Surgeon General
The appointment of a new Surgeon General today stoked my curiosity about where Surgeon Generals come from and why they are all admirals in the Navy.
I always assumed they were just high-ranking military doctors, but never realized that there's a completely different branch of uniformed services, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. They wear the same uniforms and share pay grades with the U.S. Navy, but wear different insignia.
Officers are appointed and given direct commissions, and the Surgeon General always holds the rank of Vice Admiral (3 stars). David Satcher held the rank of full Admiral (4 stars) because he also served as Assistant Secretary for Health, which is a 4-star office.
I always assumed they were just high-ranking military doctors, but never realized that there's a completely different branch of uniformed services, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. They wear the same uniforms and share pay grades with the U.S. Navy, but wear different insignia.
Officers are appointed and given direct commissions, and the Surgeon General always holds the rank of Vice Admiral (3 stars). David Satcher held the rank of full Admiral (4 stars) because he also served as Assistant Secretary for Health, which is a 4-star office.