The Medical Service Corps was authorized 4 August 1947 as a staff corps of the Navy by the Army -Navy Medical Service Corps Act of 1947.
The Navy Medical Service Corps was created with four specialty sections: Supply and Administration, Optometry, Allied Sciences, and Pharmacy. The authorized personnel strength of the Corps was limited to 20% of the number of Medical Corps officers. Today, the Medical Service Corps is the most highly diversified Corps within the Navy Medical Department.