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Branch Health Clinic Norfolk Celebrates Dental Milestone with USS Laboon
NORFOLK (NNS) -- Branch Health Clinic Norfolk celebrated the 250th consecutive ship to deploy with a minimum of 95 percent operational dental readiness.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jason Labott received a plaque Jan. 12 celebrating the ship's commitment to readiness and collaboration with the dental clinic.
"Although we don't have a ceremony for the 249th of the second ship to deploy with the same readiness threshold, if not for the consistency of the collaboration between the ships and staff over the past several years, we would not have made it to this milestone," said mistress of ceremonies Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Naketa Stoudemire.
Stoudemire then thanked the ship and the dental clinic for all of their hard work.
Guest speaker Cmdr. Richard Adcook noted while Laboon may have the title for the 250th ship, they also were the 13th, 68th, 106th, 133rd, 164th, 196th, and 229th to deploy since tracking began in 2001.
"Not all dental officers and technicians have the opportunity to deploy," Adcook said. "We spend plenty of time fighting the war on dental disease within these walls, but this streak, this gives us something tangible to be a part of."
Adcook thanked the clinic and staff for what they do every day.
"We would like to present this plaque to you in recognition of the collaborative efforts and dedication of both the crew members of USS Laboon, as well as the dental staff from the Norfolk Branch Health Clinic," read Lt. Kurt Langenderfer.
After accepting the plaque, Labott expressed his gratitude for the clinic.
"This is not just us, and it's not just you; it's a team effort," Labott said. "Yes, we just happened to be the 250th ship, but you guys made us that ship. It is very important to me that you guys helped us get to this point."
"I know emergencies will arise, but because of you, I won't have to worry about my crew and the minor, normal stuff that you have taken care of for me," Labott added. "It's you guys who actually got us here, so from Laboon, thank you."
Branch Health Clinic Norfolk's fleet department consists of 14 personnel and seven mobile dental units. Each day, one mobile dental unit is sent to the piers onboard Naval Station Norfolk to provide care to Sailors with minimal disruption to the ship's schedule. The clinic provides dental services to more than 30 cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
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