Assessing Corpsmen Training Needs: Enhanced Medical Readiness in the Indo-Pacific for Near Peer.
Tyler LopachinMartin ManoukianJessica ProckJoshua A KotlerRaj Chandra SingarajuPublished in: Military medicine (2024)
The discussion emphasizes the importance of contextual factors in developing a Corpsmen-based curriculum, focusing on themes such as Training, Performance, and Impact. Tasking highlights critical areas for curriculum development, especially in educating Corpsmen as Educators, Leaders, and First-responder Caregivers. Gaps in training were identified, particularly in Non-trauma and First-responder Care, impacting Corpsmen's ability to handle diseases and injuries independently. Drawing parallels with Community Health Worker and Physician Extender (PE) education paradigms, we suggest adapting existing models to meet Corpsmen's needs. The discussion also delves into the history of employing PEs and developing training programs within the Naval Service. We propose a combination of Community Health Worker and PE-based education to enhance Corpsmen's competency and job satisfaction while facilitating their transition to civilian health care. Standardized curricula and training programs could improve skill transferability and readiness for Corpsmen in both military and civilian settings.