United By Service
Two Combat Medics from the Same Unit Join Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Before they wore white coats, Joseph Garcia and Kenneth Swanson wore military fatigues. The two met in the Army National Guard, where they served in the same medical unit. Today, Garcia studies at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, while Swanson continues his training at TouroCOM Montana. Their friendship, formed through service, has carried over into their shared pursuit of medicine.
Finding Purpose in Service
Both men joined the Guard out of a mix of patriotism, curiosity about medicine, and a practical need to pay for school. “The people in this country are worth fighting for and the freedoms this country stands for are worth fighting for and defending,” said Garcia.
Swanson enlisted right after high school in Connecticut. “It was an opportunity to travel and meet great people also dedicated to service from across the country,” he said. “I thought I might be interested in medicine. One of the main jobs in the Guard was in the medical companies, so I figured I could get my EMT license and see if it was for me.”
Their paths crossed when they were assigned to the same unit. Both describe the military as a demanding but valuable environment that pushed them to mature quickly. “Basic training is the most fun you never want to have again,” Garcia laughed. “You’re doing difficult things with people from all walks of life, and you learn from each of them.”
Training that Lasts
Garcia trained as a combat medic and says the experience helped him understand the importance of balance and discipline. “It showed me how to use my time and exert myself,” he said. “If I don’t take breaks, I won’t retain information. If I don’t work out or eat, I won’t retain.”
During the pandemic, classes were given in shifts to prevent infection. “It was chaos,” he said. “They split us into two classes for COVID — one from 4 a.m. to noon and another from noon to 8 p.m. It really sucked,” he laughed, “but looking back, it was good training for medical school.”
Swanson also gained experience treating patients during Guard missions and credits Garcia with motivating him to apply to medical school. “I wouldn’t have started down this path without him,” explained Swanson, who initially planned to become a nurse. “He was a huge motivator for me.”
A Shared Path Forward
Garcia will finish his service in January. “It’s not easy juggling both,” he said, “but it keeps me grounded. My unit values higher education.”
Swanson is now part of the Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program, which covers his medical school costs in exchange for service as a physician after graduation.
Both men see medicine as a continuation of their mission. “It gave me pride to be a medic,” Garcia recalled. “There’s no insurance. You just treat people because they’re human — they deserve it.”
