Pacific Ocean. (November 27, 2024): Twenty-three U.S. Navy personnel have been awarded our nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor, without having fired a shot. These daring Sailors were Hospital Corpsmen and their comrades are the backbone of Navy medicine to this day. In this photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class August Clawson,

Petty Officer 2nd Class Isaac Eaker is carried to an elevator on the flight deck during a medical drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington while underway in the Pacific Ocean.

The Navy Hospital Corps is comprised of over 30,000 active duty and reserve members who train in over forty technical specialties besides emergency care. They are stationed at military installation clinics and deploy in support of combat operations, humanitarian assistance missions, and disaster relief. Hospital Corpsmen provide direct support to Navy and Marine Corps commands, squadrons, and battalions to provide the best care our nation can offer ashore and afloat.

Their duties include performing tactical casualty combat care, emergency surgeries, and the prescribing of medications. They also hold daily sick calls and administer needed vaccines as part of total patient care for Sailors and Marines both on land and at sea. These medical professionals are as comfortable analyzing lab samples as they are performing physical exams and they even assist with dental care.

To attract and retain these highly skilled Sailors, the Navy offers a variety of benefits including signing bonuses of up to six figures, free college courses, and a medical school loan repayment plan. While they serve, Hospital Corpsmen enjoy an excellent salary, housing stipends, and a comfortable retirement for those making the Navy a career.

Although not directly involved in combat, the Navy’s Hospital Corpsmen have a well-deserved reputation for bravery and courage under fire.