The Navy Nurse Corps Is Forty-three

Abstract

N OT LONG before the forty-third birthday of the Navy Nurse Corps, the Korean conflict and other threats caused a spurt of activity in the Navy somewhat reminiscent of the early days of World War II. The Nurse Corps, like the rest of the military establishment, must always be prepared to meet the requirements of war. However, when the times demand, certain programs, always in existence, are given renewed vigor. During this forty-third year several have been given new life. The first event of vital importance to the corps was ordering members of the Nurse Corps, U. S. Naval Reserve, into active military service. This was necessary in order to furnish the nurses required by the immediate expansion of naval medical department facilities in June 1950. Following World War II many reserve nurses were integrated in the regular corps, others continued on active service at their own request as long as they were needed. The larger portion of reserve nurses returned to civilian life but, due to the tensions and uncertainties of the times, they still remained members of the reserve. Between 1945 and 1950, new appointments in the reserve continued, and many of these young women volunteered their services. As a result there were both regular and reserve groups on duty in the Nurse Corps in June 1950. Even so it was evident at once that there were not enough