The Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) celebrated the Navy's Dental Corps' 104th birthday with a cake-cutting event Aug. 22.

The intimate event included attendees from the dental and medical staff assigned to the base. Navy Dental Officer Lt. Cmdr. John Morris arrived to Djibouti in June and enjoys the celebrations each year, which remind him of how vital his job is to the warfighter.

"The birthday simply reminds me that I have the privilege to use my skills to support the men and women serving in our nation's military," Morris said. "Providing dental care as a Navy officer is very meaningful for me."

More than 2,500 active-duty and Reserve Dental Corps personnel serve and support the Navy and the Marine Corps throughout the world.

Morris was an Air Force officer for 5 years before joining the Navy Reserve, which happened after dental school.

"I serve in the 4th Dental Battalion, in the 4th Marine Logistics Group," Morris said. "This is actually my first blue-side billet."

Currently the dental clinic sees roughly 25 service members each week to ensure a dentally-ready force.

The Navy Dental Corps was established Aug. 22, 1912, with an Act of Congress that was later signed by President Howard Taft. Six years after the Dental Corps was founded, the United States entered World War I. During that conflict, the Dental Corps expanded from 35 to more than 500 personnel, including 124 dentists commissioned in the regular Navy.

The ceremony concluded with the cutting of the cake by Morris, the most senior, and only dental officer present.

Camp Lemonnier provides, operates and sustains superior service in support of combat readiness along with security of ships and aircraft detachments and personnel for regional and combat command requirements, enabling operations for the Horn of Africa while fostering positive U.S.-African nation relations. Camp Lemonnier enables the forward operations and responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of Navy Region, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia's mission to provide services to the fleet, fighter, and family.

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For more news from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, visit http://www.navy.mil/.