Feature Search

Celebrating 50 years: Air Force biomedical surpasses milestone

  • Published
  • By By Tech. Sgt. Magen Harger
  • 36th Medical Support Squadron
This week the Air Force celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps. From humble beginnings as part of the Sanitary Corps, the BSC has grown into the third largest and most diverse corps in the Air Force Medical Service.

In 1917 the Sanitary Corps was created to control the spread of infectious disease; in 1920 it became part of the Army Medical Administrative Corps. The Air Force Medical Service was officially established in 1949 and continued to grow over the years until in 1965 the Biomedical Sciences Corp was created. In 1988 the Environmental Health Nurses were transferred from the Nurse Corps to the BSC and formed Public Health. Over the course of the next several years the BSC grew to include a wide variety of medical specialties.

The mission of the BSC is to enhance Air Force combat capability and effectiveness by providing world-class customer service and scientific expertise, resulting in peak force performance, productivity and quality healthcare to our beneficiary population. Made up of 15 primary specialty codes, the BSC is an example of diverse collaboration whose motto is "United in the Mission."

The 2,400 officers and 5,800 enlisted members that comprise the BSC can be found across the globe at 81 locations. The BSC contains specialties such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, biomedical laboratory, aerospace and operational physiology, podiatry, audiology, speech pathology, optometry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, bioenvironmental engineers, dietetics, public health, medical entomology, physician assistants, healthcare facilities architects/engineers, and health and medical physics. Along with fulfilling specialty roles in medical treatment facilities BSC members serve at every level of medical command.  They serve at major commands, forward operating agencies, and Headquarters Air Force.

The Biomedical Sciences Corps also spends a great deal of time on research and a variety of other critical roles in support of the Air Force mission.

Please join the Air Force in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps and the devoted men and women who tirelessly serve to ensure quality healthcare is available to all beneficiaries.