How did Che Guevara’s role in the Cuban revolutionary force change from doctor to military leader?

Che Guevara initially joined the 26th of July Movement as the force’s doctor, having completed his medical studies in 1953. However, his transition from healer to military leader was facilitated by his prior training in weapons use and his rapid emergence as one of Fidel Castro’s most trusted aides during the guerrilla campaign in the Sierra Maestra.12

As the rebels gained strength, Guevara’s role expanded beyond medical duties to include tactical leadership and the enforcement of discipline, including acting as an executioner for suspected traitors. His military leadership was solidified by his success in the field; most notably, he led a rebel force that routed the garrison in Santa Clara in December 1958, a decisive victory that hastened the collapse of the Fulgencio Batista regime. Following this success, Guevara led the first rebel column into Havana in January 1959, cementing his status as a prominent military and political leader in the new government.13