Is 7820 (Physician Assistant) a Good Rating?

AIT / Training

8 weeks

Training Location

Fort Sam Houston, TX

Career Field

Medical

What the Recruiter Says

Navy PAs practice medicine with incredible autonomy — especially in operational settings where you might be the only provider. You'll gain clinical experience across multiple specialties, deploy with Marines, and serve aboard ships. The breadth of practice is unmatched in civilian PA life.

What It's Actually Like

You are a Navy Physician Assistant, which means you provide medical care to sailors and Marines in clinics, aboard ships, at remote duty stations, and in operational environments where you may be the highest-trained medical provider within a hundred miles. The recruiter said 'you'll practice medicine in the most challenging environments on earth,' and they weren't exaggerating — you'll treat patients on aircraft carriers, in field medical facilities, at austere bases, and occasionally on a flight deck while the ship conducts flight operations. Your scope of practice is broader than most civilian PAs dream of because when you're the only provider, everything becomes your specialty. You'll suture lacerations, manage chronic conditions, handle psychiatric emergencies, run sick call, and make the call on whether someone needs a medevac. The Navy invested heavily in your training and it shows — Navy PAs are among the most clinically versatile mid-level providers in any armed service.