Army Chief of Staff Names USU Civil Affairs Education Article a Top Read of 2025
The Special Warfare Journal piece spotlights a USU bachelor’s degree pathway supporting Civil Affairs and Special Operations medics.
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Students from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School who are in the Special Operations Combat Medic Course work alongside a trauma specialist from Cooper Trauma Center in Camden, New Jersey June 27, 2021. (U.S. Army photo illustration by K. Kassens) |
January 13, 2025 by Sharon Holland
An article highlighting the Uniformed Services University’s (USU) innovative approach to educating Civil Affairs and Special Operations Combat Medics has been named among the top four Army journal articles of 2025, as selected by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Randy A. George.
The piece, “Pursuing Higher Education: New Degree Pathways for Civil Affairs Special Operations Combat Medics,” appeared in the Special Warfare Journal and was chosen from among 427 Army branch journal articles published through the Army’s Line of Departure platform. It earned distinction as part of the Harding Project’s 2025 Articles of the Year — a recognition that reflects the Army’s renewed emphasis on professional military writing and discourse across the force.
The Harding Project, an initiative launched from the office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, seeks to reinvigorate the Army’s professional journals and encourage rigorous writing that strengthens the Army profession. Articles of the Year are distilled from the CSA’s monthly selections, representing a small fraction — roughly 0.94% — of the broader body of published work, including contributions from multiple branch and specialty journals.
The article spotlights a collaborative effort involving USU’s College of Allied Health Sciences, which developed a bachelor’s degree pathway that integrates Army medical training with accredited higher education, allowing Soldiers who complete the Special Operations Combat Medic course to earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) in Global Community Health from USU. Created at the request of the Special Operations Center of Excellence, the Global Community Health BSHS program is designed specifically to meet the operational and educational needs of Special Operations Combat Medics, integrating operational training with academic coursework tailored to complex, real-world mission environments. Under this model, students may first earn an Associate of Science in Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Services–Paramedic upon completing the SOCM course, and then advance to the bachelor’s degree through completion of the full SOCM training and academic pathway.
Authored by leaders from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the article underscores the value of pairing professional military education with degree-granting opportunities—an approach that supports readiness, enhances medical capability, and expands long-term career options for Soldiers.
