Why did you pick USU?

 Two male and two female army medical students pose for a selfie in front og a helicopter. All are wearing helmets.
 By Kelsey Stalnaker

Camaraderie, family, and the way of life are a few popular responses when asking people why they joined the military. It turns out they’re also the popular responses for why people choose the nation’s only military medical school over its civilian counterparts.

“When you visit USU for the first time, it's easy to see how happy people are; you really feel the sense of community. It sounds silly, but that makes a difference when you’re picking where you want to be for the next four years,” said Air Force 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Ford, a second-year medical student at the Uniformed Services University’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine. And he isn’t the only one with that response.

students sit on both sides of a picnic table at a permanent pavilion on campus. The table has food on it and the students are all in various conversations.
Second year students host a BBQ to welcome first year students to
the school, complete with hotdogs, hamburgers, and all the fixings.
It gives new students an opportunity to mingle with other branches
and get to know one another. (Image credit: Joseph Pagan)
Army 2nd Lt. Emily Baird, a first-year student, echoed the sentiment. “There’s a family feel here.”

That family feel is palpable as everyone unpacks their potluck dishes at the “welcome” barbeque days before the first-years’ start classes. It’s an unofficial tradition that the second-years welcome the new class with lots of food and a little friendly flag football competition on the field.

“When you’re at other medical schools, there isn’t any vertical communication. Here, we not only rely on our upperclassmen during classes but our professors and facilitators are the attendings and residents at the hospital,” said Patricia Theard, a second-year MD/PhD student. “The military medical community is small but our strength lies in the bonds we form during medical school.”

The new class of 2021 includes students whose knowledge of the military ranges from 15 years’ prior service to being newly-commissioned, and their previous knowledge of USU ranges just as much. Army 2nd Lt. Sarah Hawley, a first-year who has been in the Army for 11 years, has known about the university for six of those years and spent most of that time wanting to attend, drawn to the mission and environment of the school. On the other end of the spectrum, Air Force 2nd Lt. Margaret Hasler first learned about the program three years ago during her undergraduate program when the associate dean for Admissions and Recruitment, then-Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Aaron Saguil, spoke about USU on the Indiana University campus.

The male students sit in barber's chairs at a barber shop while three women work on cutting their hair
Airmen who get haircuts together, stay together. Second Lieutenants Van Decar, Kelly, and Ford at Top Knife for SOE outside of Luke AFB, AZ. (Image credit: 2d Lt Ashley Green-Lott)

If the differences between their experiences with the military affect their perception of each other, none of the students let it show. In fact, many take advantage of the welcome BBQ to meet people they haven’t met yet, especially trying to get to know people from different branches. They all know that the people surrounding them now are going to be the ones helping them make it through the next four years of PT tests, field practicums, clerkships, and final exams.

As the BBQ picks up steam, a conversation starts about their futures and why each student chose USU instead of pursuing the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) option. Baird says, for her, it didn’t feel like much of a debate. “I’ve always wanted to do military medicine and this is where you get that experience.”

Four students in civilian attire, two male, two female, pose for a photo under a brick archway
While on the Honduras Ultrasound Summer Experience, USU students taught ultrasonography
to physicians at local hospitals in Honduras. Between classes they had the chance to explore
the beauty of Fortress of San Fernando de Omoa and experience the rich culture of the region.
Local students of the classes had recommended visiting certain sites including this fort. From
left to right: 2LT John Sanchez, ENS Paolo Rigo, ENS Charisse Villareal, ENS Rachel Wolinksy.
(Image credit: courtesy of Paolo Rigo)
Her statement is met with nods from around the picnic table, but not everyone had the same experience. Navy Ensign Melissa Jordan, who has no immediate family in the military, wasn’t familiar with what would really be expected of her if she joined. She decided to apply last minute, knowing that it would make the most sense for her passion in aerospace medicine, but unsure if she’d fit in with the rest of the student body.

Her concerns were erased when she came in for her interview. “It’s just really not what I expected here. I originally heard ‘military medicine’ and thought ‘That’s scary!’ but it’s such a community. You really have to experience it for yourself,” said Jordan.

The class of 2021 is made up of 15 percent prior enlisted students, and many of them are already looking forward to passing along their knowledge to the rest of the class. Army 2nd Lt. Scott Petersen has served for 16 years and is aware that his past successes and shortcomings as a leader are many of the same lessons incoming students are about to learn. “Many of us have had life experiences that might be beneficial to our classmates if they need insight on decisions, military or otherwise,” said Petersen.

Being more familiar with the current state of the military isn’t something that only appeals to students who are new to it. “When you take a break from anything and then go back to it, things have changed,” said Army 2nd Lt. Alex Villahermosa, whose previous experience was as an Army combat medic. “It’s good to be able to get this degree while still being able to keep my finger on the operational side of things.”

A male student is checking a stack of books pushed on a cart by a female student who holds a checklist
At the beginning of every school year, second year students volunteer to help hand out books during Book Issue, making sure each first year has everything they need, and offering advice on which books they found most helpful during their initial year. Here, 2LT Mitchell Bodily is helping 2LT Brittney Knott during Book Issue 2017. (Image credit: Kelsey Gilbert)

Military medicine is a unique world. It requires both the knowledge and skill of doctors in hospitals around the country and the mental and physical toughness of warfighters overseas. It’s a challenge – and that challenge is what calls many in the incoming class to the field. What drew them to USU was the family that would help them prepare for it.