Medical Service Corps Warrant Officer Shoulder Board

[PatLaabs]

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.]

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]

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.]

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]

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]

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.]

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]

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.