Army Nurse Corps
Established by Congress in 1901 to provide responsive, evidence-based nursing care for the Army Medicine Team.
The United States Army Nurse Corps (USANC) was formally established by the U.S. Congress on February 2, 1901, becoming one of six medical special branches within the Army Medical Department. Composed entirely of Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, the ANC provides nursing staff to support Department of Defense medical plans. While often associated with later conflicts in popular media, its roots trace back to contract nurses hired during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Corps evolved from a group of civilian volunteers into a permanent body of commissioned officers, though full officer commissioning for all members did not occur until April 16, 1947. Today, it remains the dedicated nursing service for the U.S. Army, ensuring that medical readiness and patient care are maintained across all operational theaters.
Quick Facts
- Affiliation
- U.S. Army Nurse Corps
- Function
- Nursing service for the U.S. Army supporting Department of Defense medical plans
- Status
- Active Duty
Lore & Background
The history of the ANC is defined by a struggle for professional recognition and inclusion. Initially formed under the Army Reorganization Act of 1901, nurses served for three-year terms but were not commissioned officers until 46 years later. Dita H. Kinney became the first Superintendent on March 15, 1901, leading a corps that hovered around 100 active-duty nurses in its early years. During World War I, the military recruited 20,000 registered women to staff hospitals and ambulance companies on the Western Front. The interwar period saw eligibility restricted to white, unmarried female graduates until the Korean War forced the integration of male nurses due to frontline needs. Racial barriers also fell slowly; only a few African American nurses were admitted during World War II, with Della H. Raney becoming the first black nurse commissioned as a second lieutenant in April 1941 after pressure from Mabel Keaton Staupers and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Reader's Guide
To qualify for the Army Nurse Corps today, applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program and possess an unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license prior to commissioning. The ANC consists entirely of commissioned officers with specific Areas of Concentration (AOC), such as Public Health Nurse (66B), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse (66C), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (66F). Additional Skill Identifiers (ASIs) designate specialized expertise, including Critical Care Nurse (8A) and Nurse Midwife (8D). Leadership is currently headed by BG James D. Burk as Chief of the Army Nurse Corps and FORSCOM Command Surgeon, with COL Jodelle Schroeder serving as Deputy Chief. The mission remains to provide responsive, innovative, and evidence-based nursing care integrated on the Army Medicine Team to enhance readiness and preserve life.
Did You Know?
- The ANC was formally established by Congress on February 2, 1901, but nurses were not commissioned as officers until April 16, 1947.
- Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee is considered the founder of the Army Nurse Corps after writing the legislation that created it following the Spanish-American War.
- During World War I, more than 10,000 nurses served overseas while 5,400 enrolled in the Army's new School of Nursing.
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