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No more "Devil Docs?", SECNAV unveils historical changes for hospital corpsmen everywhere.
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced Friday afternoon new changes to the fabled "greenside" Hospital Corpsmen, more notably referred to by their Marines as "docs." A new NAVADMIN released earlier today states that the Department of the Navy plans on transitioning medical care from Navy personnel to a separate Marine medical Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) pertaining to healthcare. The changes, supported by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) General Joseph Dunford, are expected to break ground in mid-2015. This plan is part of a new effort to create a more contemporary Marine Corps, attempting to gain medical and logistical independence from the Navy.
The announcement has met some criticism from many Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Ryan Henryson, attached to 1st Marine Division, says that "Our docs are part of our culture. To try and get rid of them essentially is a disastrous change to the tradition of the Corps and the Navy as a whole. I can't believe that anyone thinks that this is a good idea." The Corpsmen had their say in the matter too, as Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Jessica Odhner claims, "Corpsmen have always been essential to mission accomplishment for Marines. We've always been by their sides for decades and there's no reason to fix something that's not broken."
Regardless of the criticism, SECNAV Ray Mabus plans to continue the overhaul of the medical care field, citing that "Transferring medical care capabilities to the control of the Marines will help ensure that they receive proper treatment when they need it," and said, "they will receive training similar to fleet Marine force Corpsmen and maintain those qualifications just the same."
Assistant CMC General John Paxton defended the upcoming changes, "It may be a change to the tradition of our Corps, but change is not always a bad thing. We're in a modern era of warfare and a transition into garrison. If [we] can train our Marines to provide responsible medical care then we can be ready for war whenever our nation calls upon us. We're Marines, and we can meet the standards of our beloved Corpsmen if not excel those standards."
SECNAV Ray Mabus stated that he plans to release more details on the restructuring of the Navy and Marine Corps' medical care specialties in early 2015.
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced Friday afternoon new changes to the fabled "greenside" Hospital Corpsmen, more notably referred to by their Marines as "docs." A new NAVADMIN released earlier today states that the Department of the Navy plans on transitioning medical care from Navy personnel to a separate Marine medical Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) pertaining to healthcare. The changes, supported by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) General Joseph Dunford, are expected to break ground in mid-2015. This plan is part of a new effort to create a more contemporary Marine Corps, attempting to gain medical and logistical independence from the Navy.
The announcement has met some criticism from many Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Ryan Henryson, attached to 1st Marine Division, says that "Our docs are part of our culture. To try and get rid of them essentially is a disastrous change to the tradition of the Corps and the Navy as a whole. I can't believe that anyone thinks that this is a good idea." The Corpsmen had their say in the matter too, as Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Jessica Odhner claims, "Corpsmen have always been essential to mission accomplishment for Marines. We've always been by their sides for decades and there's no reason to fix something that's not broken."
Regardless of the criticism, SECNAV Ray Mabus plans to continue the overhaul of the medical care field, citing that "Transferring medical care capabilities to the control of the Marines will help ensure that they receive proper treatment when they need it," and said, "they will receive training similar to fleet Marine force Corpsmen and maintain those qualifications just the same."
Assistant CMC General John Paxton defended the upcoming changes, "It may be a change to the tradition of our Corps, but change is not always a bad thing. We're in a modern era of warfare and a transition into garrison. If [we] can train our Marines to provide responsible medical care then we can be ready for war whenever our nation calls upon us. We're Marines, and we can meet the standards of our beloved Corpsmen if not excel those standards."
SECNAV Ray Mabus stated that he plans to release more details on the restructuring of the Navy and Marine Corps' medical care specialties in early 2015.
Corpsman
Sailors
Combat Medic
Posted >1 y ago
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I served with many Navy 'Docs', those guys are fiercely proud of taking care of their Marine brothers and the Marines love their 'docs'. I am not saying that the Marines couldn't medic their own, but they would be way behind the curve. Corpsman and Army Medics have 10 years of combat experience, why would you ever think removing the Corpsman from the Marines was a good idea...smdh!
