Biomedical Sciences Corps 50th Anniversary

  • Published
  • By 82d Medical Group
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  This year, the Biomedical Sciences Corps celebrates its 50th Birthday.  The Air Force recognizes the unique contributions of the men and women who comprise the BSC by designating Jan. 26-30, 2015, as BSC Appreciation Week. 

There are 22 BSC officers, and more than 100 BSC support personnel, enlisted, civilians, and contractors, assigned to the 82d Medical Group here.

The origins of the BSC can be traced back to WWI, when the Sanitary Corps was established in the United States Army to combat infectious diseases.  The Army Medical Administrative Corps followed three years later, combining these medical specialties with individuals responsible for a wide range of administrative functions. 

In 1949, the Air Force Medical Service was officially established.  The Air Force Medical Service continued to expand over the next two decades and in 1965, the Biomedical Sciences Corps was formed. 

Over the past 50 years, the BSC continued to expand its range of personnel to include a wide variety of medically-trained professionals.

As the most diverse Officer Corps in the Air Force Medical Service, the BSC consists of 15 different Air Force Specialty Codes, leading and supporting the MSC mission. These specialties include Physical Therapy, Optometry, Podiatry, Physician Assistant, Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Aerospace and Operational Physiology, Dietetics, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Public Health, Medical Entomology, Pharmacy, Biomedical Laboratory. 

With the exception of Podiatry, Audiology and Dietetics officers within all of these AFSCs are assigned to the 82nd MDG.

Across the Air Force, the BSC consists of 2,400 officers and 5,800 enlisted members working together to enhance Air Force combat capability, provide world-class customer service, and quality healthcare for 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide.

This year the base will be hosting two events during BSC Appreciation Week.  The first event is a Professional Development Course briefing on the history of the BSC at the Heritage Center starting at 10:00 a.m. Jan. 27.  The second is the "BSC 50th Anniversary Bowling Bash"  12:00 p.m. Jan. 28 at the South bowling lanes.

All events are free and open to all base personnel and their families. Please join the Air Force and Sheppard in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Biomedical Sciences Corps.