Biomedical Science Corps celebrates birthday

  • Published
  • By Capt. Thomas Smith
  • 66th Medical Squadron
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Air Force Medical Service announced March 11 through 15 as the first annual Biomedical Science Corps week. Officially, the BSC celebrated its 48th birthday on Jan. 28, 2013.

The inaugural BSC week highlights the unique talents and contributions of BSC officers to the Air Force mission at home and abroad. There are nine BSC officers currently assigned to the 66th Medical Squadron at Hanscom.

With 17 distinct specialties, the Biomedical Science Corps encompasses more than 2,400 officers and is the third largest element of the Air Force Medical Services.

The origins of the BSC can be traced back to World War I. During the war, the Army identified a need for individuals with unique science and healthcare specializations and developed the "Sanitary Corps," a reserve component of more than 3,000 officers.

Three years later, the Army Medical Administrative Corps came into existence and combined these medical specialties with individuals responsible for a range of administrative functions. Then, during the start of World War II, the "Sanitary Corps" once again became its own entity.

Over the following years, it continued to expand its range of personnel to include a wide variety of medically trained professionals.

Two years after the National Security Act of 1947 prompted the creation of the Air Force as a unique service branch, the AFMS officially came into existence. More than 5,000 servicemembers, both officer and enlisted, were transferred from the Army to meet the needs of the growing Air Force. The AFMS continued to expand over the next two decades and in 1965, the Biomedical Science Corps was born.

The BSC was originally comprised of mostly scientists, dieticians and occupational therapists. Since that time, a wide variety of specialties have been added. Today, the BSC encompasses 17 specialties that include: physical therapy, optometry, podiatry, physician's assistants, audiology/speech pathology, clinical psychology, clinical social work, occupational therapy, aerospace physiology, biomedical scientists, dietetics, bioenvironmental engineers, public health, entomology, pharmacy, biomedical laboratory and health physics.

BSCs may also fill roles such as squadron commanders, military training flight commanders, major command consultants, air staff officers, intelligence specialists, research and development scientists, as well as a host of other vital roles to meet the demands of the Air Force mission.