are trained and specialized in the same aspects of their Recon Marine and special operator counterparts: amphibious entry, deep recon and direct action. They are also capable of conducting detailed underwater ship-bottom searches. During operational status, the teams will then be dispersed evenly throughout the Marine recon platoons; usually one amphibious recon corpsman per platoon. SARCs have regularly acted as a point man, sharp shooter, radio operator, or even the team leader in the Marine recon teams/platoons. More recently, SARCs are being deployed with Marine Special Operations Command and Naval Special Warfare units due to their highly advanced skills in combat trauma care and diving medicine.
Mission
The environments that Recon Marines and Recon Corpsmen face during a mission are usually hazardous. The Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen use their paramedic skills to provide advanced medical support and other emergency medical procedures related to the hazards of swimming, open and closed circuit SCUBA diving, and military freefall during amphibious reconnaissance operations. They also instruct and advise the recon Marines in prevention and treatment of illnesses, whether in combat or training. The SARC has the duty of hyperbaric chamber operator: skilled in the operation of recompression chambers for hyperbaric treatment. They are also required to know laws and physics of diving, fundamentals of proper gas mixtures, theory and practice of decompression and the use of decompression tables.
Performs routine sick call, diagnostic patient care as well as associated operational, administrative, and logistical duties.
Performs basic anesthesia, minor surgical, basic clinical laboratory, basic radiology, and other routine and emergency health care procedures as required.
Performs advanced trauma procedures in a hostile or combat environment often independently behind enemy lines.
Instructs and advises junior medical and operational personnel in prevention and treatment of illness and injuries.
As of 2015, a male hospital corpsman serving in the paygrades of E-1 to E-6 serving in any capacity may apply for candidacy. It is not required to be currently serving with a Fleet Marine unit to apply. Sailors currently attending Hospital Corpsman "A" School may enter the pipeline immediately without first serving time in the fleet by enrolling in the Special Operations Corpsman Program, currently held at HM "A" School. This course is designed to prepare sailors for the lifestyle and training required of candidates applying for SARC, Dive Medical Technician, and Search-and-Rescue programs. Marine Recon and the associated training pipeline is restricted to males only as of 2015. Candidates must have a current ASVAB general technical score of 100 or higher. They also must have passed their last three physical fitness assessments and be able to achieve a first class swim qualification. A commanding officer endorsement is also required, no non-judicial punishments for 12 months and no courts-martial for 24 months. The extensive training requires a commitment to serve as a recon corpsman for a minimum of three years.
Occupational Classification
After completion of Phases 1 & 2 listed below, Corpsman will be awarded the NEC 8404. Following Phases 3-7, Corpsman will be awarded the NEC 8427, Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Corpsman. After completing the Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman course, Corpsman possessing the NEC 8427 will be awarded the NEC 8403, Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman/SOIDC.
Navy Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman Course
Following this pipeline, corpsman will be assigned to one of the Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions, Force Reconnaissance, MARSOC, or other USSOCOM command in order to be placed with a specific unit. Upon placement, corpsman will receive specialized occupational training in order to become a more qualified component of a team. These training courses may include, but are not limited to; Scout Sniper, Breaching, Language School, Joint Terminal Attack Control, and Mountaineering.
