Army Uniform Requirement Question

[texdrake]

I had a quick question. I purchased my first BDU and am in the process of putting the name tapes on it.

The person I was with said I need the Medical Services sew on patch (The caducces with the M and S), but I was wondering if that is correct. Should I be using just the Medical Corp ones? (Caducces with the M). Please let me know the soonest as it is not to late to call the seamstress...yet...

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[idq1i]

I had a quick question. I purchased my first BDU and am in the process of putting the name tapes on it.

The person I was with said I need the Medical Services sew on patch (The caducces with the M and S), but I was wondering if that is correct. Should I be using just the Medical Corp ones? (Caducces with the M). Please let me know the soonest as it is not to late to call the seamstress...yet...

Yep, MS is right. The M is for PAs et al.

 

[AMPage]

I went to get my uniforms with my recruiter and he told me the same thing... i was also suspicious about it but i looked around on the internet, and that's correct... it's medical service corps until we graduate.

 

[pilotdoc]

Here's the breakdown-

plain caduseus (no letter at all) - medical corps
MS-medical service corps (admin, pilots, podiatrists,social workers, etc) -worn by HPSP/USUHS until graduation
S-specialist corps-PA, physical therapist
N-nurse corps
D-dental corps
V-veterinary corps

 

[flighterdoc]

Here's the breakdown-

plain caduseus (no letter at all) - medical corps
MS-medical service corps (admin, pilots, podiatrists,social workers, etc) -worn by HPSP/USUHS until graduation
S-specialist corps-PA, physical therapist
N-nurse corps
D-dental corps
V-veterinary corps

When did PA's go to MedSpecialist? They used to be MSC also, if I recall.

 

[denali]

PA's have been SP since they converted from being WO's.

 

[flighterdoc]

PA's have been SP since they converted from being WO's.

When did THAT happen?

Times sure have changed since the 18 months I spent in the army guard between Active AF and ANG. BTW, I was an MSC, kept the docs out of trouble.

 

[denali]

I wanna say around 1990 or so. I came on active duty first in '94 as a Med PL and my PA was an O3 who had converted only a couple years before.

 

[flighterdoc]

I wanna say around 1990 or so. I came on active duty first in '94 as a Med PL and my PA was an O3 who had converted only a couple years before.

How about that.

When I first joined the AF (1977) as an enlisted guy, I had a PA (PA Marshall) at Sheppard AFB who I wound up seeing for something or other. Sheppard was his residency or whatever. He was a 2LT (the AF had just gotten rid of WO's that year)

Then, I went TDY to Chanute AFB for a couple of weeks, and came down with terrible flu. Went to the clinic, and PA Marshall was there. 1LT.

Then, I went to Germany, and PA Marshall was there (less than a year after Chanute) PA Marshall was a Capt.

I got comissioned and went to UPT, then went back to Spangdahlem (2 years later). PA Marshall was there, Maj. Fastest promotions I ever saw. I didn't have anything to do with him once I was on flight status, but we'd have the occasional adult beverage in the club.

I really hadnt heard about the Army comissioning PAs. Good for them.

 

[denali]

Yeah, actually I ran into one of my former squad leaders the other day, back from Iraq. When I was his PL I wrote his recommendation letter to the Interservice PA Program. Last week I was saluting him as I'm now a 2LT again and he's a brand new CPT. Good for him; he's a good guy.

 

[grumbo]

Back to the original topic of the thread. Can anyone tell me what the unit shoulder patch should be? What is it at USUHS for the army? Thanks.

 

[texdrake]

Its just a plain Caduccess (or however the hell that is spelled) I believe, but I don't think you have to have one....until you graduate.

 

[idq1i]

Its just a plain Caduccess (or however the hell that is spelled) I believe, but I don't think you have to have one....until you graduate.

Can't vouch for the USUHS, but our BDUs get it...the subdued variety (dark gold/black outline)

 

[denali]

Back to the original topic of the thread. Can anyone tell me what the unit shoulder patch should be? What is it at USUHS for the army? Thanks.

Your Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) is determined by the unit you're assigned to. If you're an HPSP student, I don't think you can go wrong using the MEDCOM SSI (sometimes the packages say HSC for Health Services Command). It's a maroon, oval shaped patch with white piped edges and what looks like a stylized white caduceus in the middle of it. The subdued version looks similar, just done in black and olive drab. USUHS students wear the USUHS SSI.