"Through mud and mire, through the mark of campaign and battle, wherever the fight leads, the Army nurse patiently - gallantly - seeks the wounded and distressed. In the heart of all fighting men, she is enshrined forever." - General Douglas MacArthur, December 1944

Both men and women have served as Army nurses since 1775, but the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) did not become a part of the Army Medical Department until 1901.¹

Today, more than 9,000 Army nurses are serving in the active Army, Army Reserve or Army Reserve National Guard throughout the world conducting multiple military and humanitarian actions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.²

Team members that make up the Office of the Army Nurse Corps include Major  General Patricia Horoho, MSN, MS, RN, chief; Major Rodolfo Quintana, BSN, RN, fellow: Lt. Col. Corina Barrow, MSN, RN, staff officer; Lt. Col. Lisa Toven, MSN, RN,  executive staff officer; Master Sergeant Richard Brewer, LPN, senior noncommissioned officer; and Col. Susanne Clark, MS, RN, deputy chief. courtesy Army Nurse Corps

Appointed by President George W. Bush, Major General Patricia Horoho, MSN, MS, RN, commander, U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) Madigan Army Medical Center, Western Regional Medical Command and native Texan Col. Susanne Clark, MS, BSN, RN deputy chief of the ANC were in San Antonio, TX to attend the annual ANC Campaign Planning Conference on Oct. 27-30.

According to Horoho, about 150 ANC leaders were invited to attend the conference to brainstorm plans for the upcoming year's campaign:  embrace the past, engage the present and envision the future.

"We are capitalizing on our legacy built over many years," she said. "We are planning a 4-year, short-term strategic map and a long-term, 15-year strategic blueprint that supports four imperatives, which includes leadership development, warrior care, evidence-based management and human capital."

Back to the Basics

Horoho said warrior care is a new training course that involves "getting back to the basics" that was initiated about 18 months ago.

According to Horoho, the triad of care ensures every injured warrior will be assigned a primary care manager, a nurse case manager and a squad leader to care for the physical, spiritual and mental needs of the soldier.

"Human capital involves a comprehensive view of expertise with respect to capacity and capability," Horoho said. "We will be asking, what are the capabilities we need to perform our mission? We will also look at how to retain more nurses to develop a better workforce while optimizing different avenues."

Strength of the Civilian Nurse

Since 9/11, Horoho said the ANC has exceeded its recruitment goal by about 200 nurses.

According to Horoho, the nurses in the Army's reserve theater are on average about 45 years old bringing skills from their civilian professions to enrich the active duty force.

"I am amazed by the strength of our civilian nurses," Horoho said. "Many joined the corps right after 9/11 because of their patriotic duty to serve our country. An exciting piece of our recruitment is hiring and attracting civilian nurses. Many are using their PhDs to create active programs and working in our trauma centers."

Right Place at the Right Time

Horoho was honored on Dec. 3, 2001 by Time Life publications for her actions on 9/11 at the Pentagon. 

"I was working as a health policy staff advisor when the plane struck the pentagon," she said. "With my background in trauma, emergency medicine and disaster relief, I led the first triage on side of the Pentagon where the plane hit."

Horoho said her actions on 9/11 were representative of the heroism of many that day. "Our goal was to treat as many people as possible with the right supplies in place," she said. "I am very humbled to represent those who helped."