NOAA Corps Flag
Most people are familiar with the big four of uniformed federal service branches - Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy and not to mention the Coast Guard. However there are two more federally commissioned corps that don't get much time in the spot light - NOAA Corps and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
The more familiar branch is the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Perhaps the most famous of all uniformed generals known to the public is The Surgeon General - especially to smokers. The Surgeon General was created under President Grant in 1871. Recently famous and colourful Surgeon Generals included Joycelyn Elders and Everett Koop.
The least known of the Uniformed Service branches is NOAA Corps. NOAA Corps is a part of NOAA, but only NOAA Corps can wear the military style uniform. NOAA Corps is like a private navy for NOAA.
If you never heard of NOAA it is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a federal Agency like the FBI, but instead of dealing with criminal activity NOAA pays close attention to the weather and environment. Instead of police, NOAA is packed with the scientifically minded. Thus NOAA corps is the closest thing to a real life American Star Trek Agency with military rank and a scientific mission. But in an emergency, the US Navy can draft NOAA Crops 'air-sea land troopers' when things get too thin.
US Public Health Service Flag
Both flags feature anchors in their flags - denoting a connectivity to the US Navy. The NOAA Corps flag features two anchors piercing the earth with an eagle standing in a proud stance on top of the earth.
The US Public Health Flag also uses wings but of a different sort - in the traditional medical wings of Ophiucus - the cosmic healer in the night sky.
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Link to NOAA CORPS - "The Very Very Few, Proud & Adventurous"http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/
Link to NOAA
http://www.noaa.gov/
Link to United States Public Heath Service
Did you know smoking increases the risk of cancer?
http://www.usphs.gov/
Johnny Depp and the Surgeon General talk about AIDS
NOAA Corps Video - the real life SEA LAB 2020
