Military Medicine – A High Calling
You can make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families regardless of your age and without putting on a uniform. Seventy percent of military physicians are civilians, working alongside professionals at the top of their fields with access to the most advanced resources.
The civilian medical corps of the U.S Military numbers close to 27,000 providers ranging from Anesthesiologists to Physical Therapists serving in every branch of the military in the U.S and overseas in 70 + military medical facilities. At any given moment there are 2,500 providers being recruited and credentialed for civilian service.
Military Medicine is a high calling – meeting the unique needs active duty soldiers and their families who face the stress of frequent separation, danger of battle, and the all-too-frequent aftermath of post-traumatic stress disorder so common to combat veterans. The U.S. Army is on the cutting edge of proactive triage and treatment under clear directive from the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Peter Chiarelli, who has made normalization of treatment almost a personal crusade.
The proposed 2015 DoD budget provides $475 billion for the military health program to sustain strong programs to support the wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families and to help them transition to civilian service. Strong efforts are being made to remove the stigma association with accessing mental health services.