I am sure that you have nothing but fine memories of your years in Army ROTC. The excitement you felt during freshman and sophomore year, getting new boots and eating MREs for the first time. But this was probably quickly replaced by the rigor of Physical Training at 0600 or 0630, and the rest of “good stuff” of junior or MS III year. You remember battle drills, troop leading procedures, blue cards, and the looming threat of “Camp”, don’t you? If your MS III instructor was anything like mine, you might have painfully dreaded many ROTC sessions. You knew you were going to “get some”, and by that the instructor meant some good training. To me it seemed at times like mass confusion - flutter kicks, push-ups, accountability, and no later than times. What was the difference between a warning order, an OPORD, or the ever present FRAGO? Step off on what foot? We are going to road march where?

With the good always comes sacrifice and self determination. Although daunting at times, this was leader development at its best. As junior nursing students in ROTC we were pretty clueless of how infantry tactics would make us better charge nurses, head nurses, and one day chief nurses. Even though most of the cadre was clueless about clinical, care

plans, and pharmacology, we ultimately all shared a common goal of being leaders in the U.S. Army.

Do you recall the infamous Leadership Assessment Report or infamous “blue card”? This is an evaluation of a cadet’s demonstration of values, attributes, skills, and actions. The Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. The attributes: Mental, Physical, and Emotional. The skills: Conceptual, Interpersonal, Technical, and Tactical. The actions: Communicating, Decision-making, Motivating, Planning, Executing, Assessing, Developing, Building, and Learning. These are not only the dimensions of a good officer, but the dimensions of a great nurse.

Think back to your initial experiences as charge nurse or your first code. Didn’t you employ the same thought processes and leadership skills as you did at when it was your turn to seize the objective? As cadets we learned that the platoon leader is responsible for leading the platoon to mission accomplishment, keeping the commander informed, staying abreast of the situation, issuing fragmentary orders, requesting support, coordinating logistical support, developing the casualty evacuation plan, checking the work of the platoon sergeant and squad leaders during execution, and ensuring the Soldier’s load is reasonable.

During all our training in ROTC we knew we would never become platoon leaders but we did know we would indeed become charge nurses. The charge nurse is responsible for the management of patients and staff during the shift. To put this in terms that the infantryman would understand, we would say “during the mission”. As charge nurses we keep the nursing supervisor informed, monitor the progress of the ward’s patients, coordinate admissions and discharges, adjust staffing as needed, secure special equipment or supplies when needed, transfer critical patients, assist and monitor patient care, and ensure that patient assignments are reasonable and safe.

Now that we have become leaders in the AMEDD and realize the skills we first learned from our ROTC cadre and training, you might ask “How can I give back?” Your stories can be an inspiration to others. You can help those struggling nurse cadets see that there is a reason for fire guard and Pre-Combat Inspections and that this critical thinking is applicable to their futures as ANC officers. You can share your ROTC and Army Nurse Corps experiences with the future ANC officers currently enrolled in your ROTC program. We ask that you get involved in becoming a mentor to a nurse on your former college campus to let them know that there is so much out there waiting for them. If you are truly interested in becoming a mentor and giving back to our future leaders, please contact the appropriate ROTC Nurse Counselor listed below.