To work in the Armed Forces as a hospital Corpsman, no college degree is required. Hospital Corpsmen can work in the medical or dental field. Duties of a corpsman include administering preventative care, providing emergency medical or dental treatment, maintaining patient records, administering medications and injections, and performing a variety of medical tests. Corpsman fill prescriptions, serve as emergency medical technicians, serve as surgical technicians, take X-rays, and educate other military personnel on personal hygiene and first aid. Corpsman work under doctors and nurses and assist in more complicated procedures.
Many Corpsman decide to continue their medical careers as a civilian. Many take the route of a medical assisting career. Traditionally requiring an associate degree, medical assistants can assist nurses and physicians in a variety of tasks. Medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks. Medical assistants work under direct supervision. Duties may include answering phones, greeting patients, updating patient information, insurance handling, scheduling appointments, arranging for procedures and tests, rooming patients, and assisting during exams.
In order to make the transition from Corpsman to civilian medical assistant, you can take one of two routes.
A Corpsman can apply for medical assisting positions that require no experience or formal education in the field. By taking a position that provides full training, the Corpsman can learn the precise ropes of a specific clinic or physician's office.
A Corpsman can also take advantage of the educational offerings the Armed Services provide to those who have served. A Corpsman may be eligible for tuition assistance, meaning, the Armed Forces will pay for a portion or all of your education while on active duty. The post- 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill, the Veterans Education Assistance Program, and the Reserve Education Assistance Program also provide educational assistance for active duty, reserve, and veterans, according to the United States' Department of Veteran Affairs.