You see them on the deckplates during a medical emergency, when you feel sick, when you need a wisdom tooth pulled out, or if you are wounded.

They are the hospital corpsmen, and they, along with the rest of the Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), celebrated the rating's 119th birthday, June 17.

"I'm proud to be part of such a storied rate because we are the backbone of Navy medicine," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eric Olszyk. "Sailors are the Navy's most valuable asset, and they need to be in good health to serve to the best of their abilities, which is why we're here."

Established June 17, 1898, hospital corpsmen provide health care to Sailors, Marines and those entrusted to their care on the battlefield, at sea, under the sea, and in healthcare facilities worldwide.

"It sounds like a cliche thing to say, but I really do love this job," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Gabriel Macias. "Whether it's giving a flu shot or treating someone after a medical emergency is called, it's always rewarding to see people walk out in a better state than when they came in."

Even though the name of the rating has changed throughout the Navy's history, from loblolly boy to pharmacist's mate to today's hospital corpsman, the values that corpsmen live by remains the same.

"As corpsmen we are given quite a level of trust in making sure our Sailors stay healthy and treat them when they are not," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brandon Day. "Having that kind of trust and responsibility means a lot to me because I get to help people. To put others before me - that's what corpsmen are about."

The Hospital Corps, consisting of more than 25,000 active duty and
reserve corpsmen, is the largest and most decorated rating in the Navy.

Twenty naval ships have been named after hospital corpsmen, and corpsmen have earned countless awards throughout the years, including the Medal of Honor.

"Being a part of the most decorated rate in the Navy, it's quite an honor to be a part of such a legacy," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Raymond Jordan. "I've been in the Navy for 14 years, and I couldn't see myself doing anything else besides being a hospital corpsman."

Hospital corpsmen are a key part of U.S Navy medicine, which provides quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. They deploy everywhere, whether it's a ship, facility or with a Marine unit, they provide critical mission support.

"I've been on five deployments in my career; two on ships and three with the Marines," said Jordan. "I've had a challenging, yet rewarding experience. What makes it rewarding is knowing that I made a difference. I put myself out there, risking my life, to make sure someone didn't lose theirs."

Despite having a distinguished legacy to follow, the corpsman is only concerned with helping those in need, and making sure they get better.

"It really is about helping people, that is and should be the reward," said Macias. "Not only do I help out the Sailors, but their families and retirees. It's just another way of staying connected with the Navy, and doing my part to keep it running."

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