On July 1, 1943, the United States established the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps through the Bolton Act, creating a nationwide program to address the critical nursing shortage during World War II. Administered by the U.S. Public Health Service, the program provided federal funding for nursing education while preparing thousands of young women to serve their country through healthcare.

As millions of Americans entered military service, the demand for trained nurses grew rapidly both on the battlefield and in hospitals across the nation. The Cadet Nurse Corps was created to ensure that enough qualified nurses would be available to care for wounded service members and civilians during the war.

The program offered students free tuition, uniforms, textbooks, and a monthly stipend in exchange for a commitment to serve for the duration of the war. Women between the ages of 17 and 35 who met academic and health requirements were eligible to enroll. Although they wore distinctive uniforms and pledged wartime service, Cadet Nurses remained civilian students rather than members of the armed forces.

More than 124,000 student nurses enrolled in the program, making it one of the largest federally funded nursing education initiatives in American history. Cadet Nurses trained in hospitals and nursing schools across the country, providing essential patient care while completing accelerated educational programs. By the end of the war, they represented a significant portion of the nation’s newly graduated registered nurses.

The Cadet Nurse Corps also helped expand opportunities within the nursing profession. It encouraged schools receiving federal funds to admit qualified students regardless of race, an important step toward greater inclusion in nursing education during a period of widespread segregation.

Although the program officially ended in 1948, its impact continued for decades. Graduates went on to serve in military and civilian hospitals, public health agencies, and communities throughout the United States, helping shape the modern nursing profession.

Today, July 1 is remembered as the anniversary of the establishment of the Cadet Nurse Corps, a program that strengthened America's wartime medical capabilities while inspiring a generation of nurses dedicated to service, compassion, and excellence in patient care.