Plans, provides, and evaluates routine patient care and treatment of beneficiaries to include flying and special operational duty personnel. Organizes the medical environment, performs and directs support activities for patient care situations, including contingency operations and disasters. Performs duty as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT), Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (AET), Hyperbaric Medical Technician (HBMT); Allergy and/or Immunization Technician (AIT), Special Operations Command (SOC) Medic, Dialysis Medical Technician (DMT), Critical Care Technician (CCT), or Neurology Technician (NT) functions.

The health care specialist provides emergency medical treatment, limited primary care, force health protection and evacuation in a variety of operational and clinical settings from point of injury or illness through the continuum of military health care.

Perform duties as assistants in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury; including first aid and preventive medicine procedures; assist with physical examinations; provide patient care and the administration of medicinals and parenteral solutions; perform general laboratory, pharmacy and other patient support services; assist in the administrative supply and accounting procedures within medical departments ashore, afloat and with the Marine Corps; instruct medical and non-medical personnel in first aid, self aid, personal hygiene and medical records maintenance and assist in the transportation of the sick and injured; assist in the maintenance of environmental health standards; be prepared to assist in the prevention and treatment of chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) casualties and other contingencies; senior hospital corpsmen perform supervisory, technical, planning and management functions in support of medical readiness and quality health care delivery; In addition to their general assignments, hospital corpsmen trained as technicians perform specialized functions within the operational forces, clinical specialities, administrative departments and may be assigned independent of a medical officer.