United States Air Force Medical Service (seal)

The United States Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) consists of the five distinct medical corps of the

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...

and enlisted medical technicians. The AFMS was created in 1949 after the newly independent Air Force's first Surgeon General, Maj. General

Malcolm C. Grow Major General Malcolm Cummings Grow (November 19, 1887 – October 20, 1960) was the first Surgeon General of the United States Air Force from July 1, 1949 to November 30, 1949. Biography Grow received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical C ...

(1887–1960), convinced the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

and President

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

that the Air Force needed its own medical service. In the summer of 1949, Air Force General Order No. 35 established a medical service with the following officer personnel components: Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Medical Service Corps, Air Force Nurse Corps, and Women's Medical Specialist Corps. The AFMS is led by The Surgeon General of the Air Force, who holds the rank of

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

. The AFMS is found in all three components of the Air Force, including the Active Air Force, the

U.S. Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commiss ...

, and the

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

. Headquartered at The Air Staff,

Defense Health Headquarters Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

Falls Church, Virginia Falls Church is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 14,658. Falls Church is included in the Wash ...

, AFMS senior leaders can be found in all of the Major Commands and in

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...

. The current

Surgeon General of the United States Air Force The surgeon general of the Air Force and Space Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the United States Department of the Air Force and thus serves as surgeon general for both the United States Air Force and United States Space Forc ...

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Robert I. Miller.

Medical branches

Biomedical Sciences Corps

Established in 1965 from the defunct Women's Medical Specialist Corps and components of the Medical Service Corps, the Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC) consists entirely of commissioned officers. This is the most diversified of the Medical Corps, consisting of members in

Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...

Optometry Optometry is a specialized health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are health care professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care. In the Uni ...

, Podiatry,

Physician Assistant A physician assistant or physician associate (PA) is a type of Mid-level practitioner, mid-level health care provider. In North America PAs may diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and may serve as a pri ...

, Audiology/ Speech pathology,

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

Social Worker Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy (OT) is a global healthcare profession. It involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or ''occupations'', of individuals, groups, or communities. The field of ...

Aerospace physiology Aerospace physiology is the study of the effects of high altitudes on the body, such as different pressures and levels of oxygen. At different altitudes the body may react in different ways, provoking more cardiac output, and producing more erythr ...

, Biomedical Scientists, Clinical

Dietitian A dietitian, medical dietitian, or dietician is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy, for example designing an enteral tube feeding regimen or mitigating the effects of ca ...

Bioenvironmental Engineering Bioenvironmental Engineers (BEEs) within the United States Air Force (USAF) blend the understanding of fundamental engineering principles with a broad preventive medicine mission to identify, evaluate and recommend controls for hazards that could ha ...

Public Health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...

Officers,

Entomology Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...

Pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...

, Medical lab Officers, and Health Physicists. The Chief of the Biomedical Sciences Corps is a brigadier general.

Dental Corps

Dental laboratory technicians receive an extensive specialized extended training at the US Air Force School Of Health Care Science. Graduates continue upgraded technical training throughout their career. Advanced courses include the production and technical understanding of complex dental and maxillofacial prosthetics. The Dental Corps consists of commissioned officers holding the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree or a further, post-graduate degree. The current chief of the Dental Corps is

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Sharon R. Bannister. The enlisted members of the USAF are assistants, technicians and prophylaxis technicians that train under licensed hygienists. The enlisted members are to support commissioned officers in different areas of the dental clinic. The enlisted members usually receive special training at certain bases that may have periodontist, oral surgeon, endodontist, orthodontist. After the first few years rotating in the clinic as an enlisted member, they can either become a prophylaxis technician which is a hygienist in the Air Force. Enlisted members also have the choices to work in other areas, such as DIPC, where instruments are cleaned, or front desk.

Medical Corps

The Medical Corps consists entirely of commissioned Air Force

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

s, including holders of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. A member of the Medical Corps can also become a

Flight Surgeon A flight surgeon is a military medical officer practicing in the clinical field of aviation medicine. Although the term "flight surgery" is considered improper by purists, it may occasionally be encountered. Flight surgeons are physicians ( MD ...

