The Navy Corpsman has been one of the most prominently featured personnel in many war films and movies throughout the ages. They hold a very special place in many men's lives because of the way they risk their own lives to save others. A Navy Corpsman is trained to be a general practitioner, and triage specialist while in the field. Think of them as a highly trained E.M.T.
Corpsmen provide many different services for the people in their detachments. They undergo intensive and highly specialized training to learn how to prevent diseases, administer first aid and injections, distribute drugs, transport injured personnel to hospitals, perform some emergency surgical operations, take x-rays, and even assist with dental treatments.
Getting Started As a Navy Corpsman
As stated, there is no organized Marine Corp health care professional. They receive their medical care from outside sources like the Navy Corpsman. However, not all Navy Corpsman are assigned to duty with the Marine Corps. To be a member of a Marine Corps force, the candidate must be able to adhere to a demanding physical fitness regimen as well as maintain their high appearance.
Joining the Navy means you must go to a recruiting station where you will be screened as to your ability and sign up to take the ASVAB test. This is usually done for high school juniors, but can be administered at other times for people who are already out of school. Your grades on this test determine your placement. If you are determined to have good enough aptitude and scores, once you finish basic training you will be sent to an 'A' school to complete your training as a Navy Corpsman, or HM. During this training you will be competing with other candidates for your permanent duty station. This could be a hospital, clinic, or on ship duty.
Because of the high standards that the Marine Corps has for their personnel, only those who score high on their tests, and have exemplary marks during their HM 'A' school will be recommended for a Marine Corps billet. Once the opportunity presents itself, usually near the end of the 'A' school, or even after deployment to a duty station, the Corpsman must undergo interviews, and physical testing. This is important because if the opportunity presents itself, they will be joining the Marines in the field during war time situations. The Corpsman must be able to handle the stresses of combat (being shot at, having to defend yourself against seen and unseen enemies) and being able to help with war time injuries.
A Navy Corpsman who successfully ends up as a Marine Corp health care provider can be stationed anywhere in the world and is under direct Marine Corp authority.
