NAVY MARINES

Stephen Grist, PT, DPT  and Alexa Clifton, PT, DPT 

Navy physical therapists are members of the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps. The Navy Medical Service Corps has its roots in the Army-Navy Medical Service Corps Act of 1947 signed into law by President Harry Truman on 4 August 1947.16 Although Navy physical therapists were not the first members of this unique Corps, they followed soon after.

Physical therapists have the opportunity to practice comprehensive orthopedics for Sailors and Marines in Naval hospitals and clinics in the U.S. and overseas, on aircraft carriers and in pediatric in-school settings overseas.17 There are opportunities to work with Navy Special Warfare (SEALs), Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and Marine Raiders to provide Human Performance Optimization as well as rehabilitation.

The Navy recruits most of its physical therapists from the civilian sector to serve in the Navy since there is only one seat in the Army Baylor Physical Therapy Program for a Navy therapist. There are currently no loan forgiveness opportunities for physical therapists in the Navy.