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It's a very logical change.
but I still think it's F'n stupid.
Always gotta screw with shit!
but I still think it's F'n stupid.
Always gotta screw with shit!
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"This plan is part of a new effort to create a more contemporary Marine Corps, attempting to gain medical and logistical independence from the Navy."
What's next... The Marine Corps getting their own ships and transporting themselves to where they need to go/inserting themselves on that shoreline?
What's next... The Marine Corps getting their own ships and transporting themselves to where they need to go/inserting themselves on that shoreline?
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It will be interesting to see how long before corpsman and navy doctors are actually phased out of the Marine Corps. The unfortunate thing is this will mean a downsizing of the Navy corpsman and doctor communities. Unless there are lateral transfers to switch services to the Marine Corps, that means people getting kicked out.
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MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D.
LCDR, Sir, I believe you are spot-on. For consideration: The Marine Corps end-strength, staffing throughout the ranks, and creation of new MOS'? Further, what effect will this have on USN? The depth of immediate combat-care, triage and surgery/hospitalization, and recovery requires an immense force of multi-level medical professionals -- already provided by the USN and other services. Where would the USMC both begin and end in terms of this care?
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Although it is different, I agree that it does make sense.
We replaced 22 MEU in Hit, Iraq and served under the 2d Marine Division there - I was impressed with the cohesiveness of their docs with the Marines.
The peace of mind I have from this change is from serving with current Commandant, General Dunford, when he was the ISAF Commander in Afghanistan- he is a no nonsense, get after it type of individual (regardless of branch of service). I'd trust that he is doing this for the right reason, without any political reservations or persuasions. There will be a change in culture but it will be best for the long run.
We replaced 22 MEU in Hit, Iraq and served under the 2d Marine Division there - I was impressed with the cohesiveness of their docs with the Marines.
The peace of mind I have from this change is from serving with current Commandant, General Dunford, when he was the ISAF Commander in Afghanistan- he is a no nonsense, get after it type of individual (regardless of branch of service). I'd trust that he is doing this for the right reason, without any political reservations or persuasions. There will be a change in culture but it will be best for the long run.
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SMSgt David Zobel
The only way this could go smoothly would be for more experienced & senior green side corpsman to be transitioned fully into the Marine Corps to be directly involved in leading and training the new MOS as Marines themselves.
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WTF we will and still need our devil docs they are and will always be an important part of our beloved Corps
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This is from a satire website called duffleblog. It is not true. It came out months ago.
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PO3 (Join to see)
Sorry not duffelblog. It was a site posing as the Marine Corps Times. It was a fake site and will not be happening.
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Donna Kelley Wright
PO3 (Join to see) - My Corpsman Sailor's been working at a naval hospital ER for a couple of years and now has soft orders to be attached to a Marine Infantry Unit. This news didn't make much sense and now I'm happy to know why! Thank you!
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They are opening a whole can of worms with this one. So, if you take away the corpsman, who when not in the field, work for a Navy Doctor or Nurse at the base camps running the clinics (in their chain of command). So, how is the chain of command working with a Navy Doctor or Nurse working with Marine Medics? Unless the Marines are going to stand up their own Officer Nurses and Doctors there is going to be a conflict between the services on Chain of command. Marine Corp Hospitals? if you are going to do without Corpsman in the Field why do you want Marines go to Navy Hospitals? What's next Marine Chaplains?
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As nurse I would love for this to happen, and wish it could have been around when I enlisted back in 1999.
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Um, you want Marines to administer healthcare? Maybe Sec. Mabus should spent some time amongst the enlisted Marines and learn why we love our docs so.
I was fortunate to have a knack for CLS and the like, the last thing I'd want is another Marine trying to IV someone with rolling veins and go yat-yas on the poor bastard.
I was fortunate to have a knack for CLS and the like, the last thing I'd want is another Marine trying to IV someone with rolling veins and go yat-yas on the poor bastard.
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