PatLaabs Posted September 19, 2023 #1 Posted September 19, 2023 Got this soft shoulder board about 4 years ago at Traders of the Lost Surplus in California. I got it alongside a CWO4 Physician Assistant (PA)/Technical Nurse soft shoulder board. At the time of purchase I didn't think much of it but as I got more into collecting and getting more fascinated with warrant officers (specifically medical ones) I realized that this one doesn't fit in properly with the history of Navy Warrant Officers (WO) as far as I can tell. What I have here appears to be a CWO4 for the medical service corps (MSC). While PA's did end up going to the MSC, that did not happen until after gaining status as full commissioned officers. Could this be from the transition from WO to regular officer? Has anyone else seen one like this before? I can't seem to find any info on this item.
Justin B. Posted September 20, 2023 #2 Posted September 20, 2023 I'm with you Pat, I can't find MSC corps device authorized for warrants in any regs. I guess this was a manufacturing oddity.
PatLaabs Posted September 20, 2023 Author #3 Posted September 20, 2023 20 minutes ago, Justin B. said: I'm with you Pat, I can't find MSC corps device authorized for warrants in any regs. I guess this was a manufacturing oddity. Neither could I, glad I'm not the only one who didn't see anything. It very well could be a manufacturer error or something made that they thought the Navy would need like we see in older navy rates alot of the time. I'm actually being stationed in SoCal again soon so I might try and go back and see if they have the other one. I doubt anyone bought it if it is there.
Scott C. Posted September 22, 2023 #4 Posted September 22, 2023 Please correct me if I'm wrong, but without the silver acorn, the plain oakleaf is Dental Corps, no? Or does MSC include Dental corps?
KurtA Posted September 22, 2023 #5 Posted September 22, 2023 10 minutes ago, Scott C. said: Please correct me if I'm wrong, but without the silver acorn, the plain oakleaf is Dental Corps, no? Or does MSC include Dental corps? USN Dental Corps has two silver acorns at the bottom of the leaf.
PatLaabs Posted September 22, 2023 Author #6 Posted September 22, 2023 22 minutes ago, Scott C. said: Please correct me if I'm wrong, but without the silver acorn, the plain oakleaf is Dental Corps, no? Or does MSC include Dental corps? 12 minutes ago, KurtA said: USN Dental Corps has two silver acorns at the bottom of the leaf. The branch at the bottom of the leaf is what makes it Medical Service Corps.
Scott C. Posted September 23, 2023 #7 Posted September 23, 2023 I just checked my dad's WWII boards (he was a dental officer) and sure enough: two small acorns at the base of the leaf. I never noticed that before - thanks for setting me straight.
PatLaabs Posted June 29, 2024 Author #8 Posted June 29, 2024 Well, I found another one. This time in the form of a hard WO1 shoulder board. Still no new information has been dug up as far as I know and the guys over at TheNavyCWO.com never got back to me. Still not sure what to make of these.
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