Regular Navy: Medical Service Corps

§ 5579. Regular Navy: Medical Service Corps (a) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy prescribes, original appointments to the active list of the Navy in the Medical Service Corps may be made from persons who— (1) are at least 21 and under 32 years of age; and (2) have physical, mental, moral, and professional qualifications satisfactory to the Secretary. (b) Appointments under this section from persons other than members of the Regular Navy shall be made from graduates of accredited schools of pharmacy, optometry, or other schools or colleges with degrees in sciences allied to medicine or degrees approved by the Surgeon General of the Navy. (c) Appointments under this section shall be in the grade of ensign, except that persons holding doctoral degrees at the time of appointment in sciences allied to medicine approved by the Surgeon General may be appointed in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade). (d) An officer appointed under this section from the Regular Navy may not offer any reduction in the pay and allowances to which he was entitled at the time of his appointment because of his former permanent status.