A Mini Masterclass in Grit: Uniformed Services University Trains EMS Volunteers in Tactical Medicine

Uniformed Services University faculty and students trained more than 350 civilian EMS volunteers in life-saving battlefield techniques and "Mini-Bushmaster" simulations to bolster interest in military medicine.

A dramatic, low-angle close-up "fishbowl" shot looking upwards from below a group of people surrounding a patient (only partially visible, bottom left). In the center, a young man (name tag "ANTOSH" visible on a black civilian jacket) kneels, intensely focused upward while holding a small red object. Beside him, a young woman (name tag "HARRISON" on a dark jacket) also holds a red object, looking down. Surrounding them are multiple pairs of hands and forearms from individuals in military camouflage, also leaning in to interact with the patient and equipment.
Civilian pre-med students and military personnel collaborate during a simulated high-stress medical intervention.
The training offered prospective recruits a glimpse into the operational readiness required to save lives in
austere environments. (Photo credit: U.S. Air Force TSgt Caleb Pavao)

April 7, 2026 by Hadiyah Brendel

From February 20 to 22, the 2026 National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF) Conference in Arlington transformed its convention ballroom into a simulated battlefield. Legions of undergraduate student EMS volunteers traded notebooks for tourniquets, kneeling over classmates portraying casualties in a mass-trauma scenario. Led by the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine admissions team and the Military Emergency Medicine Student Interest Group, this “Mini Bushmaster” simulation introduced the rigors of military medicine to a national pool of prospective accessions.

This hands-on event provided undergraduate students with a condensed version of Bushmaster, USU’s signature medical field exercise. During the standard Bushmaster, fourth-year medical students are evaluated in a high-fidelity, multi-day operational environment that simulates combat casualty care and the demands of military medicine.

But, as Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) James "Austin" Cox, Assistant Dean for Recruitment in USU’s School of Medicine, noted,  "These are pre-med EMS students voluntarily hanging out in the back of an ambulance waiting for bad things to happen. These students are made for military medicine."

A crowded convention center hotel hallway/conference room with geometric carpet is full of people. Many are in green digital military camouflage uniforms. Small clusters of individuals are kneeling around simulated casualties. In the foreground, a uniformed medical trainee (name tag "HODGES") leans over an individual (name tag "SMITH") on their back, who is being treated by a civilian trainee in a black "RAPID RESPONSE" jacket (back to camera). Medical pouches are scattered nearby. Dozens of others are performing similar scenarios in the midground. The overall lighting is diffuse overhead.
Undergraduate EMS volunteers treat simulated casualties during a mass-trauma scenario at the 2026 NCEMSF
 Conference. The hands-on "Mini Bushmaster" event introduced civilian students to the rigorous demands of
military medicine. (Photo credit: U.S. Air Force TSgt Caleb Pavao)

The "Click" Moment: Perfect for Military Medicine

The Arlington conference hosted more than 100 colleges and universities from across the nation. By setting up specialized training lanes, USU faculty and staff offered these civilian EMS students a localized peek into the elite tactical curriculum of USU. Over 250 participants experienced the rigors of Care Under Fire (CUF), while an additional 150 students earned "Stop the Bleed" certifications.

Care Under Fire is the first and most dangerous phase of battlefield medicine, requiring specific medical interventions performed while the provider and the casualty remain under effective hostile fire. At a human level, it marks the moment where the roles of "Soldier" and medical provider must fuse into one.

Stop the Bleed (STB) is a national advocacy campaign that trains bystanders to stop life-threatening hemorrhaging through the use of pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets.  USU faculty were among the initial White House coalition members for development of STB, establishing the educational objectives and training approaches for hemorrhage-control instruction utilized nationwide.

According to Cox, navigating these intense scenarios is often the "click" moment for potential recruits. The students realize military medicine extends beyond hospital practice, requiring the autonomy, operational readiness, and courage to save a life while the clock is ticking in a hostile environment. Through the simulation, pre-med students can actively envision themselves operating in those environments. 

wide-angle perspective from behind a seated audience member (left forearm tattoo visible) in a large conference room. A military instructor in digital camouflage is standing on the right, speaking to a group of seated trainees who are listening. He holds an instruction card or booklet. The audience is a mix of military camouflage and civilian attire.
A military medical instructor briefs undergraduate EMS students before a tactical training lane. USU faculty
and students utilized these localized, hands-on interactions to bridge the gap between civilian emergency
services and the military medical mission. (Photo credit: U.S. Air Force TSgt Caleb Pavao)

From Interest to "Number One Pick"

This transition from civilian interest to a targeted military medicine pipeline was captured in feedback received from Jayda Shaw, a student at Texas A&M. Shaw highlighted the profound influence of her instructor, USU student Air Force 2nd Lt. Emma Poveromo, a member of EMDP2 cohort 10.  

"She was a phenomenal instructor," Shaw noted. "The way she asked questions, made eye contact, and explained everything in a way that was easy for us to understand really stood out, made me realize how much I want to be in that kind of a learning environment. I didn't get a chance to tell her what an impact she made on my decision to move USU from a potential option to the top of my med school list."

Future Outlook: Building the Community

Reflecting on the success of the Arlington event, Cox characterized the engagement as a highly effective "proof of concept" for the University’s broader recruitment strategy. He emphasized the strategic goal of continuing these localized, hands-on interactions to bridge the critical gap between civilian EMS and the military medical mission.

"The feedback from students like Jayda shows that when we put our students—like 2nd Lt. Poveromo—in front of these high-caliber civilian EMTs, the mission becomes clear," Cox stated. "We aren't just recruiting; we’re building a community of future military medical officers before they even start med school.”