Flight surgeon
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The flight surgeon is a specialized medical officer in the U.S armed forces. Flight surgeons are usually M.D.s (medical doctors) or D.O.s (doctor of Osteopathy), although the position is sometimes filled by a Warrant Officer who is a Physician's Assistant. The Flight Surgeon is responsible for the treatment and certification of aviation personnel eg. pilots, crew members and air traffic controllers.
This position requires additional specialized training. It was created as a distinction from standard medical professionals in the armed forces because of the special, and often higher, minimum standards of fitness and physical requirements required by extremely high responsibility job functions of aviators and ancillary personnel. For example, some routine treatments, such as certain antihistamines, when administered to aviation personnel, are cause for temporary grounding (loss of flying privileges) until the therapy and its effects are completed.
Due to the advanced training and education required to serve as a flight surgeon, the U.S. military awards the Flight Surgeon Badge to those so qualified. The badge is only awarded to those service members who are commissioned officers and fully qualified flight surgeons.