Three years of grueling effort in ROTC came down to this one decision – my branch. Up to that point, my experience was solely in small unit, infantry tactics. Since Infantry was not an option for females at that time, I felt a bit lost. The lack of tangible experience, and basic knowledge, about other branches made this decision more difficult. The idea of making an uninformed decision, one that would impact my entire career in the Army, was daunting. For whatever reason, I ended up selecting Medical Service Corps and embarked on an adventure unknown.
The Medical Service Corps falls under the Army Medical Department (AMEDD), which is a world of its own. The AMEDD is home to six corps and over a hundred Enlisted Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) / Officer Areas of Concentration (AOC). Job diversity, education requirements, and a truly multi-faceted mission create a unique subculture. AMEDD is almost an army within the Army, and that provides a unique leadership challenge for Medical Service Corps (MSC) Officers. MSC Officers live in two worlds – the AMEDD and the rest of the Active Duty Army.
The Mission
AMEDD has its hand in everything and anything dealing with the health of the Army’s Soldiers and their families. From basic tactical “buddy aide” to sophisticated hospitals, AMEDD is constantly evolving. The goal is to improve the healthcare model. We strive to give Soldiers confidence that both they and their families will be provided with reliable and competent healthcare. Trained medical professionals like medics, doctors, X-Ray techs, and dentists, administer care. MSC Officers, on the other hand, are the puppeteers controlling the strings.
Tactically, MSC Officers determine the location, capabilities, and resourcing of medical clinics. We plan and execute casualty evacuations. And, MSC Officers determine the type of medical care appropriate for host nations and allied partners. On the clinical side, we manage facility budgets, hire staff, and purchase equipment. Additionally, we develop systems to improve patient care, coordinate with TRICARE, and more. Of course, MSC Officers cannot accomplish this alone. They rely heavily on the talents and expertise of others within AMEDD.
The Units
MSC Lieutenants serve in a variety of units but, for the purpose of this article, I will focus on Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). In a BCT, MSC Officers are a lone wolf AOC. Combat Arms Battalions only have one MSC Officer. Hence, that lieutenant carries a vast array of responsibilities. The MSC leads a medical platoon and serves as the battalion Commander’s Medical Officer (MEDO). Additionally, the MEDO conducts operational planning and executes tasks relating to battalion’s health sustainment. The highest ranking MSC Officer in a BCT is the Captain commanding the Charlie Medical Company. The “Charlie Med” is in the Brigade Support Battalion (BSB). This scarcity in numbers mandates that the MSC Officers work together and rely heavily on NCO and Medical Provider expertise.
Command Relationship
Medics treating casualties of an HB-IED in Zharay District, Afghanistan on 09 OCT 2010. Picture taken by Erin Trieb (www.erintrieb.com).
Furthermore, the relationship between the Battalion Commander and the MSC Lieutenant is unique. As previously mentioned, MSC Lieutenants’ second hat is as the MEDO. As such, the Battalion Commander expects them to solve complex staff and readiness problems. They will report on and answer for medical readiness ratings. Responsibilities range from ensuring availability of Class VIII (medical) supplies to planning and executing battlefield evacuation. Also, on top of that complexity, the Battalion Commander will have limited branch-specific mentorship to provide MSC Officers.
Branch Relationship & Development
AMEDD is extremely complex, and the way it treats its MSC Officers is very different than how other branches treat their officers. For example, an MSC Officer is not able to fulfill a non-MSC position without approval from The Surgeon General whereas Infantry Officers have a lot more flexibility in what positions they can fill. Another example is that it is, in my opinion, absolutely critical that a junior MSC Officer gets experience in both BCTs and Medical Brigades. This is to learn the full echelon of tactical medical care and gain exposure to more of AMEDD. At the rank of Captain, an MSC Officer must select one of seven different AOCs to serve in for the remainder of their career.
A BCT only provides exposure to two of those seven AOCs. Conversely, the bread and butter for an Infantry Officer is only a Brigade Combat Team as this type of unit alone is able to provide all of the positions critical for their development. This dichotomy between the MSC Lieutenant and the Battalion Commander is why I highly recommend that every MSC Officer has at least one senior mentor who is specifically an MSC Officer.
Leadership Challenges
This dynamic of serving as an AMEDD Officer within a Combat Arms unit already creates a challenging environment for an MSC Lieutenant but the real challenges lie within the AMEDD itself. For example, an MSC Lieutenant is often out ranked by his or her medical providers and must find the appropriate balance between maintaining their given authority and not knowing all of the answers. Furthermore, education is a limitation of MSC Officers. They do not go through any medical training and yet, are in charge of medical personnel. It is important for an MSC Officer to remember that their role is not to be another Physician Assistant or Psychologist, but to bridge and integrate AMEDD with the tactical Army.
I am a huge proponent of collaborative thinking, especially as it applies to being an MSC Officer. Whether I am with Enlisted Medics or with Nurses or with Neurosurgeons, I will never be the smartest person in the room. Additionally, an MSC Officer needs to be comfortable with not knowing it all, trust and weigh the opinions and perspectives offered by the medical experts, and use his or her tactical knowledge to make better-informed decisions. I would also like to note that many providers are direct commission officers meaning they have no formal Army training before they arrive at the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) and put on officer rank. Consequently, they need their MSC Lieutenant to help guide them through their integration into the Army while treating them with the respect their rank and experience as a medical professional deserves.
Last Call
If you’re in the position I was and have no idea what branch to choose, just relax. Every branch has a unique mission, but they all offer the opportunity to lead Soldiers. To those of you already selected to serve in the Medical Service Corps – Congratulations! You are joining a great team and will learn just how critical our mission is every day. Nothing is as personal or sensitive as medical care. Our Soldiers can focus on their jobs knowing that we are there to take care of their families’ medical needs. And, a Soldier fights harder knowing that if the worst happens, we are there to take care of them.
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[gcallout]Capt. McManus is an Active Duty Medical Service Corps Officer (70H) with 9 years of service. She commissioned from Penn State University and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at George Washington University as part of the Army’s Congressional Fellowship Program.
1st Lt. Stewart commissioned as an Active Duty Medical Service Corps Officer (70B) from Auburn University. She is currently training to become a Blackhawk Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot (67J) at Ft.Rucker, Alabama.
1st Lt. Gigante commissioned as an Active Duty Medical Service Corps Officer (70B) from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is currently serving as the Executive Officer for a Charlie Medical Company in a Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.[/callout]
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