thedrifter
03-03-07, 07:17 AM
Conway praises corpsmen as positions are cut
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 2, 2007 15:54:31 EST
The Corps’ top officer credited Navy corpsmen with keeping Marines alive on the battlefield, as Congress met to discuss proposed cuts to Navy medical personnel.
“For every 11 Marines that are hit, one will be killed,” Commandant Gen. James Conway said while testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “Of the remaining 10, several will be returned to duty. Those that do survive very serious injuries do so with the quality of the care on the part of a young corpsman who may be little more than 21 or 22 years old.”
The Navy is making deep cuts to personnel, axing about 900 medical positions including 100 doctors, said committee chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.
About 40,000 positions have been slashed over the past five years, Navy Secretary Donald Winter told the congressional panel. The paring down will continue for years to come, reaching an end strength of about 320,000 — down from today’s 345,000.
Ellie
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 2, 2007 15:54:31 EST
The Corps’ top officer credited Navy corpsmen with keeping Marines alive on the battlefield, as Congress met to discuss proposed cuts to Navy medical personnel.
“For every 11 Marines that are hit, one will be killed,” Commandant Gen. James Conway said while testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “Of the remaining 10, several will be returned to duty. Those that do survive very serious injuries do so with the quality of the care on the part of a young corpsman who may be little more than 21 or 22 years old.”
The Navy is making deep cuts to personnel, axing about 900 medical positions including 100 doctors, said committee chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.
About 40,000 positions have been slashed over the past five years, Navy Secretary Donald Winter told the congressional panel. The paring down will continue for years to come, reaching an end strength of about 320,000 — down from today’s 345,000.
Ellie