MEDICAL CORPS OFFICER (2100)
The Staff Corps community of every U.S. Navy physician.
OVERVIEW
The 2100 Medical Corps designator identifies Staff Corps officers in the U.S. Navy who are licensed physicians (MD or DO). Medical Corps officers serve as primary-care physicians, subspecialty surgeons, flight surgeons, undersea medical officers, and operational medical officers across the Navy and Marine Corps. They staff Navy hospitals, Navy clinics, ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, Fleet Marine Force units, expeditionary medical units, and joint medical commands.
Most Medical Corps officers commission via the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), the Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), or as direct accessions following completion of medical school. Many continue residency and fellowship training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Naval Medical Center San Diego, or in joint Navy-Army programs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide primary-care or subspecialty medical care to Sailors, Marines, and beneficiaries
- Serve as flight surgeon for a Navy aviation squadron or undersea medical officer for a submarine squadron
- Lead a Navy medical department aboard a ship, expeditionary unit, or hospital
- Conduct medical research, residency training, and military medical education
HISTORY
The U.S. Navy established the Medical Corps in 1871, formalizing centuries of Navy medical practice that had operated under various titles since the founding of the Navy in 1775. Medical Corps officers played critical roles in every major U.S. conflict — from yellow-fever research aboard ships in the Spanish-American War, to the founding of the Navy aviation medicine specialty after WWI, to the modern combat-casualty-care advances of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today the Medical Corps fields more than 4,000 active-duty physicians and is the lead Navy Staff Corps for Navy Medicine.
COMMISSIONING SOURCES
- Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
- Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP)
- Direct Accession
- Uniformed Services University (USUHS)
TRAINING PIPELINE
- 1. Officer Development School (ODS)~5 weeksNaval Station Newport, RIDirect-commission officer indoctrination required for all Staff Corps accessions.
- 2. Operational Medicine Indoctrination Course~2–4 weeksNMC Portsmouth, VA / NMC San Diego, CAOperational medicine, casualty care, and Navy/Marine medical practice.
- 3. Specialty Residency / Fellowship3–7 yearsNavy or joint teaching hospitalCivilian-equivalent ACGME-accredited residency in chosen specialty.
TYPICAL CAREER PATH
- O-3Internship / ResidencyMost newly-commissioned MC officers begin internship and residency at a Navy or joint teaching hospital.
- O-3/O-4Operational Tour or Specialty PracticeGMO with the Fleet Marine Force, flight surgeon, or subspecialty practice at a Navy hospital.
- O-5Department HeadDepartment head at a Navy hospital, clinic, or operational unit.
- O-6Hospital / Clinic Commanding OfficerCommand of a Navy hospital, clinic, or major Navy Medicine staff role.
- O-7+Senior Navy Medicine LeadershipFlag officer leadership in Navy Medicine, the Defense Health Agency, or as Surgeon General of the Navy.
RELATED DESIGNATORS
RELATED BASES
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) from an accredited medical school
- Active state medical license (any U.S. state)
- Successful completion of Officer Development School (ODS) at Naval Station Newport
- Maintain Secret clearance and operational fitness for assigned duty
- General Medical Officer (GMO) aboard a ship, submarine, or with a Marine Corps unit
- Flight Surgeon for a Navy or Marine Corps aviation squadron
- Subspecialty physician at a Navy hospital (Portsmouth, San Diego, Bethesda)
- Joint medical staff at Walter Reed or Defense Health Agency