Army medical professionals discuss the benefits of life as a soldier with pre-med students

Photo By David Edwards | Students were welcomed to ask questions one on one following the panel discussion  

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES

10.17.2019

Story by David Edwards 

2nd Medical Recruiting Battalion

The Army Black Knights made the trip to Atlanta, GA to face off with the Georgia State Panthers on Saturday, October 19. This opportunity to reach a captive audience in a major southeastern city was not lost on the U. S. Army. In an effort to increase recruiting visibility, a week of Meet Your Army events was planned in the days leading up to the Saturday night game.
The 2nd Medical Recruiting Battalion(2MRBn), along with the Atlanta Medical Recruiting Company got in on the week’s events with a panel discussion on the GSU campus. On the panel, was 2MRBn commander Lieutenant Colonel Susan Tallman, Eisenhower Army Medical Center commander Colonel Carlene Blanding, and Army Reserve medical readiness officer Major Aigul Guilmanova.
“The event was beneficial to pre-med students because it gave them a realistic view on Army life,” said Lt. Col. Tallman.
The three panelists were able to give a detailed explanation of life as a medical professional in the Army from deployments, to day to day duties, and career advancement opportunities.
“We were able to discuss our Army stories and answer their questions about Army Medicine,” she said.
54 pre-med students from Georgia State attended the panel discussion, during which, Col. Blanding opened an invitation for them to take a tour at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, where she is the commander, in order to see how an Army hospital operates. She stressed the ability of soldiers to pick their career path.
“When you can pick and choose, to a certain degree, what you want to focus on, you have that latitude. You have that opportunity,” said Col. Blanding. “What a great chance this, for me, to help to shape what the future could look like.”
Along with the benefits of the Army for the soldier, Col. Blanding discussed the importance of service to country and how Army medical professionals help civilians as well.
“Now is the time for you to starting thinking about where you want to go, and what you want to do,” she said. “It’s allowing what we do to impact, not just ourselves, but our immediate families as well. It reverberates out if just one of you serve.”
In the 2019 fiscal year, Atlanta Medical Recruiting Company commissioned 128 medical professionals in the Atlanta area.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2019
• Date Posted: 10.21.2019 09:43
• Story ID: 348412
• Location: ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US