MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Captain Andrea Bartlett, a flight surgeon with the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, has a story that truly embodies perseverance. Her path to this professional milestone has been challenging, but her unwavering determination and resilience have led her to achieve her goals.
Bartlett’s journey began at Waterloo West High School in Iowa, where she graduated in 2010. Inspired by her father, a retired Master Sergeant in the Iowa Air National Guard, she enrolled in Air Force Junior ROTC. “I did it for all four years. It was a lot of fun, and my instructors made learning enjoyable,” Bartlett said. “The ordered structure really synched with me.”
Despite participating in various activities like basketball, golf, and working at a local bakery, Junior ROTC had the most lasting impact on her. “All of my friends were in Junior ROTC. The only person I still talk to from high school was in Junior ROTC and is now active duty Air Force as well,” she recalled. Field trips to the Air Force Academy and the Strategic Air Command Museum opened her eyes to broader opportunities in the Air Force.
Bartlett credits her success to meticulous planning, a skill honed in Junior ROTC. “I’ve always been one that wants to have a plan. In high school, I built my four-year plan of how to schedule all my classes and all my electives. I probably redid that 50 times. Same thing in college. I was constantly rebuilding it,” she said.
Her leadership skills flourished as she served as her school’s drill team competition commander and Cadet Wing Commander. “We learned how to operate in the real world, work professionally, and as a team,” she said. This experience has been crucial to her development as a physician. “I’m constantly asking, ‘What do you think? What’s your thought process?’ It’s the same in medicine — asking, ‘Is there something I’m missing?’”
One of her Junior ROTC instructors, Master Sgt. McCrea, left a lasting impression with his straightforward approach to military customs and courtesies. His sense of humor and creative teaching methods hooked Bartlett on the program. “I honestly don’t know that I would have joined the military if I hadn’t done Junior ROTC,” she said. “They were teaching us life skills and supporting us in achieving our goals.”
After graduating from high school, Bartlett enlisted in the 132nd Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard, completing Basic Military Training as an honor graduate in 2011. She balanced her service as a bioenvironmental engineering specialist with full-time studies at the University of Northern Iowa. After earning her degree, she worked as a medical scribe and later in human resources for the Iowa Air National Guard, attaining the rank of technical sergeant.
Bartlett’s perseverance was tested as she applied to medical schools, taking the Medical College Admission Test four times. Her attitude was that a “no” just meant “not right now.” After two rounds of applications, she gained admission to Kansas City University in 2018 through the Air Force’s Health Professions Scholarship Program and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant.
Getting accepted into medical school is extremely challenging, especially considering the academically talented nature of the applicant pool. For context, the acceptance rate in 2023 was 41% nationally. Completing medical school is also demanding, rigorously testing students’ ability to synthesize and recall huge amounts of information. As many of Bartlett’s medical school classmates complained about the workload and scheduling, she recalled some words of wisdom from her Junior ROTC instructors. One phrase that stood out was “Suck it up, Buttercup!” The lesson of sacrificing short-lived enjoyment for long-term goals was not lost on Bartlett. Her encouragement to her classmates was simple: “They’re trying to help us be successful, and this was the best way they could find to do it. ‘Honestly, stop wasting your time complaining, and figure out how you’re going to deal with it — develop a little bit of resiliency.'" Bartlett completed her Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 2022.
After completing her transitional year residency at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital in Ohio, she enjoyed the flight surgeon training course she attended at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During her two months there, she learned how to investigate aircraft mishaps and gained some time in the cockpit, learning the basics of how to fly. She is currently pursuing her goal of a residency in emergency medicine, which appeals to her desire for a “fast-paced, constantly changing” work environment. You never know — today could be chest pain. Tomorrow could be a trauma day. The next day could be asthma or COPD. You never know what’s coming in, right? Some days are slow, some days are crazy. Just like in the military, you’ve got to be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” she said.
Bartlett’s experiences as a Junior ROTC cadet have clearly equipped her with the resilience and skills needed to excel in her career. Her journey from high school cadet to flight surgeon is a testament to her dedication and perseverance.