Army Medical Department (United States)

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Army Medical Department
U.S. Army Medical Department Regimental flag
Active1775 – present day
Country United States
Branch United States Army
Motto(s)"Experientia et Progressus"

The Army Medical Department of the

Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, a lieutenant general
.

The AMEDD is the U.S. Army's healthcare organization (as opposed to an Army Command), and is present in the

AMEDD Center and School (AMEDDC&S). Large numbers of AMEDD senior leaders can also be found in the Washington D.C. area, divided between the Pentagon and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
(WRNMMC).

The

Academy of Health Sciences, within the AMEDDC&S, provides training to the officers and enlisted service members of the AMEDD. As a result of BRAC 2005, enlisted medical training was transferred to the new Medical Education and Training Campus, consolidating the majority of military-enlisted medical training in Fort Sam Houston.[1][2]

The current Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the

.

History

Both the AMEDD and the

Army Medical Corps trace their origins back to July 27, 1775, when the Continental Congress established the "Army Hospital", which was at that time overseen by the "Director General and Chief Physician." Congress provided an Army medical organization only in times of war or emergency until 1818, at which point it created a permanent "Medical Department." The Army Nurse Corps originated in 1901, the Dental Corps began in 1911, the Veterinary Corps in 1916, the Medical Service Corps emerged in 1917 (during WW I the Sanitary Corps was created as a temporary organization to relieve U.S. Army physicians from a variety of duties),[3] and the Army Medical Specialist Corps came into existence in 1947.[4]

The Army Organization Act of 1950 renamed the Medical Department to "Army Medical Service" and on June 4, 1968. The Army Medical Service was renamed the Army Medical Department.

Heraldry

Coat of arms

A regimental coat of arms was devised for the Medical Department and was most likely first used in 1818. The twenty white stars on a blue background and the red and white stripes represent the U.S. flag of 1818. The green staff entwined with a green serpent combined two symbols: the rod of Asclepius from classical mythology symbolizing medicine and healing, along with the color green associated with the Medical Corps during the last half of the 19th Century. The colors Argent (silver/white) and Gules (red) are associated with the flag of the United States. The rooster is associated with the ancient Greek and Roman god of healing and medicine, Aesculapius. The ancient Greeks believed that the rooster's crowing at dawn drove away the evil disease-spreading demons from the temples so that it could be a place of healing. The torse (twisted rope) below the rooster shows alternating blue and silver colors which were representative of the Army in 1818. The Latin motto Experientia et Progressus (Experience and Progress) is meant to convey the steady and unfailing progress of the Army Medical Department since 1775.

Regimental insignia (crest)

The AMEDD Regimental Insignia

The design of the AMEDD regimental insignia (crest) is derived from the regimental coat of arms. It is one of the US Army's fourteen regimental corps insignias. The insignias are worn over the right breast pocket on the Army Service Uniform (ASU) and signify a service member's branch of service. The "new" AMEDD insignia was approved on October 27, 2014.

Branch (corps) insignia

In 1851, "a caduceus embroidered in yellow silk on a half chevron of emerald green silk" was first authorized and worn by hospital stewards of the Medical Department. The caduceus in its present form was approved in 1902. Today, the AMEDD branch corps insignia is a gold color medal caduceus, 1 inch in height. With the exception of the Medical Corps, each Corps is identified by a black enamel letter (or letters) centered on the caduceus indicative of the specific branch. The insignia for Medical Service Corps is silver.

The caduceus symbolizes the non-combatant role of the AMEDD[5] and not medicine per se. It came into popular use for medicine in the United States after the First World War. As medical professionals returned to civilian practice, they brought the caduceus symbol back with them. Over time, Americans began to associate the caduceus with medicine. The Rod of Asclepius is the more appropriate symbol for medicine in a civilian setting.

Medical special branches

There are currently six special officer branches (corps) in the AMEDD.

Medical Corps (MC)

The Medical Corps consists of

major general, whereas the senior Army Medical Department officer is the Surgeon General (a lieutenant general
).

Military physicians serve in one of several general career fields. The three main fields are operational field, clinical field, and research field.

Operational Medicine is the field of Army medicine that provides medical support to the soldier and his/her Chain of Command. Many operational physicians serve as

Brigade Combat Team (BCT) restructuring, the demand for operational surgeons have increased. It is possible that the low retention rates of Captains and junior Major
rank Physicians in the primary care fields are due to the discrepancies in deployment length and deployment frequency between primary care and specialty physicians.

Clinical Medicine is the field of Army medicine in which a physician in uniform performs similar functions to a physician in the civilian arena. These physicians are assigned to a PROFIS unit in one of the various Army MEDCEN (Medical Centers) and MEDDAC (Medical and Dental facilities). Primary care physicians usually deploy to fill battalion level surgeon positions. Medical specialists deploy to support CSH (combat support hospitals)

Research Medicine is filled by a minority of military physicians. Most of these research physicians are based in larger

Army Medical Centers[6]
and the research institutes.

