“When I came into the Navy as a junior corpsman I really looked up to IDCs and I wanted to be one because for a corpsman, that is the pinnacle of your Navy career – being an IDC on a boat,” said Lazarin. The reputation of the submarine hospital corpsmen, “Doc” to those they serve with, goes back decades. “Corpsmen have served with distinction on submarines in every major war, conflict or patrol since World War I,” Boyce points out. “And these corpsmen aren’t just ‘Doc,’ they are submariners. They are qualifying watch stations and teaching junior crewmembers how to stand those watches.” On board Santa Fe, Lazarin is qualified Chief of the Watch, ensuring he is contributing above and beyond his duties as IDC. “As Chief of the Watch, I work with the Diving Officer of the Watch. The
Diving Officer makes the boat go up and down, and the Chief of the Watch ensures the trim system, the air systems, and everything the Diving Officer needs to make sure the boat goes where it is supposed to go is in operation.It’s a huge responsibility.” Those who serve in the Navy say a Sailor needs to take care of his shipmates. For the submarine IDC, that can mean anything from standing a watch, offering to listen or caring for a shipmate in an emergency. Just such an emergency arose on Sante Fe’s last deployment when a 23 year old submariner came to Lazarin complaining of chest palpitations. “When you are out of contact with other medical professionals you really have to make the right decision at the right time,” said Lazarin. “I monitored his heart rhythm and saw that it was an arrhythmia. I was pretty scared about
that. I didn’t know why it was happening, especially with someone so young. That really required me to dig through my books and make sure I was doing the right thing. I got him stabilized, got a message off [to higher headquarters] and got him off the boat in two days.” Today IDC and patient are still shipmates. “He’s back on the boat now… he’s really grateful. I see it on his face every day,” said Lazarin. “That’s payment for taking care of people – seeing that you can make a difference.” Hospital Corpsmen in pay grade E5 and above interested in one of the most unique and challenging duty assignments in Navy Medicine are encouraged to contact their Command Career Counselor for information on application requirements and incentives available to submarine IDCs.
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - While serving as an independent duty corpsman (IDC) onboard USS Santa Fe (SSN 763), Chief Hospital Corpsman Robert Lazarin, from El Paso, Texas, is responsible to the submarine commanding officer for the health and wellness of a crew of approximately 140 Sailors. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge.
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