The U.S. Army Medical Specialist Corps (AMSC) celebrated their 72nd anniversary with a cake cutting at U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence (AMEDDC&S HRCoE) Headquarters Building on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
As one of six Army Medical Corps, the AMSC serves as the cornerstone of medical and performance readiness. Their specialists provide health promotion, human performance optimization, treatment and rehabilitation, injury control, and education to the Total Army Force.
The AMSC is comprised of four Army officer areas of concentration (AOC): 65A Army Occupational Therapists (OT), 65C Army Dietitians, 65C Army Dietitians, and 65D Army Physician Assistants (PA). Each AOC in the AMSC uses its unique skillset to come together as a team to provide a holistic and complete approach that supports the performance optimization of our Warfighters with a focus on readiness.
The host for the ceremony was Colonel Sara J. Spielmann, Corps Specific Branch Proponent Officer (CSBPO). Performing the cake cutting honors were retired Colonel Jessie Breuer, an Army Dietician and Chief of the AMSC from 1982 to 1986, and Second Lieutenant Carley Laplant, an Army Physical Therapist., Specialist Corps officiated the ceremony.
Spielmann said, "It is a great time to be an SP Corps officer. With today's focus on readiness, the operational environment has never had such high demand for our services! And I am proud to say that I am an officer in the SP Corps."
A HISTORY OF SERVICE
The AMSC is actually able to trace its lineage many more than 72 years. The first dietitians served the military as hospital dietists in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. In 1917, during WWI, dietitians and reconstruction aides served as Department of the Army Civilians and assisted with the "health and healing" of wounded Soldiers. After 1926, the term reconstruction aide was discontinued but the work of the physiotherapy and occupational therapy aides continued in military hospitals.
When WWII started, OT, PT, and Dietitians again served in a civilian capacity, and some even deployed overseas during the War. In 1942, OTs, PTs and Dietitians were given "relative rank" until in 1944 when they were commissioned as officers in the Medical Department. During this time, each of the professions wore their own distinctive insignia.
On 16 April 1947, due to the work of Congresswomen Margret Smith, Congress passed Public Law 80-36 establishing the Women's Medical Specialist Corps. The Corps was established separately from the Medical Service Corps because at that time, the Medical Service Corps was not permitted to commission women. In 1955, after several attempts in Congress to allow the commissioning of men as medical specialists, the Women's Medical Specialist Corps was renamed to the Army Medical Specialist Corps and the caduceus became that which we identify with today. In 1992 the 65Ds, Physician Assistants, were commissioned and became the fourth and final section of the corps.
THE AMSC SPECIALTIES
65A Army Occupational Therapists (OT) have the knowledge and skills to benefit the whole Soldier --not just a limb, a cognitive issue, a behavioral issue, or a mental skills issue, but the ability to speak and address performance and recovery issues across all 4 dimensions; physical, mental, behavioral health, and cognitive. No profession addresses the Soldier more holistically than OTs.
65B Army Physical Therapists (PT) continue to be the recognized experts in the evaluation and treatment of non-surgical, neuromusculoskeletal conditions and injury prevention. Evidence-based practice cultivated by Army PTs and the autonomy with which they practice continues to influence change in civilian physical therapy practice throughout the nation. Army PTs now serve in a wide variety of assignments- from Medical Treatment Facilities, Special Operations units, and Brigade Combat Teams.
65C Army Dietitians provide proactive nutrition education and programs that support training to better prepare our Soldiers for their specific job tasks in garrison, during training, and in wartime. Dietitians serve as force-multipliers during field operations and in deployed environments- providing interventions across the spectrum of performance nutrition and injury & illness mitigation and recovery. Dietitians evaluate the unit's training and mission demands, determine appropriate interventions to promote optimal performance, and deliver interventions tailored to each military occupational specialty.
65D Army Physician Assistants (PA) serve at the "Tip of the Spear" for those serving on the line while also ensuring our forces are ready to fight today and are prepared for the rigorous challenges of tomorrow. As Army Medicine continues to transform to meet the ever-changing strategic environment, PAs serve as force multipliers, supporting the Warfighter while promoting, improving, conserving or restoring their own behavioral and physical well-being to ensure they are ready to perform during times of peace and conflict. Army PAs transcend the full spectrum of warfighting from the tactical all the way to the strategic level.
To learn more about the AMSC visit https://amsc.amedd.army.mil/ or GoArmy at https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/medical-and-emergency/medical-specialist-corps-officer.html
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