Green is an action color, usually meaning "Go!" - traffic lights, ready lights for speakers, getting the "green light" from your boss. The Army has a need for Soldiers to "go green" when it comes to readiness. That includes gaining and maintaining Dental Fitness Class (DFC) 1 or 2, which is the absence of DFC 3 conditions that could cause a dental emergency within a year. Emergency conditions can compromise mission accomplishment and negatively impact overall heath while causing pain and discomfort. Dental fitness is a key force protection initiative!

Click here to download a printable version of this handy postcard! Standardized Dental Fitness Classifications* Class 1: Worldwide Deployable with no further treatment required. Class 2: Worldwide Deployable with need for non-urgent routine treatment. Class 3: Nondeployable without treatment for urgent conditions that likely will cause a dental emergency within 12 months. Class 4: Nondeployable with no examination documented within the past 12 months. * A Synopsis of Reference: DoD Health Affairs: Policy 02-011 on Standardization of Oral Health and Readiness Classifications, 4 June 2004

To assist Selected Reserve (SELRES)--drilling Army National Guard, US Army Reserve, and Individual Mobilization Augmentee Soldiers--in attaining "go" (green) status the ARMY SELRES Dental Readiness System (ASDRS) has been established. ASDRS allows SELRES Soldiers to receive examination and treatment of DFC 3 conditions outside of alert status at no cost to the Soldier. The intent is to prevent the need for examination and DFC 3 treatment when the unit is alerted and arrives at the mobilization station.

The ASDRS program is an important adjunct to other dental health promotion initiatives. The TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) provides SELRES Soldiers the opportunity to purchase low cost dental insurance to facilitate comprehensive dental care. Through the TDP Soldiers can achieve Class 1 dental fitness status and the absence of dental disease. Visit http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/ tdptws/enrollees/eligibility/ reserveguard.jsp for National Guard-specific TRICARE Dental Program information.

Free oral health education outreach provided by ARNG Dental Bytes electronic newsletters is available 24/7 to all USAR/ARNG Soldiers and their Families at www.arngdentalbytes.com year round. These electronic newsletters provide a collection of news items and helpful information to assist Soldiers and their Families in making wise choices on diet, dental hygiene practices, regular professional care, and avoidance of harmful habits.

The combination of ASDRS, TDP, and ARNG Dental Bytes fostered by concerned leaders and members of the Army Dental Care System of all components is creating the highest level of dental fitness in SELRES Soldiers ever.

ARNG Soldiers can receive more information on ASDRS by contacting their Unit Readiness NCO, or their Brigade or Battalion Medical Readiness NCO.