Submarine Independent Duty Corpsman (Sub IDC)
IDCs fulfill a variety of critical duties in support of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps mission. They serve as clinical or specialty technicians in more than 38 occupational specialties, including key administrative roles at military treatment facilities around the world. IDCs are assistants in the treatment and prevention of disease, and serve side-by-side with medical officers, doctors, dentists and nurses. They can be found aboard ships and submarines, or ashore throughout the United States and abroad. They are also assigned to specific Navy warfare communities, including surface, submarine or Fleet Marine Force IDCs. “The position of Independent Duty Corpsman is one of the most responsible and challenging enlisted assignments in the armed forces. Whether performing minor surgeries below the sea, steaming to provide humanitarian assistance in distant waters or rendering emergency care on the battlefield, IDCs play an integral role in the success of Navy Medicine,” said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Blake West, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery IDC program manager. The scope of an IDC’s responsibility extends beyond providing hands-on medical care and includes providing advice and counsel to senior leaders.
