JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The United States Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC) celebrates its 51st anniversary this year. The men and women comprising the BSC have a wide range of intellectual backgrounds, enabling them to lend their expertise and experience to patients and colleagues Air Force wide.
The BSC's origins can be traced back to the Army Sanitary Corps and the Army Medical Administrative Corps. The Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) was created in 1949 when the combat elements of the Army Air Forces separated from the U.S. Army to form the U.S. Air Force. As the AFMS continued to expand, there was a need to separate administrators and logisticians from scientific and allied technical specialists. On 28 January 1965, the BSC was established when General Curtis Lemay signed the Department of the Air Force Special Order CA-5.
The BSC is one of five officer corps in the AFMS with more than 2,400 officers. BSC officers are supported in their career fields daily by 5,800 active duty enlisted technicians and personnel who are integral to the mission. Unlike other corps where members have very similar jobs, BSC's are a very diverse with 15 different Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) covering 18 distinct career fields supporting the various AFMS missions. The following career fields fall under the BSC: Aerospace and Operational Physiology, Audiology, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Clinical Dietetics, Clinical Social Work, Health Physics, Medical Architects, Medical Entomology, Medical Lab, Medical Physics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Podiatry, Psychology and Public Health.
Diversity is our strength, we work together to provide a broad spectrum of clinical and scientific expertise impacting the health and well-being of Joint Base Charleston's members, their families and retirees. Nine of the 18 BSC career fields are represented here at JB Charleston: Bioenvironmental Engineer, Clinical Social Work, Medical Lab, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Psychology and Public Health. There are 15 BSC officers and more than 100 BSC support personnel, enlisted, civilians and contractors assigned to the 628th Medical Group.
To recognize the achievements of the men and women of the BSC, the 628th Medical Group has many activities planned to help observe BSC Appreciation Week. Please join us Jan. 25 - 29, 2016 as we celebrate.