Nurse Corps (AN)

The Army Nurse Corps became a permanent corps of the Medical Department under the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 753) passed by Congress on 2 February 1901.[7] Its motto is "EMBRACE THE PAST – ENGAGE THE PRESENT – ENVISION THE FUTURE" and its mission statement declares "All actions and tasks must lead and work toward promoting the wellness of Warriors and their families, supporting the delivery of Warrior and family healthcare, and all those entrusted to our care and ultimately, positioning the Army Nurse Corps as a force multiplier for the future of military medicine."

Dental Corps (DC)

The Dental Corps (DC) consists of commissioned officers holding the

Doctor of Dental Medicine
(DMD) degree. The chief of the Dental Corps is a major general. Enlisted soldiers may be assigned as dental assistants, although their collar insignia lacks the 'D' and is the same as that worn by medics. Army Dental Corps Officers may train further in the following advanced training programs after Dental School:

  • Advanced Education in General Dentistry
  • Comprehensive Dentistry (2-year AEGD)
  • Endodontics
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Public Health Dentistry
  • Oral Pathology

The US Army currently offers fellowship training in the following areas for Dental Corps Officers (applicants must have already completed a recognized specialty training program):

  • Oral-facial pain
  • Maxillofacial prosthodontics
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Dental informatics

The following ADA recognized specialties are not represented in the US Army Dental Corps:

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

The chief of the Army Dental Corps is Major General Thomas R. "Rob" Tempel Jr. His father, Major General Thomas R. Tempel Sr. served as Chief of the Army Dental Corps from 1990 to 1994.[8]

Veterinary Corps (VC)

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was established by an Act of Congress on 3 June 1916. Recognition of the need for veterinary expertise had been evolving since 1776 when General Washington directed that a "regiment of horse with a farrier" be raised.[9]

The US Army Veterinary Corps plays a significant role in current operations. Veterinary units are critical in ensuring remarkably low food borne illness rates. This is in great measure a result of veterinary inspection of subsistence in the United States as well as the approval of safe food sources around the world. Army veterinarians ensure the health of military working dogs and assist with host-nation related animal emergencies. Veterinary staff advisors also play key roles regarding issues involving chemical and biological defense.[9]

In the United States, military veterinary supervision of operational ration assembly plants, supply and distribution points, ports of debarkation, and other types of subsistence operations are critical to ensuring safe, wholesome food for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and their family members. The large segment of the Veterinary Corps involved in Medical Research and Development missions contribute immeasurably to the overall military effort. Vaccine, antitoxin, and antidote development, directed toward the protection of military personnel, has been and will continue to be, heavily reliant on military veterinary expertise.[9]

Today, the Army Veterinary Corps, composed of approximately 800 veterinarians and warrant officers in both active and the Army Reserves, has an over 100 years of historic achievements about which it can be tremendously proud. Accomplishing its broad functions of food safety and security, animal health care, veterinary public health, and research and development, will continue to be essential as long as the need for military forces remain.[9]

The Chief of the Veterinary Corps is Colonel Deborah Whitmer.

Medical Service Corps (MS)

The Medical Service Corps consists of commissioned and

social workers (MSW with state license), optometrists, pharmacist, podiatrists, and audiologists. The Medical Service Corps also functions as a transitional branch, encompassing commissioned medical, dental, and veterinary students who have not completed their training through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) or the Health Professions Scholarship Program
(HPSP).

Medical Service Corps officers are drawn from the various Army commissioning sources (

Officer Candidate Schools) following a branch-immaterial curriculum. Since a primary function of the Medical Service Corps is to manage combat health support activities,[10] its officers hold general command authority and can compete for company and field grade command of medical support formations and detachments, as well as logistics and aviation commands along with officers of the "Army competitive category" branches, such as infantry, ordnance, quartermaster. In contrast, Medical Corps, Veterinary Corps and Dental Corps officers are limited to command billets specific to their respective corps (e.g. AMEDD Immaterial commands for Medical, Nurse, and Medical Specialist Corps officers; branch specific commands for Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Corps officers).[11]

The 20th Chief of the Medical Service Corps is Major General Michael J. Talley effective November 2022.

