what is a corpsman in the marines

A corpsman in the Marines is a Navy corpsman who serves as a medical support professional for the Marines. The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps do not have medics, they have corpsmen. Navy corpsmen get their names from the U.S. Navy’s Hospital Corps, which was established in 1898 to give enlisted sailors formal medical training. Corpsmen are trained to run towards the action to help the wounded, often risking their own lives to do so. They work in medical settings in the field, in military hospitals, and in medical clinics and ships. Corpsmen assist military medical doctors and dentists, perform medical tests, draw blood, administer medication and injections, conduct regular healthcare screenings, and assist in the delivery of emergency medical care. They transport patients, provide preventative medical and dental care, and keep records. Corpsmen are trained to be compassionate, caring, mentors, guides, brothers or sisters to Sailors and Marines. They are highly respected by Marines and are considered part of the Marine Corps family.