An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 12, 2016

Army Nurse Corps celebrates 115th anniversary

Army Nurse Corps historian

The U.S. Army Nurse Corps celebrated 115 years of service and dedication to caring for America’s military Feb. 5 and have stood shoulder to shoulder with Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, both active duty and retired, and their families to protect and preserve those who wear the cloth of our nation.

The Army Nurse Corps is the oldest military nursing corps in the United States and the first women’s component in the armed forces. Throughout its history, Army nurses have demonstrated the courage to care, connect and change, earning the respect and gratitude of the American people.

The mission of the Army Nurse Corps is to provide responsive, innovative and evidence-based nursing care integrated within the Army Medicine Team to enhance readiness, preserve life and function and promote health and wellness for all entrusted to their care.

In order to meet this mission, the Army Nurse Corps continues to expand its roles in support of the nation’s healthcare needs and adapt to the demands of a transforming Army.

The Nurse Corps boasts a long and illustrious history, becoming part of the Army

Medical Department in 1901 when the Army Reorganization Act was passed into law. In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake sent Army nurses on their first of many civil relief missions. During World War I, Army nurses served in base, evacuation and mobile surgical hospitals around the globe, as well as on hospital trains in France and transport ships carrying the wounded across the Atlantic.

This began nurses’ involvement in the en-route care of wounded Soldiers. By WWII, Army nurses were involved in developing the concept of post-operative recovery wards in Europe and in providing airborne en-route care from combat zones aboard fixed-wing aircraft.

During America’s involvement in Korea and Vietnam, Army nurses advanced their practice through trauma care specialization, including triage and resuscitative services. They also supported helicopter ambulance transportation from battle locations.

The Army Nurse Corps has served in every major conflict in which the United States has taken part for the past 114 years. Today, the brave men and women who comprise the Army Nurse Corps team serve as a critical factor in the outcome of the health of our service members and their families.http://armynursecorps/

They will continue to propel their critical skill sets forward as both the Army and Army Medicine transform from a healthcare system to a system for health.

For more information, visit the Army Nurse Corps web page at: http://armynursecorps.