The Surgeon General and Military

Hey folks, can anyone tell me -- what branch of the military is the Surgeon General associated with? I'm researching post high school plans and I'm considering medicine as well as military service.

The U.S. Surgeon General is a part of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), which is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, but it is not categorized under the Department of Defense like the five main military branches are (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard). Instead, the USPHS falls under the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Surgeon General serves as the operational head of the USPHS and its main purpose is the protection, promotion, and advancement of health throughout the United States. If you are planning to combine military service with a career in medicine, you might consider serving as a physician in one of the branches of the military or the USPHS.

Each military branch, such as the Army or Navy, has its own Medical Corps where you can serve as a health professional. Entering service as a doctor typically requires a degree from an accredited medical school (either an M.D. or D.O.), a license to practice medicine, and a completion of a residency program in a specialty area.

In contrast, roles in the USPHS range from doctors and nurses to engineers and health IT specialists, to name just a few. But the broader goal remains public health and service to the Nation. Keep in mind, the role and experience of a physician in the military or public health setting could be quite different from civilian practice, with unique rewards and challenges in each route. I'd highly recommend doing more in-depth research and speaking with individuals in each field before making a decision.