Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service and is regarded as the person who takes a position on all matters of public health services to the Government of the United States. He is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a four year term. The Surgeon General reports to the United States Assistant Secretary for Health ( in the Federal Republic of roughly comparable to a state secretary in the Ministry of Health).
He heads the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, to which about 6,000 people are and that is a sub-unit of the United States Public Health Services. Members of this corps are always on call and can be used by the health minister or his representative in emergencies in the field of health care.
The Surgeon General is also responsible for awarding orders and medals for services to the public health service. He is also responsible for educating the public about diseases and healthy lifestyle, so be he, for example, warnings for cigarette packages - for example, " Surgeon General 's Warning: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy " - published or alcoholic beverages.
A Surgeon General, there is moreover for each area of the armed services. The medical corps of the U.S. military is a decentralized structure and each part has its own armed force medical service. This form of organization is that of the Wehrmacht and Bundeswehr until 2000. Corresponded to the Surgeon General of the General Physicians at Army and Air Force as well as the Admiral of the Navy doctor.
In both badges can be found in the U.S. very popular error: The rod shown is not the medical profession has become a sign of Aesculapius, but the Caduceus (Latin caduceus ), the distinctive mark of the heralds.
Surgeons General of the United States
Comparability to other armed forces
His military rank is that of a vice admiral in some NATO member countries are equivalent.
In the army the rank is comparable to the General Surgeon and Surgeon- Admiral. In contrast, the function or service position would be comparable in the Armed Forces with the Inspector of the Medical Service.
- Surgeon General of the United States
- Medical Services (military )