Medical Specialist Corps (SP)

The Army Medical Specialist Corps consists of commissioned officers. Members hold professional degrees and serve as clinical dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants. Members of the SP serve all around the world and at all echelons of the Army. The Chief of the SP Corps is BG Deydre S. Teyhen.[12]

Aviation Section

On 20 December 1971 the Aviation Branch became part of the Force Structure Branch, Force Development Division.[13]

[14]

The section controlled a number of units including:

  • 45th Medical Company (Helicopter Ambulance)[15]
  • 92nd Medical Helicopter Company
  • 171st Air Ambulance Company
  • 498th Medical Company (Air Ambulance)[16]
  • 8th Medical Detachment[17]
  • 25th Medical Detachment[17]
  • 41st Medical Detachment[17]
  • 50th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[18]
  • 54th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[18]
  • 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[19]
  • 82nd Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[16]
  • 83rd Medical Detachment[20]
  • 94th Medical Detachment[20]
  • 129th Medical Detachment[20]
  • 130th Medical Detachment[20]
  • 154th Medical Detachment[20]
  • 159th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[18]
  • 163rd Medical Detachment[20]
  • 236th Medical Detachment[20]
  • 237th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[21]
  • 254th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[18]
  • 283rd Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[22]
  • 286th Medical Detachment[23]
  • 430th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 431st Medical Detachment[24]
  • 432nd Medical Detachment[24]
  • 433rd Medical Detachment[24]
  • 534th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 546th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 571st Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)[18]
  • 755th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 756th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 758th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 759th Medical Detachment[24]
  • 772nd Medical Detachment[24]
  • 774th Medical Detachment[24]

Enlisted Medical Career Management Fields (CMFs)

There are currently 22

Military Occupational Specialties
(MOSs) for enlisted medical Soldiers:

  • 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist
  • 68B Orthopedic Specialist
  • 68C Practical Nursing Specialist
  • 68D Operating Room Specialist
  • 68E Dental Specialist
  • 68F Physical Therapy Specialist
  • 68G Patient Administration Specialist
  • 68H Optical Laboratory Specialist
  • 68J Medical Logistics Specialist
  • 68K Medical Laboratory Specialist
  • 68L Occupational Therapy Specialist
  • 68M Nutrition Care Specialist
  • 68N Cardiovascular Specialist (Deleted 1 Oct 2021)
  • 68P Radiology Specialist
  • 68Q Pharmacy Specialist
  • 68R Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist
  • 68S Preventive Medicine Specialist
  • 68T Animal Care Specialist
  • 68U Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist (Deleted 1 Oct 2021)
  • 68V Respiratory Specialist
  • Combat Medic
    Specialist
  • 68X Behavioral Health Specialist
  • 68Y Eye Specialist
  • 68Z Chief Medical NCO

In addition, outside the

AMEDD
, is the Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D).

Museum

Badges

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Fort Sam Houston" (PDF). United States Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Fort Sam Houston". GlobalSecurity.org. 21 August 2005. Archived from the original on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Medical Service Corps". The Days Forward (thedayrsforward.com).
  4. ^ AMEDD Corps History Archived 2 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Office of Medical History. U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  5. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". U.S. Army Medical Department Office of Medical History. U.S. Army. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  6. ^ Army Medical Department (AMEDD), "Training, history, education, FAQ"; Available from www.amedd.army.mil/
  7. ^ Carolyn M. Feller; Debora R. Cox, eds. (2000). Highlights in the history of the Army nurse corps. CMH Pub 85-1 (Revised and Expanded ed.). Washington, DC: United States Army Center of Military History. p. 103.
  8. ^ Valencia L. Dunbar (5 June 2014). "The Tempel Legacy: Approaching a Century of Service to Army Medicine". The Official Homepage of the United States Army. United States Army. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d "U.S. Army Veterinary Corps History". US Army Medical Department. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "Medical Service Corps". medicalservicecorps.amedd.army.mil. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  11. ^ AR 600-20, Army Command Policy
  12. ^ "AMSC". amsc.amedd.army.mil.
  13. ^ "Annual Report 1972". The Surgeon General United States Army. 20 February 2020. p. 124.
  14. ^ "General Orders 1969 - No. 46" (PDF). U.S. Army. 20 November 2019. p. 3.
  15. ^ Dunstan 1988, p. 140.
  16. ^ a b Dunstan 1988, p. 137.
  17. ^ a b c "General Orders 1969 - No. 46" (PDF). U.S. Army. 20 November 2019. p. 3.
  18. ^ a b c d e Dunstan 1988, p. 139.
  19. ^ Dunstan 1988, p. 132.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g "General Orders 1969 - No. 46" (PDF). U.S. Army. 20 November 2019. p. 4.
  21. ^ Dunstan 1988, p. 147.
  22. ^ Dunstan 1988, p. 136.
  23. ^ "General Orders 1969 - No. 46" (PDF). U.S. Army. 20 November 2019. p. 5.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "General Orders 1969 - No. 46" (PDF). U.S. Army. 20 November 2019. p. 6.

Further reading

This article also contains information that originally came from US Government publications and websites and is in the public domain.

External links