Why students shouldn't expect the Army to be their "safety school"

By Tish Williamson, Director of Communications, U.S. Army Medical Department Center of Excellence, Health Readiness Center of ExcellenceJune 14, 2019

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1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent entertains questions from a group of over 70 high school administrators, teachers and college professors visiting from across Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Ohio sponsored by the Cleveland and Milwaukee U.S. Army Recrui... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent entertains questions from a group of over 70 high school administrators, teachers and college professors visiting from across Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Ohio sponsored by the Cleveland and Milwaukee U.S. Army Recrui... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Tom Roader, Cleveland Recruiting Battalion (far left) pictured with a group of educators from the Ohio area. Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent (center left) and Command Sgt. Maj. William "Buck" O'Neal (center right), the U.S. Army Medical Department... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Joseph Miller, Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion (far left) pictured with other recruiting soldiers and officers and a group of educators from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area. Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent (center left) and Command Sgt. Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of educators from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area tour the Flight Paramedic Simulator at JBSA- Fort Sam Houston during an educator's tour hosted by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excell... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Educators from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area tour the Flight Paramedic Simulator at JBSA- Fort Sam Houston during an educator's tour hosted by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence Comman... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Educators from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area receive a brief about the Critical Care Flight Paramedic Course at JBSA- Fort Sam Houston during an educator's tour hosted by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Educators from the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area receive a brief a tour of the HRCoE Dental Training Program and facilities by Staff Sgt. Orlando Torres, Department of Preventative Dental at JBSA- Fort Sam Houston during an educator's tour hos... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent (left), Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence, engages with a group of over 70 high school administrators, teachers and college professors visiting from acr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas --During a question and answer session with Maj. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent, Commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence, or HRCoE, a visiting community educator asked what they should tell their students who think of the military as "their last resort" - in case they don't get into college.

The educator was part of a group of over 70 high school administrators, teachers and college professors visiting from across Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Ohio sponsored by the Cleveland and Milwaukee U.S. Army Recruiting Battalions. The visits to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston are part of an annual initiative sponsored by the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.

Sargent said, "Those students who think they are saving the military as their back-up plan need to know that they will still need quality math and English skills to serve in the Army!" Sargent explained that joining today's Army, particularly in such a highly technical and specialized field as Army medicine, is highly selective.

The Army has made it a priority to ensure the quality of officers and soldiers by identifying and assessing the right talent, skills and credentials to help win our nation's wars and then come home safely.

71 percent of America's youth do not qualify for military service at all. Some disqualifying factors include obesity, drug use, non-waiverable health problems, misconduct, or lack of aptitude. Sargent suggested that the best thing the educators could do to help their students who may be interested in serving in the Army is to link them up with their local recruiter or Junior Reserve Officer Training Program early so that they can better understand the qualifications and requirements needed to serve, as well as some of the typical challenges and many benefits they can expect.

The overall purpose of the visit was to ensure these community leaders learn about the countless opportunities available to high school students, college students and citizen providers and to depart Fort Sam Houston with a shared purpose of informing Americans about the many benefits the Army and Army Medicine have to offer.

The HRCoE is the Army's largest civilian-accredited service school and trains more than 35,000 students annually through 192 health related programs of instruction at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The center's trainees represent soldiers in 109 officer and warrant officer medical areas of concentration and 24 enlisted medical military occupational specialties.

During the two-day event, attendees received overview briefs and tours on key specialty areas, programs and courses that highlight the HRCoE as a premiere 21st century medical education institution to include: Critical Care Flight Paramedics, Tactical Combat Medical Care, Dental Laboratory Assistants, Veterinary Assistants, Radiography Technicians, Respiratory Laboratory Technicians, Surgical Technicians, Physical Therapists and Physician Assistants.

Some attendees also observed joint military training at the Medical Education and Training Campus, or METC. Visitors also got a better idea of the size and scope of the Army Medicine mission and the world class healthcare being provided to our soldiers, retirees and veterans through tours at Brooke Army Medical Center, or BAMC, the Vogel Resiliency Center and the Center for the Intrepid.

In his closing remarks, Sargent thanked the educators for all that they do to help their students figure out what it is they are meant to do in life. "That is a powerful and noble mission, and you have my utmost respect," he said.

Sargent also noted that there are many intangible qualities that help ensure success in the Army like accountability, responsibility and motivation that teachers, professors and administrators are uniquely equipped to assess in young adults.

Sargent continued, "Building upon these qualities that are required and honed as a result of serving something larger than yourself is something that I think all Americans would benefit from experiencing."

To learn more about careers available in Army medicine, visit www.goarmy.com/amedd.

Related Links:

GoArmy.com - Army Medicine