BSC celebrates 50th anniversary

  • Published
  • 1st Special Operations Medical Group
The Air Force has recognized the achievements of the men and women who comprise the Biomedical Sciences Corps by designating Jan. 26 through Jan. 30 as BSC Appreciation Week. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps.

The BSC's roots date back to the Sanitary Corps, which was established in 1917 to combat infectious diseases. The Army Medical Administrative Corps followed three years later, and in 1949 the Air Force Medical Service was officially established. The AFMS continued to expand over the next two decades, and in 1965 the Biomedical Sciences Corps was born. Over the past 50 years, the BSC continued to expand its range of personnel to include a wide variety of medically-trained professionals.

The BSC's mission 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. Comprised of 15 primary specialty codes, the BSC is the most diverse corps in the Air Force Medical Service.

Comprised of 2,400 officers and 5,800 enlisted members in parallel career fields, BSC members are stationed at 81 locations around the world in multiple settings. The BSC encompasses a vast number of specialties including physical therapy, optometry, occupational therapy, aerospace and operational physiology, pharmacy, biomedical laboratory and medical physics. In addition to specialty roles within the medical treatment facilities, BSC officers are embedded within operational units, serving at every level of medical command, including MAJCOMs, Forward Operating Agencies, and Headquarters Air Force. Additionally, the Biomedical Sciences Corps is heavily invested in research and a host of other vital roles to meet the demands of the Air Force mission.

The 50th anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps is a time to recognize the contributions of these outstanding men and women who dedicate their lives to improving health, maximizing performance, and providing trusted medical care to support our most vital resource- our Airmen.