Cadets with the University of Delaware’s AFROTC participate in an aeromedical evacuation mission to learn about careers in military healthcare.

Nursing takes flight

Article by Amy Cherry Photos by Captain Danielle Cook and courtesy of UD AFROTC March 11, 2025

From classroom to cockpit: Nursing students train for military healthcare careers

For the first time, School of Nursing (SON) students in the University of Delaware’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 128 stepped onto a C-130 aircraft to get a glimpse into a career as a military flight nurse.

Departing from New Castle Air National Guard Base, they worked alongside two Air National Guard flight nurses on an aeromedical evacuation mission. Their simulation included a patient who was struggling to breathe and had turned blue.

“The medivac team are the EMTs of the sky, so it was interesting to see their first response to keep the patient comfortable and stable until landing,” said junior Cadet Morgan Stryker.

For first-year Cadet Cynthia Mejia, the experience was eye-opening.

“I learned about the differences in caring for a patient in a plane versus in a hospital setting,” Mejia said.

Junior Cadet Meghan Tekelenburg said the experience was very interactive.

“We practiced taking blood pressure readings and learned how altitude affects pulse ox readings,” Tekelenburg said. “We practiced putting on tourniquets and learned about the transport of psych patients, standing orders, and how techs in the military can administer medication, which is different from civilian nursing.”

While in the air, Cadet Meghan Tekelenburg, a junior nursing major, practices putting on a tourniquet. She then conducts a pulse check to ensure that blood flow was stopped, indicating that the tourniquet was effectively placed.

Stryker drew connections from the coursework in her psychiatric-mental health nursing.

“We’ve learned about therapeutic communication — talking to patients respectfully and how you would want to be treated,” Stryker said.

Tekelenburg echoed those sentiments.

“When you’re in the air, rank doesn’t matter. All human beings deserve the same level of care regardless of their background,” Tekelenburg said. “We learned that on our first day in nursing school, and it’s been reinforced in clinicals.”

The high-pressure environment also tested students’ clinical judgment.

“It can be chaotic on flight missions, and several patients could need attention, so you must learn how to manage care and ensure you’re providing adequate care — that’s something I learned in clinicals and applied to this mission,” Tekelenburg said.

Elizabeth Speakman, chief nurse administrator and senior associate dean of the SON, called this a rare opportunity for nursing students to gain firsthand experience in a military healthcare setting.

“This simulation strengthens students’ clinical skills in a high-intensity environment, building their leadership and critical thinking abilities while reinforcing the core principles of compassionate, patient-centered care,” Speakman said.

The training aligns with the AFROTC’s commitment to providing cadets with real-world Air Force experiences.

This marked the first time that AFROTC Detachment 128 members were in a C-130. Pictured here (left to right) are Cadet Natasha Swaray, a sophomore at Delaware State University, and UD nursing majors Cadets Cynthia Mejia, Morgan Stryker and Meghan Tekelenburg.

“By immersing our nursing cadets in realistic Air Force medical operations, we help them better understand potential career paths while reinforcing the impact they can have within military healthcare,” said U.S. Air Force Captain and Operations Flight Commander Danielle Cook. “These unique experiences highlight the diverse opportunities within the Air Force and inspire cadets to pursue careers that align with their passions and skills.”

Stryker is contracted to join the Air Force after graduation and would consider a career as a flight nurse.

“You never know where the Air Force will assign you, so I’m keeping my options open,” Styker said. “But being a flight nurse is definitely on my radar now.”

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. and Detachment Commander Brian Nicholas said careers in military healthcare are rewarding.

“As members of the U.S. Air Force Nursing Corps, they will have opportunities to care for military families and return wounded warriors to their families,” Nicholas said. “They will be called upon as ambassadors of goodwill to developing countries in need by responding to global humanitarian crises to provide care anytime, anywhere.”

Growth through AFROTC

Beyond providing hands-on medical experiences that showcase potential career paths, the AFROTC has helped these aspiring nurses develop leadership skills.

“They’ve shown me that I have a voice and can use it to speak up and lead,” Mejia said.

For Stryker, AFROTC has been instrumental in building confidence.

“One of my goals before graduation is to stop second-guessing myself,” she said. “As a junior teaching younger cadets, I’ve realized that I possess the knowledge to teach them and earn their trust.”

Tekelenburg’s parents both served in military healthcare roles, and as she follows in their footsteps, she’s seen her leadership skills evolve.

“As a freshman and sophomore, you train and learn to support the team and the mission,” said Tekelenburg. “But as a junior and senior, it’s flipped, and you’re teaching younger cadets. It’s taught me time-management skills and made me a more well-rounded individual in everything I do.”

She’s confident her AFROTC experiences will make her a stronger nurse.

“Joining AFROTC was the best decision I could have made, and it’s something I didn’t even know I needed,” said Tekelenburg. “It’s made me so adaptable, and that’s helped me in nursing clinicals to have a voice, ask questions, and take the initiative to step up and lead.”

About the AFROTC program

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) allows students to enter the Air Force or the United States Space Force as officers and leaders. It takes integrity, selfless service, and a commitment to excellence to succeed in AFROTC. For those who accept the challenge, the rewards will last a lifetime. If you're ready to take on this challenge, check out the AFROTC program.