Radiation Health Officer

Radiation Specialist

Introduction

               Founded in 1947, the Medical Service Corps was part of the restructuring of a post-World War II Navy. The Medical Service Corps has since seen tremendous growth in the number of Naval Officers and in the breadth of represented scientific and administrative professions. One of the most unique and challenging of these professions is the Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist Community. It offers a great opportunity for professional development as well as personal growth and travel. Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists have access to career development in both medical and health physics as they serve in the Fleet, teach, conduct research, publish scholarly articles, and collaborate with distinguished scientists.

               As of 15 January 2009, the Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist Community includes 78 Naval Officers who serve in wide variety of assignments and duty stations in the United States and overseas. (Females represent 14% (11/78) and males 86% (67/78).) Assignments are located in nine states; the District of Columbia; and overseas in Hawaii, Japan and Italy. Two of thirteen ships with billets for our Naval Officers are home-ported in Guam and Japan. With duty station rotations occurring about every three years, there are opportunities to experience geographical, cultural, and professional diversity.

               The educational levels achieved by Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists are impressive with a mixture of doctoral, masters, and bachelor degrees. Each year, several officers report to civilian universities for two or three years to obtain either a Masters Degree or Doctoral Degree at Navy expense. During 2009, 5% (4/78) will be in full time training leading to advanced degrees. Graduate-level programs at the U.S. Naval War College and many other shorter courses on a variety of career-oriented subjects are also available. Continuing education is highly encouraged by attending and speaking at professional conferences, such as the Health Physics Society and the Radiological Society of North America. We encourage completion of professional board certification.

What are my career opportunities?

               Medical Physics

               Radiation Specialists serve as medical physics experts in diagnostic image quality; teleradiology; digital imaging; imaging equipment performance; and physics and image science training for radiology residents and other medical professionals. As Radiation Safety Officers, they manage Navy Radioactive Material Permits to protect the health and safety of patients, staff, and members of the general public from radioactive materials and radiation generating equipment. Senior officers may also serve in hospitals as Directors of Radiology Departments.

               This list identifies Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist billets at medical treatment facilities.

               Health Physics

               Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists also serve in a wide variety of billets focusing on Health Physics. These include jobs in nondestructive testing (x-ray and gamma radiography), nuclear weapons, nuclear propulsion, radiological waste management, dosimetry, and associated radiation health and safety programs. They perform these varying roles at shore-based commands, aboard submarine tenders (forward-deployed support ships), and aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

               This list identifies Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist billets at commands with a health physics focus.

               Research and Teaching

               Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists conduct medical and biological research, and lead training programs. Research duties include serving as Principal Investigators for basic and applied biomedical research programs, and radiation safety program management. They serve as instructors at training commands leading programs to prepare technicians, physicians, and medical students for duty.

               This list identifies Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist billets at research and training commands.

            Senior Leadership and Program Management

               As Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists advance in their careers, they have many opportunities to demonstrate their leadership abilities by managing larger health physics and medical physics programs. Most are located at joint-service commands and at several Navy Headquarters. Assignment to these positions include considerable responsibility and direction over health and safety programs in the Navy and Marine Corps. They gain invaluable experience for continued growth as leaders in the Department of the Navy.

               This list identifies Radiation Health Officer and Radiation Specialist billets at senior-level commands.

What are my benefits?

               An officer commissioned into the Navy's Medical Service Corps is assigned a military grade primarily based on level of education. They are commissioned into one of three grades: Ensign (O-1), Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2), or Lieutenant (O-3). Individuals with a Bachelors degree are usually commissioned an Ensign, those with a Masters degree as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and those with a Doctoral degree as a Lieutenant. Basic pay is based on grade. A monthly tax-free housing allowance (based on geographic assignment and status of dependents), and a monthly tax-free food allowance are also provided. Medical and dental treatment is delivered at government expense. Spouses and children are eligible for medical care within the Department of Defense's facilities, and received dental care at civilian practices at reduced cost.

               Naval Officers are eligible for retirement after twenty years of active duty service. The comprehensive retirement plan includes regular monthly payments for the remainder of your life, commensurate with years of active duty served, and includes annual cost of living adjustments. Medical benefits continue after retirement for a nominal cost under the TRICARE Program.

               This table shows annual pay for Naval Officers reporting to the Washington, D.C. area based on calendar year 2009 pay data.  It includes tax-free housing and food allowances.  Pay will be greater for those with previous enlisted military service.

Who do I contact?

CAPT Bill Adams, (M3B42), Specialty Leader for Radiation Health Officers and Radiation Specialists

Telephone: (202) 762-3447, FAX (202) 762-0931

E-mail: William.Adams2@med.navy.mil