Army Relegates Commissioned DCs to Medical Specialists Corps

By Editorial Staff

An information paper released by the U.S. Army reveals that chiropractors would be commissioned to serve as a part of the Army Medical Specialists Corps. The information was provided by Captain Frederic Miscoe, II, DC, who has been working toward the commissioning of DCs since he was in chiropractic college.

According to Dr. Miscoe, the Army Medical Services Corps would be a much more beneficial destination for DCs, because of the large number of health care providers assigned to this corps. There are relatively few openings available for commissioned officers in the Specialists Corps. Chiropractors would have to share the Specialists Corps with physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc.

The good news is that the Army regulations have been updated to make the commissioning of DCs in the Army a reality. The following was provided to Dr. Miscoe by Congressman John P. Murtha (D-PA), chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. You'll find points 3 & 4 under "criteria for appointment" to be of particular interest.

Army Information Paper

27 May 1993

SUBJECT: Appointment of Chiropractors as Commissioned Officers in the Army Medical Specialist Corps

ISSUE: Regulatory changes pertaining to the appointment of chiropractors as commissioned officers.

FACTS:

a. The National Defense _Authorization_ Act for FY93 (Public Law 102-484, Oct. 23, 1993), Section 505 authorizes the commissioning of chiropractors in the military services.
b. The appointment eligibility criteria for chiropractors have been included in an update of Army Regulation 135-101, Appointment of Reserve Commissioned Officers for Assignment to Army Medical Department Branches. The final draft of this update was completed 1 May 1993 and will be published on or about October 1993.
c. The recommended criteria for the appointment of chiropractors are as follows:

Be a graduate of an accredited school of chiropractic, approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education and the Surgeon General.

Have taken and passed all parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test and have a current state license in chiropractic from one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Have had at least one year of experience in health care services and have been privileged in a Joint Commission of Healthcare Organization (JCHAO) accredited facility.

Be engaged in an ethical practice of chiropractic care as determined by the Surgeon General.