The Medical Service Corps is a diverse and integral part of the Army Health Care Team. Medical Service Corps Officers are essential in treating and helping the overall health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for much of the medical research that takes place in the Army. From medical fields such as optometry and podiatry to laboratory sciences to behavioral sciences, the Army Medical Service Corps includes many areas of specialty:

Behavioral Sciences
In Army Behavioral Sciences, you can specialize in the following career fields; Social Worker, Clinical Psychologist, and Counseling Psychologist.

Health Administration Services
Great hospitals, talented doctors and the respect of your peers - these are just a few of the things you can expect when you join the Army Medical Service Corps.

Laboratory Sciences
There are four broad biomedical career fields that are available to Army Laboratory Science Officers; Biochemist, Clinical Laboratory Officer, Microbiologist, and Research Psychology

Optometry
Providing direct patient care to Army personnel and their families will be your top priority as a member of the Army Optometry Health Care Team.

Pharmacy
Army Pharmacists are an integral part of the Army Health Care Team; they certainly do more than just handle prescriptions.

Podiatry
As an Army Podiatrist you'll provide surgical services to Soldiers and personnel, but you'll also gain experience by caring for family members and Army retirees.

Preventive Medicine Sciences
There are five Preventive Medicine Sciences career fields to choose from; Nuclear Medical Science Officer, Entomologist, Audiologist, Environmental Science Officer, and Sanitary Engineer.

The responsibilities of a Medical Service Corps Lieutenant may include:

• Commanding and controlling the Medical Service Corps units during emergency and non-emergency medical situations
• Coordinate employment of Medical Service Corps Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

You must be a degreed professional in your area of specialty in the Medical Service Corps.

As an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer, you will not participate in the Basic Training or Boot Camp; instead, you'll attend an Officer Basic Leadership Course (OBLC), a basic orientation course to the Army Health Care system, Army doctrine, and basic soldier and leader skills.

Officer Basic Leadership Course for Active Duty Officers is held four times a year at the AMEDD Center in Fort Sam Houston and lasts from ten 10-14to 14 weeks. Officers in the Army Reserve go to OBLC for two weeks. Health Professions Scholarship Program recipients will attend for 6 six weeks one time during their graduate medical education.

Your training time depends on your chosen specialty and whether or not you have prior military experience. You must also meet height and weight standards, as well as pass the Army Physical Fitness Test.

After completing OBLC, AMEDD Officers report to their initial Active Duty assignment. Students return to their graduate medical education following successful completion of OBLC.

Being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities. A leader exhibits self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. They are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressures. Leaders make decisions quickly, always focusing on completing the mission successfully, and show respect for their subordinates and other military officers. Leaders lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral responsibility for those decisions.

Medical Service Corps Officers may continue to specialize and serve in the Medical Service Corps at ever increasing levels of leadership and responsibility.

Responsibilities of a Medical Service Corps Captain may include:

• Commanding and controlling part of a Field Hospital, installation Dental or Medical Activity (DENTAC or MEDDAC), or larger Health Services Command.
• Coordinate employment of Medical Service Corps Soldiers at all levels of command, from company to division level and beyond, in U.S. and multi-national operations.
• Develop doctrine, organizations and equipment for unique Medical Service and health care missions.
• Instruct medical, laboratory and psychology skills at service schools and medical training centers.
• Serve as a Medical or Health Care advisor to other units, including Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve organizations.

Being an Officer in the Army Medical Service Corps, you will have the same qualifications to practice in your specialty in the civilian world.