2007-06-12 15:45:00 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
A medic is a soldier who's duty is to treat the wounded om the battlefield until the wounded can be sent back to the rear for more professional medical treatment.
A Corpsman is a Navy man assigned to the Marine Corps because the Marine Corps does not have its own medical services. The Corpsman does what a Medic does.
The Marine Corps calls all their Corpsman "Doc" and are allowed to wear the Marine Corps uniform if they choose to do so. The Marines love their Corpsman and would do anything to protect them. Corpsmen are the only people who are allowed to wear the Marine Corps uniform and the EGA.
Corpsman and Medics have to be the bravest of the brave.
Semper Fi to all Corpsman, past, present and future.
2007-06-12 15:55:47 · answer #1 · answered by SgtMoto 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To extend SgtMoto's post:
Being a former Corpsman myself, the job is difficult to describe without writing several pages.. SgtMoto summed it up nicely.
There are several "specialities," if you want to call them that, a Corpsman may perform. These are identified by NEC (Navy Enlisted Classification) codes. There are 0000 ("quad-zero") Corpsman (a general billet) who do a little of everything. There are pharmacy technicians. There are lab technicians, and more. A Corpsman attached to a Marine unit is an 8404 Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. They do everything from sick call to assisting doctors, PA's and nurses, maintaining treatment facilities, providing medical aid to unit personnel and combatants. They do and will go through molten lava to tend to a wounded Marine. Corpsmen take care of the Marines, and the Marines take care of their docs.
Not too long ago, I was in a local bar with a friend with whom I served in the Hospital Corps. We were talking Navy stuff, re-telling stories, etc. A man sitting at the bar (we were using a pool table at this time), overheard us, and said, "Hey." We looked over. He lifted up his shirt sleeve, exposing a USMC tattoo. He asked, "Are you guys p*ssies?" I lifted my sleeve, exposing a tattooed caduceus with 8404 below it. I said, "I was a Corpsman." He got up, walked over, and gave me a hug. I was instantly a good friend of his.
To Marines, the thought of losing a Corpsman is unthinkable. That's how much they love them. And I'm proud to have done my part.
As a Corpsman, I gained an incredible amount of medical knowledge in a short amount of time. It's a great job for someone who wants a feel for medicine. After two months at my first duty station, I was already assisting and performing some minor surgical procedures. Training is extensive for all Corpsmen, and I would have enjoyed being a lab tech, but I loved being an 8404.
Cheers,
~H.
2007-06-12 23:59:51 · answer #2 · answered by hbomb8404 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would equate a Corpsman to an EMT / Nursing Asst. They have a good grasp of first aid, general knowledge of medicine and they perform a variety of functions.
2007-06-12 22:58:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Medics are Army. Corpsmen are Navy / Marines. They are the first to treat the wounded.
2007-06-12 22:51:15 · answer #4 · answered by cmortality 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A man in a squad (ARMY/MARINES) who is specifically trained to treat those who have been wounded in battle. Corpsmen are NAVY medics that work for the Marines.
2007-06-12 22:47:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are like EMT's for the Navy..... They administer first aid, many times in the field, and/or under enemy fire.
2007-06-12 22:47:23 · answer #6 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Navy EMT.
2007-06-12 22:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by Pook 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