![]() There have been a few iterations of hospital corpsmen over the years, such as surgeon’s mate, surgeon’s steward, loblolly boy, nurse, apothecary and bayman, hospital steward, hospital apprentice and pharmacist’s mate.Īpparently that accumulated 124 years of legacy, along with the years stretching back to the Revolutionary War and Civil War, have somehow become a forgotten fact in more than one national publication, including several specifically tailored to U.S. Nor have there been any since the inception of the Navy Hospital Corps, June 17, 1898. It’s because there are no medics in the U.S. Especially those who gave their all for another. Air Force aerospace medical service technician. There are no medics listed, which is not in any way to disparage or lessen the tremendous care, compassion and courage of any U.S. Army.There’s 58 names affixed on Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Heroes Wall of Honor.Įveryone is a Navy hospital corpsman who lost their life after 9/11. On top of a Fort Barfoot hill on July 26, 2023, 22 Soldiers received their blue infantry cords and officially became the newest infantry Soldiers in the U.S. The immersion and ascent served to mark the transition from what they were before to what they had become. Then, dripping pond water and steaming in the midday sun, they worked their way to the top of a hill. Tired and dirty from days spent in the field, the students were called forward into the water, guided through the protected passage formed by the cadre. The cadre, decorated with an assortment of badges, tabs and scrolls, formed a corridor through the water. I just wanted to be a part of that.”Īs the most recent course came to a close, after the Soldiers hauled themselves, their gear and their weapons through the forests, roads and fields of Fort Barfoot, after they tested their endurance with a timed 5-mile run and sent thousands of rounds down range from a variety of weapons systems, they gathered near a small pond. “I’ve always believed that going through difficult times is what brings people together, and I think 11Bs go through that more than any other MOS. “During my time in the military, I’ve met all sorts of people with different MOSs, but the 11Bs stood out to me in their brotherhood,” Schmidt said. He started his military career as a medic. Steven Schmidt drove across the country to attend the infantry transition course. ![]() He’s now assigned to the 75th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I just always had the itch to still be an infantryman, and I finally scratched that itch,” Wyatt said. “I wanted to become an infantryman because it’s always been a dream of mine. When he joined the Army, he returned as a 68W combat medic but felt pulled toward the infantry. He was discharged due to an injury but rehabilitated himself and worked on an ambulance while out of the military. Alexander Wyatt started his military career as an infantryman in the U.S. The days are long and often made more challenging by sweltering heat and humidity. Soldiers gain proficiency on weapons, improve their land navigation skills, learn how to communicate and move effectively across a battlefield. 1st Class Brian Cook, a long-time cadre member at the 183rd RTI.ĭuring the course, Cook and the rest of the cadre put Soldiers, who arrive as engineers, medics, intelligence analysts and mechanics, through three rigorous weeks of infantry training. “It is not an easy MOS (military occupational specialty), but it is a very rewarding one at the same time,” said Sgt. Whatever their reason, their goal is singular: to earn the 11B military occupational specialty and leave Fort Barfoot with a blue infantry shoulder cord. Others are fulfilling childhood dreams or chasing promotion opportunities. Some of the Soldiers who attend the course, all junior Soldiers and noncommissioned officers, want to test themselves. Gatti)ĪUG– A few times each year, the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducts an 11B Infantry Transition Course. Over three weeks, 22 Soldiers at the 10, 20 and 30 skill levels learned basic infantry tactics, testing themselves mentally and physically along the way. Army Soldiers from across the nation receive their blue Infantry Shoulder Cords July 26, 2023, in recognition of their successful completion of the 11B Infantry Transition Course, taught by cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. ![]()
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