The long battle to get legislation passed that allows for commissioned officer status for DCs is a tribute to the perseverance and tenacity of the chiropractic profession.
Section 505 only authorizes the appointment of DCs as commissioned officers: it doesn't mandate the military to act.
In the Navy Times, we read first hand the military's opinion of section 505: "The Defense Department has no intention of commissioning chiropractors. At a time of tight budgets, health care officials believe the treatment a chiropractor can offer is unnecessary. Expect chiropractic to lobby Congress in 1993 to force a change."
The Navy Times got one thing right: expect chiropractic to force a change.
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