We usually visualize nurses to be in a white attire, but more recently the colors are often blue, green or mauve. On the other hand Khaki (a brownish yellow color) belongs to military, police or law enforcing forces. So indeed, Nurses in Khaki are serving military personnel. It is indeed an irony that nursing profession was borne out of a war. Yet, armies initially employed nursing volunteers, before enrolling them in their ranks. Lets trace on how it all began.
Florence Nightingale, a British social reformer was founder or modern nursing profession. In 1854-55 she and handful of other volunteers organized care for the British soldiers in Crimean war. This was a professional medical care, quite unlike the practice that pre-dated this time. Way back in 1776, the American Continental Army began to employ women, but in quite a different role. These were mothers, wives and sisters of the troops, who were hired for varied kitchen and housekeeping tasks, and sometimes tending for the sick.
After the Crimean war in 1860s, armed forces realized the value of nurses in war theaters. Most early nurses were women, who were drawn in the profession as part of their religious duty. Nursing volunteers became a part of make-shift facilities, to care for the sick and wounded soldiers. By 1870s, British Army started employing regular nurses, for its military hospitals. Thus in 1888, British Indian Army established Indian Army Nursing Service (IANS) with a little more than a dozen nurses. All of them were English women, and Lady Catherine Loch was their superintendent. By 1893, their numbers had increased to 52, and later in 1902 IANS was renamed as Queen Alxendria Military Nursing service (QAMNS).
First world war between 1914-18 greatly expanded Military nurses. For instance the number grew from about 400 to above 21000 in the US Army Nursing corps. In India QAMNS numbers also grew from 90 to 560. Another change that occurred during the was was that the army started recruiting nurses from within India. Initially these were Anglo-Indian women, and only gradually over the years from other communities. This however was only a short term assignment.
In 1926 a permanent nursing service was established in the Indian Army. This was first called Indian military nursing service (IMNS), and after 1947 as Military nursing service (MNS). As the ranks grew, in 1947 Col Miss DG Howard was appointed as chief principal matron and head of the service. In 1959 the ranks of MNS were named the same as for other officers in the Army. MNS had its first Major General in 1976, and its first Addl Director General MNS in 1985.
Second world war (1939-45) was more devastating as compared to the first one. More nursing personnel joined warring armies. Many of these were still in their traditional attires, except in some forces where they were part of the ranks.
As nursing personnel were integrated into the ranks of the armed forces across the world, their uniforms got harmonized. In armed forces, uniforms and medals are linked to the ranks. Whites and Blues across the army nurses became Khaki as they got permanent commission. A journey towards the changing colors and uniforms of US military nurses is depicted in another blog here.
MNS has an important role in caring for the armed forces, both in peace times, as well as during conflicts. It is a cadre that works with a team of doctors and other service personnel. As their role expands, there are many more aspirations for MNS, for which we will look forward to.