. The Chief of the Medical Corps is a

. Physicians can enter service into the Air Force through several different paths. Cadets at the US Air Force Academy can compete for selection to medical school at the

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is a health science university of the U.S. federal government. The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad in the medical corps as ...

(USUHS) or at any CONUS medical school through HPSP. An academy graduate who attends USUHS will incur a twelve-year (seven for USUHS and five for the Academy) service commitment not counting any training such as residency and fellowship; an academy graduate who attends a civilian medical school will incur a nine-year service commitment not counting any training such as residency and fellowship. Civilian undergraduates can also apply to USUHS, they incur a seven-year service commitment. USUHS students are commissioned officers at the rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1) and are paid as full-time active duty members. All of their school and expenses are paid by the US Air Force. USUHS graduates must complete residency training in a military residency program. Civilian medical school students can apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). HPSP medical students have their medical school tuition paid by the US Air Force and receive a monthly stipend for living expenses, but they are not on active duty. These graduates can usually attend a civilian or military residency training program and incur a three or four-year service commitment (one year commitment per year of scholarship assistance). Civilian resident physicians can enter Air Force service through the Financial Assistance Program (FAP). FAP physicians receive payment while in residency, but do not receive funds to pay for medical school. Unlike all other programs in the Air Force, they incur a service commitment of based on their length in the program, plus one year (e.g. two years in the program incurs a three-year service commitment). All graduates of residency training enter active duty at the rank of Captain (O-3). Most of the US Air Force Academy graduates pursue a career as an Air Force physician, while the vast majority of HPSP graduates leave the service as soon as their commitment is completed. The Air Force also recruits fully trained and practicing physicians to enter active duty. Their rank at entry is based on their experience.

Medical Service Corps

The Medical Service Corps (MSC) consists entirely of commissioned officers. Members are required to hold a bachelor's or master's degree in Healthcare, Management, Economics, Finance, Operations Research,

Business Administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...

or similar degree before receiving a commission, and must complete a four-week orientation course at Maxwell AFB, AL, and then a five-week military Health Systems Administration (HSA) course at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. MSCs serve as hospital administrators, resource management officers, directors of information systems/technology, managed care and patient administrators, group practice managers, medical logisticians, and medical readiness officers. MSC officers are also expected to become

Board certified Board certification is the process by which a physician or other professional demonstrates a mastery of advanced knowledge and skills through written, practical, or simulator-based testing. Certification bodies There are more than 25 boards that ...

by one of several national healthcare administration organizations. This is usually done while the officer is in the rank of captain or Major. The Chief of the Medical Service Corps is

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

br>Susan Pietrykowski

Nurse Corps

The Nurse Corps consists entirely of commissioned officers. New members of the Air Force Nurse Corps are required to hold at minimum a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree prior to receiving a commission. Members of the Air Force Nurse Corps work in all aspects of Air Force Medicine and can serve as Flight Nurse in aeromedical evacuation missions, nurse practitioner, and

nurse anesthetist A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who administers anesthesia for surgery or other medical procedures. They are involved in the administration of anesthesia in a majority of countries, with varying levels of autonomy. A survey pu ...

. The first Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps was

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Verena Marie Zeller (1949–56). The first two-star general Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps was

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Barbara Brannon Barbara Brannon is a retired major general in the United States Air Force who served as head of the Air Force Nurse Corps. Brannon has a BS in nursing from San Francisco State University and an MS in nursing from the University of California, ...

; she was replaced in 2005 by Maj Gen Melissa Rank. In 2008, it was announced that Colonel Kimberly Siniscalchi would be promoted to the rank of major general and serve as the Chief of the AF Nurse Corps, thereby bypassing the rank of brigadier general (one-star).Kimberly Siniscalchi
/ref>

Enlisted Medics

Air Force Enlisted Medical personnel perform in over twenty different medical fields including medical administration, mental health, dental care, optometry, physical therapy, aeromedical evacuation, medical logistics, laboratory sciences, surgical care, emergency care, radiology, pharmacy, etc. but the generic medic in the Air Force, equivalent to a Combat Medic Specialist in the Army or a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy, is known as an Aerospace Medical Service Technician or med tech for short. Enlisted medics are led by a Chief Master Sergeant.

