The Hospital Corpsman rating has provided health care to Sailors, Marines and civilians worldwide for over a century. With exemplary valor and dedication, the Navy's most decorated rate has served in every military conflict since the rating's inception June 17, 1898.
“There is nothing better than truly being able to help others and we get to do that every day,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Justin Martin. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Martin, a Chisago City, Minnesota native, said coming from a military family was a deciding factor when he joined the Navy. Martin’s father was a Master Chief Logistic Specialist who served in the Navy for 22 years.
“I decided my freshman year in high school, after seeing what the Navy had done for my father, I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” said Martin. “I also missed traveling.”
On July 15, 2015, Martin left for Recruit Training Command at Naval Station Great Lake for 8 weeks of basic training followed by 19 weeks of Corpsman “A” school at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas. Martin learned basic Corpsman skills including prevention and treatment of disease and injuries, techniques for caring for sick and injured, administering immunization programs, and rendering emergency medical treatment.
The largest rating in the Navy, the Hospital Corps consists of more than 25,450 active duty and reserve Navy hospital corpsmen. Hospital Corpsman serve in billets across the operational spectrum, including: independent duty aboard ships and submarines, Fleet Marine Force, divers, explosive ordnance disposal, isolated duty stations, and naval construction battalions.
“My father had a lot of Corpsman friends,” said Martin. “Whenever they came around they would always say it’s the best rate in the Navy.”
Martin reported for duty at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy, in January 2016 where he completed his Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification and worked in the hospital’s emergency room.
Martin left USNH Sigonella in February 2019 to report to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan.
Martin’s duties onboard Mustin include providing care to a crew of more than 300 Sailors, maintaining the ship’s Individual Medical Readiness, training the crew for various medical emergencies, as well as the maintenance and inspections of Sailors berthing and dining mess decks.
“The respect the crew gives you from the lowest ranking individual all the way up to the commanding officer, this respect comes the day you check onboard,” said Martin. “There is a huge amount of trust they put into us just because we are "doc".”
As rewarding as the job may be, Hospital Corpsman also face challenges unique to their skillsets.
“You take on the burdens and stress other people are carrying when they come in, add it to your plate and whenever they leave you just have to move on to the next encounter,” said Martin. “One of the biggest things is not having an SOP [standard operating procedure] for what we do. There are no medical encounters that are identical, which keeps us in a constant state of thinking outside the box and learning from these new experiences.”
The corpsman lifestyle has been an unforgettable experience, said Martin.
“The rating gives me the opportunity to give back,” said Martin. “It’s something we do every day.”
The U.S. Navy Hospital Corps remains the largest and most decorated rate in the Navy, with more than 30,000 active duty and reserve Corpsmen serving within our units across the naval force.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David H. Berger, recently published a message celebrating the accomplishments of Navy Corpsmen in a hospital corps birthday message.
“Marines take great pride in serving alongside the Docs who are always there when we call,” said Berger, “Corpsman Up.” He continued by saying, “We are grateful for your dedication and sacrifices, and we join you in celebrating the impressive legacy of Navy Hospital Corpsmen past and present. Congratulations on 122 years of exceptional service.”
USS Mustin (DDG 89) is underway conducting operations in the Indo-Pacific region while assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.