Navy Corpsmen: A Marine’s Best Friend

Here’s a great excerpt from ABOUT.COM regarding Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Photo courtesy of popasmoke.com
~Cpl. Beddoe

While Corpsmen are expected to be cure-alls for whatever ails a Marine, they know that their medical expertise only comes into play when it’s needed. Otherwise, they’re Marines in every sense of the word.

So the Corpsmen learn. They learn how to fight hand-to-hand, how to fire MK-19 grenade launchers, drive Humvees, rappel, take point on a patrol, etc. And they do it on the front lines, not just during training exercises back in the states.

The Sailors hold their own.

“I’ve always been impressed with the level of skills they possess from the relatively short amount of training they go through,” said Morse. “My Corpsmen can jump on any weapon out here and perform as well as any Marine. Heck, I’ve met some docs who could outshoot every Marine in his platoon.”

Still, the Marines would rather the Corpsmen not have to prove their battle readiness during a firefight.

“A good Corpsman will put rounds downrange if we need him to,” said Morse, “but we try to keep them in the rear so they are around to save us.”

Read the ENTIRE ARTICLE

CORPSMAN RANK
HR – Hospital Recruit (E-1)
HA – Hospital Apprentice (E-2)
HN – Hospitalman (E-3)
HM3 – Hospital Corpsman Third Class (E-4)
HM2 – Hospital Corpsman Second Class (E-5)
HM1 – Hospital Corpsman First Class (E-6)
HMC – Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-7)
HMCS – Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-8)
HMCM – Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-9)

See also: https://www.thesucklife.com/2010/12/casevac-corpsman-shannon-dittlinger/