Badges

File:United States Air Force Medical Corps Badge.svg, Medical Corps Badge File:United States Air Force Enlisted Medical Badge.svg, Enlisted Medical Badge File:United States Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps Badge.svg, Biomedical Science Corps Badge File:United States Air Force Nurse Corps Badge.svg, Nurse Corps Badge File:United States Air Force Dental Corps Badge.svg, Dental Corps Badge File:United States Air Force Medical Service Corps Badge.svg, Medical Service Corps Badge

Units

* AFMS Eurasia **423rd Medical Squadron, RAF Alconbury **31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base **422nd Medical Squadron, RAF Croughton **39th Medical Group, Incirlik Air Base **48th Medical Group, RAF Lakenheath **86th Medical Group, Ramstein Air Base **52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem Air Base *AFMS North **11th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews **11th Medical Squadron, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling **436th Medical Group, Dover Air Force Base **66th Medical Squadron, Hanscom Air Force Base **633rd Medical Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis **87th Medical Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst **43rd Medical Squadron, Pope Field **375th Medical Group, Scott Air Force Base **4th Medical Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base **88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base *AFMS Pacific **36th Medical Group, Anderson Air Force Base **18th Medical Group, Kadena Air Base **8th Medical Group, Kunsan Air Base **35th Medical Group, Misawa Air Base **51st Medical Group, Osan Air Base **374th Medical Group, Yokota Air Base *AFMS South **97th Medical Group, Altus Air Force Base **2nd Medical Group, Barksdale Air Force Base **628th Medical Group, Joint Base Charleston **14th Medical Group, Columbus Air Force Base **7th Medical Group, Dyess Air Force Base **96th Medical Group, Eglin Air Force Base **17th Medical Group, Goodfellow Air Force Base **1st Medical Group, Hurlburt Field **81st Medical Group, Keesler Air Force Base **59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland **47th Medical Group, Laughlin Air Force Base **19th Medical Group, Little Rock Air Force Base **6th Medical Group, MacDill Air Force Base **42nd Medical Group, Maxwell Air Force Base **23rd Medical Group, Moody Air Force Base **45th Medical Group, Patrick Air Force Base **59th Medical Group, Randolph Air Force Base **78th Medical Group, Robins Air Force Base **20th Medical Group, Shaw Air Force Base **82nd Medical Group, Sheppard Air Force Base **72nd Medical Group, Tinker Air Force Base **325th Medical Group, Tyndall Air Force BASE **71st Medical Group, Vance Air Force Base *AFMS West **9th Medical Group, Beale Air Force Base **460th Medical Group, Buckley Space Force Base **27th Special Operations Medical Group, Cannon Air Force Base **355th Medical Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base **412th Medical Group, Edwards Air Force Base **354 Medical Group, Eielson Air Force Base **673rd Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson **28th Medical Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base **92nd Medical Group, Fairchild Air Force Base **90th Medical Group, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base **319th Medical Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base **15th Medical Group, Joint Base Peral Harbor-Hickam **75th Medical Group, Hill Air Force Base **49th Medical Group, Holloman Air Force Base **377th Medical Group, Kirtland Air Force Base **62nd Medical Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord **61st Medical Squadron, Los Angeles Air Force Base **56th Medical Group, Luke Air Force Base **61st Medical Squadron, Fort MacArthur **341st Medical Group, Malmstrom Air Force Base **22nd Medical Group, McConnell Air Force Base **5th Medical Group, Minot Air Force Base **366th Medical Group, Mountain Home Air Force Base **99th Medical Group, Nellis Air Force Base **55th Medical Group, Offutt Air Force Base **21st Medical Group, Peterson Air Force Base **21st Medical Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base **60th Medical Group, Travis Air Force Base **10th Medical Group, USAF Academy **30th Medical Group, Vandenberg Air Force Base **509th Medical Group, Whiteman Air Force Base

References

External links

AFMS Home Page

AFMS online history

Virtual Naval Hospital - a digital library of military medicine and humanitarian medicine
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