Dvorak enlisted in the Navy in April of 1987. She did her basic training in Orlando, FL. She then went to the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia where Dvorak received her training in Ocean Technology Analysis. After receiving her training, she was sent to Alaska to be stationed at the Adak Naval Base. While there, her job was classified but included analyzing data from the ocean floors. She completed her two years with the Navy in 1989.

In October of 1999, Tiphany enlisted in the Army National Guard. She originally went to plumbing school and later went to school to be a heavy equipment operator. Dvorak spent 22 years in the National Guard. Her jobs included Administration Clerk, Training NCO, Drill Squad Leader and Debt Readiness. She hit all of her training goals and retired as an E6 in March 2022. During her time with the National Guard, Dvorak was deployed to Kuwait for 11 months in 2015-1016 with her unit, one month of that was spent in Iraq. During her deployment, she was a squad leader. South Dakota soldiers have a very good reputation overseas for their hard work ethic and for being able to get projects done. Her unit received no Article 15’s for misconduct while overseas, which is almost unheard of.

Dvorak is a very well decorated soldier. Her medals/ribbons/ campaigns include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M Device, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and 20 Years Silver Hourglass, Driver and Mechanic Badge w/ Driver-Wheeled Vehicle(s). Many of the listed awards, Dvorak received multiple times.

Some highlights for Dvorak include traveling to Nicaragua and Haiti. Nicaragua was beautiful and green, but she did say it was hard to see the level of poverty that was rampant. She enjoyed her time in Haiti because of the comradery that was built between her and the other soldiers helping in the wake of an earthquake. It was one of the only times where the whole unit was housed together in a huge warehouse, where they played a lot of cards. Her time in the military allowed her to see places and things that she never would have seen otherwise such as different oceans and landscapes like the desert sand. Dvorak really enjoyed her military jobs and while doing her jobs met so many interesting and different people during her military career.

Tiphany was born and raised in Vermillion, South Dakota. She is the daughter of Bill and Cheryl Johnson and has 5 sisters. She married Jeff Dvorak, and they have four children: Samantha, Alexandra, Krista and Nolan. Tiphany currently has one grandchild, Reid. Gardening, photography, being outside, exercising and watching local sporting events are just a few of Tiphany’s hobbies. Currently, she works for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Dvorak has been a part of many local organizations. These include the Wagner Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wagner American Legion, The Wrestling Club, Band Boosters, the Vermillion Legion Auxiliary and now the Wagner Legion Auxiliary. She was the Treasurer of the Wrestling Club and the President of the Band Boosters.

Dvorak’s family has a long history of military service. Her grandpa Emerson served in the Army; her father, Bill, was in the Air Force. Two of her sisters also served in the Navy and her daughter, Alexandra, is currently in the National Guard. Tiphany originally joined the military because she was not sure that going to college was for her but knew that she needed a job and the Navy provided her a job. Dvorak believes that joining the military is something that everyone who is able should do because no one regrets going into the military and it provides so many opportunities.

Thank you, Tiphany, for your service and for being the March Veteran of the Month.