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Corps Chief

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Leigh A. Swanson
Air Mobility Command Surgeon

Medical Corps

Graphic of the Medical Corps Logo

The Medical Corps consists entirely of commissioned Air Force physicians, including holders of the Doctor of Medicine degree and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. A member of the Medical Corps can also become a Flight Surgeon, and the Chief of the Medical Corps is a brigadier general.

Mission: Physician Expertise in Support of the Warfighter

Vision: Agile Physician Force Delivering Preeminent Medical Care to Optimize Performance

Motto: Grounded in history, Resilient in the present, Innovative for the future



Contact Us

Email: Medical Corps

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LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTHCARE CAREERS

What We Do

Medical Corps officers safeguard the human weapon system through expert diagnosis, treatment, and performance optimization. Whether at a stateside clinic or forward operating site, they ensure Airmen and Guardians remain healthy, deployable, and mission-ready.

Flight surgeons (specially trained Medical Corps officers) embed with flying units to assess risk, enhance human performance, and provide immediate medical support. They may transition seamlessly from pre-mission briefings to sick call, evaluating an aviator with altitude-related symptoms or clearing another for flight; each decision directly influences operational tempo and mission success.

Commissioned physicians serve as both clinical authorities and operational advisors, blending medical science with an understanding of the mission environment. From family medicine and surgery to aerospace physiology and preventive health, they deliver agile, high-reliability care tailored to every domain of warfare.

Whether in garrison, in the air, or downrange, their leadership and expertise sustain the readiness that powers global Air Force operations.

APPLY NOW TO JOIN THE MEDICAL CORPS

Global Impact

Through readiness, partnership, humanitarian response, and innovation, the Medical Corps’ impact is felt worldwide. Its physicians ensure the health and performance of Airmen globally by supporting missions through preventative care, aeromedical evacuation, and rapid-deployment of medical teams capable of providing advanced care in austere environments.

Beyond the battlefield, members strengthen international partnerships through global health engagements, training host-nation providers, and building medical interoperability with allies and partners. They also lead humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, offering lifesaving care during crises such as earthquakes, pandemics, and conflicts.

Through institutions like the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the AFMC drives advances in aerospace physiology, trauma care, and telemedicine, shaping both military and civilian healthcare practices. The Corps’ blend of medical expertise, operational readiness, and compassion exemplifies the Air Force’s commitment to global security, diplomacy, and human welfare to ensure the force remains ready to respond anytime, anywhere.



“The first element to being a military physician is personal readiness. This includes being a great officer, being fit, being the best physician you can be, and having your personal life in order from family care plan to your finances. After that, we each impact readiness in different ways, but please be clear that every physician matters to readiness.”

– U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Backus, USTRANSCOM command surgeon

Pathways: Career / Education

It’s our mission to provide our Airmen and their families with the best healthcare possible, so we’re constantly seeking to add more of the best healthcare professionals to our team. From general medicine to highly focused subspecialties, there are dozens of exciting healthcare careers in the U.S. Air Force.

Healthcare professionals in the Air Force provide the highest-quality care by staying on top of the latest innovations in the medical field.

  • Types of Jobs

    For the Medical Corps, a doctoral degree (either MD or DO) and postgraduate (residency / specialty) training are requested. Constructive credit for pay and / or promotion may be awarded for military or civilian prior experience/training.


    The Medical Corps encompasses 27 physician specialties and more 106 subspecialties.


    These include, but are not limited to:


    • Aeromedical Services
    • Allergy
    • Anesthesiology
    • Critical Informatics
    • Critical Care Medicine
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Family Medicine
    • General Surgery
    • Genetics
    • Internal Medicine
    • Neurology
    • Neurosurgery
    • Gynecological Surgery and Obstetrics
    • Occupational Medicine
    • Ophthalmology
    • Orthopedic Surgery
    • Otolaryngology
    • Pathology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preventive Medicine
    • Psychiatry
    • Radiation Oncology
    • Radiology
    • Urology

     

  • Advancement & Continuing Education Opportunities

    The Medical Corps offers physicians many opportunities throughout their career, and there are four pathways to use as a guide for career progression: Clinical, Command, Academic, and Integrated Operations.


    Physicians can move in and out of the various pathways, through the rank of Colonel, to include deployments and staff positions. A Physician may even choose to focus in one track throughout their time in the U.S Air Force.


    Jobs in these tracks can include:


    • Attending fellowship opportunities
    • White House Medical Office
    • Critical Care Air Transport Team physician
    • Specialty Department Chair
    • DHA Market Service Line Lead
    • Associate or Assistant Professor
    • Flight Surgeon
    • MAJCOM Command Surgeon
  • Health Professions Scholarship Program

    The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program is the largest pipeline for medical school candidates, with approximately 250-300 candidates, per year.


    Four year scholarships (and a select number of three year scholarships) are available, with funds eligible to be applies to any accredited medical school tuition and expenses.


    Additionally, the HPSP provides a monthly stipend and an optional $20,000 bonus.


    See your recruiter for more information on the HPSP.

  • Financial Assistance Program

    The Air Force Financial Assistance Program for medical and dental residencies can help you complete your residency without having to worry about finances.


    You will receive more than $45,000 for every year you participate in the program and receive a stipend of over $2,000 a month to cover living expenses.


    Upon completion of your residency, you’ll have a one-year obligation for each year of participation, plus one extra year.


    Potential applicants can contact an Air Force Health Professions Recruiter through www.airforce.com.


READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? LEARN MORE ABOUT A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER-BROADENING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE MEDICAL CORPS

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