fumi, Anna Gulley, Jill Jaragoske and Kayla Sharp completed the seven-month program and were recognized in June for their training across multiple dental specialties, including radiology, oral surgery and laboratory procedures.
The program is a partnership between the American Red Cross and BJACH’s Shira Dental Clinic, providing military spouses, dependents and other eligible community members with hands-on healthcare training while supporting patient care.
Lina Arenas, regional program manager for Service to the Armed Forces at the American Red Cross, emphasized the broader impact of the program’s return.
“The program provides military spouses with valuable career skills that can continue to benefit them wherever military life takes them,” Arenas said.
Students completed a mix of classroom instruction and clinical training, gaining experience assisting providers and caring for patients. Throughout the process, instructors observed significant growth in both skill and confidence as participants advanced from having little or no dental background to becoming capable dental assistants.
For many of the graduates, the program offered a path to new professional opportunities while balancing the demands of military life and family responsibilities.
Jaragoske, who previously worked in the dental field, saw the program as a chance to return to a career she loved after relocating to Fort Polk. Despite the challenges of raising three children while completing the coursework, she remained committed and described the experience as both demanding and deeply rewarding.
Gulley, a military spouse who had spent several years as a stay-at-home parent, joined the program to build a career and model lifelong learning for her children. She found particular fulfillment in helping patients regain comfort and confidence through improved oral health.
The graduation not only recognized newly developed clinical abilities but also highlighted the perseverance and determination required to complete the program while navigating the unique challenges of military life.
Col. Patrick W. Miller, commander of Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, congratulates Jill Jaragoske following her graduation from the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program during a ceremony at the Warrior Center, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana, June 5, 2026. Four students completed the seven-month program, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training in Army dental clinics. (Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
Graduates of the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program pose for a group photo during a graduation ceremony at the Warrior Center, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana, June 5, 2026. Pictured from left are Misty Fumi, Anna Gulley, Jill Jaragoske and Kayla Sharp. The seven-month program provides classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training designed to prepare military spouses and other eligible participants for careers in dental healthcare. (Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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