United States Army Hospital Corps

United States Army Hospital Corps
Active	1886 - 1916
Country	USA
Branch	United States Army Medical Department
Type	Enlisted corps
Role	Medical orderlies, Field medics

United States Army Hospital Corps was organized in 1886 in order to recruit and retain competent medical enlisted personnel in the United States Army Medical Department for field service in the event of a foreign war. Existing Hospital Stewards were not trained to perform duties as field medical personnel. The Corps was recruited from enlisted men who had served one year in the line. After training they were transferred to a post where they would be assigned duties as nurse, cook or medical attendant. Privates having served twelve months in the Corps could be recommended for promotion. Having passed an examination they were promoted to Acting Hospital Stewards (Sergeant). Promotion to full Hospital Steward (Sergeant First Class) was possible after one year's service in an acting capacity and after having passed a second and more rigorous examination. The peak strength of the Corps was reached in November 1898, during the Spanish–American War, with about 6,000 men serving in the Corps.^[1]