Navy Officer Subspecialty · Medical
16U1 Undersea Medicine, Subspecialty
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Overview
Undersea medicine subspecialists provide medical care to divers, submariners, and personnel exposed to underwater and pressure-related hazards. They assess fitness for duty, manage diving injuries, and advise on medical risks in maritime operations.
Core Skills
- undersea medicine
- diving physiology
- hyperbaric medicine
- pressure injury management
- submarine medical support
- occupational health assessment
- emergency medical decision making
- clinical risk management
- medical readiness advising
Civilian Software & Tools
- Epic Systems
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- R
Civilian Career Paths
- Physician
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Emergency Management
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Diving Medical Examiner
Career Growth
- American Board of Preventive Medicine Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Certification
- Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN)
- American Board of Preventive Medicine Occupational Medicine Certification
Also Common
- American Board of Emergency Medicine Certification
- Diving Medical Examiner Certification
What the Work Involves
- Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs and priority of treatment.
- Perform emergency resuscitations on patients.
- Perform such medical procedures as emergent cricothyrotomy, endotracheal intubation, and emergency thoracotomy.
- Select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs.
- Stabilize patients in critical condition.
Related Occupations
- Family Medicine Physicians
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Paramedics
- Pediatric Surgeons
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: graduate-level education or extensive experience.
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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