Document: ADMAGAZINE_MAIN_1ST_11-10-08_NURSINGFALL13_B_M_13_44444;Page: 1;Trim size: (8.375 x 10.875 ");Plate: Composite;Date: 28 Oct, 2008 14:24:49
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Overview: Nurses in the military
Nurses join the a rmed forces for m any soldiers from combat zones.
different reasons.Theymight want to pay More than athird serve in the Army,but
for their education, travelthe worldor the Navy is aclose second in terms of
serve their country—orsome combination employment. The Air Force employs about
of all three. 17,000 enlisted p ersonnel and 9,000
“I thought it was one of the best j obs you officers as healthcare workers.
could get,”said Lonnie Lear,who servedas The Army was the first U.S. military
amedic in the Army and nowworks at the branch to establish aformal nursing
Indianapolis VA M edical Center.“M yfolks corps in 1901, anditnow employs
didn’t really have the money[for college], about 9,000 active-duty and reserve
and Iwas trying to getawayfrom the small nurses. The Navy Nurse Corps,
town and do thingsonmyown.” founded in 1908 w ith just 20
Fortunately,the militaryhas ani che members, nowhas more than
for every nurse, offering manyspecialties 4,000 active-duty and reserve
in different branches of service. Of the nurses, which Marines also rely
1.2 million enlisted personnel in the U.S. on. Another operation, the Air
military, about 7 2,000 are employed Force Nursing Service, stations
in health care occupations, according employees in more than 50
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.In locations around the world.
addition, almost 27,000 of the military’s “Right now, being wartime, alot
230,000 officers are employedin health of people are reluctant to go intothe
care professions. Those professionals do militaryand serve,but not everything is
Photo: Rich Millereverything from conducting research in combat-related,”Lear said.●
Lonnie Lear was a nArmymedic and nowworks at themilitaryhospitalstoevacuating i njured —AshleyPetry
Indianapolis VA Medical Center.
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1ST Indiana Nursing Quarterly ∼ Fall 2008 • 13
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