They Started in the Ranks, Now They’re Preparing to Become Military Doctors

Twenty-four former enlisted members transitioned to military officers, advancing toward careers in military medicine via the EMDP2 program.

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard service members take the oath of office during the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program commissioning ceremony at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Twenty-four former enlisted service members transitioned to officers to begin medical training. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

May 22, 2026 by Sharon Holland

Twenty-four former enlisted service members took a major step toward becoming military physicians on May 18, transitioning into officer status as they begin medical training through a unique military pipeline program.

The group, drawn from across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, was recognized at the Uniformed Services University (USU) as they entered the next phase of a long pathway that will ultimately lead them to medical school and careers as military doctors. 

Their journeys reflect an uncommon blend of operational military experience and academic preparation. Many have served in deployments, on ships, in hospitals, on flight lines, and in field environments, often balancing demanding duty assignments with coursework and family responsibilities.  

USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson said their achievement reflects years of sustained effort and determination.

“Today marks more than a commissioning ceremony,” Woodson said. “It marks the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance.”

Uniformed Services University President Dr. Jonathan Woodson speaks during the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program commissioning ceremony at the university in Bethesda, Maryland, May 18, 2026. Woodson emphasized that the graduates' enlisted operational experience will shape their future service as military physicians. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

He noted the breadth of experience represented in the group, spanning operational assignments across the services.  

Many of the cohort bring not only years of service, but deeply personal motivation. Some grew up in communities with limited access to care or navigated significant hardship before enlisting. Others described losing loved ones, caring for injured teammates, or managing medical emergencies in austere environments.  

“But despite those different paths, you all share something important: you earned your place here,” Woodson said. “You competed successfully for one of the most demanding and meaningful opportunities in military medicine.”

The Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2) is designed to identify experienced enlisted personnel and prepare them academically for medical school while they continue to serve. The program is a partnership between USU, the military services, and George Mason University, aimed at developing future physicians who understand both clinical medicine and operational military life.

During the ceremony, participants took the oath of office administered by senior military medical leaders representing their respective services, formally becoming officers as they continue their progression toward medical school.

Among those in attendance were Brig. Gen. Matthew Lander, representing the Army Surgeon General; Brig. Gen. Jason Lennen, representing the Air Force Surgeon General; Capt. Brian Feldman, representing the Navy Surgeon General; and Cmdr. Swati Singh, representing the Chief Medical Officer of the Coast Guard.

The ceremony also included presentation of the SFC Karl Anker Leadership Award and the Dr. Donna Fox Academic Excellence Award, honoring students who demonstrated outstanding leadership and academic performance during the program.

U.S. Navy Sailors take the oath of office during the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program commissioning ceremony at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, May 18, 2026. The program prepares experienced enlisted personnel academically for medical school while they continue to serve. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

Woodson emphasized that their enlisted experience will shape how they serve as physicians in the future.

“You already understand something many medical students do not yet know—that medicine is ultimately about people,” Woodson said. “It is about responsibility. It is about trust. It is about standing beside others during the most difficult moments of their lives.”

He added that future military medicine will rely heavily on physicians who are both clinically skilled and operationally grounded.

“At a time when the world is becoming more complex, more uncertain, and in many ways more dangerous, your decision to pursue medicine in service to the nation carries enormous significance,” Woodson said.

The graduates will continue their medical education at USU’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and at civilian institutions including Stanford University School of Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, and Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional first salute in the USU courtyard, marking the start of their next chapter in military medicine.