Expert: Matt - 5/31/2009

Question
Hi, I was just wondering if it is possible for me to join the US Marines and then after boot camp be able to become a marine medical officer through the Navy medical program.  I really would want to join the Marines first and then attend the Navy instead of the opposite.

Answer
If you want to become a US Marine Corps Corpsman (as marine medics are known) then you should know  a few things. First of all, Corpsmen that serve with the Marines are actually Navy personnel who are assigned to Marine units after undergoing special training. With that said, the only way to do it is to go to Navy Boot Camp, become a Navy corpsmen, then volunteer for the special training needed for assignment to a USMC unit.