Revised by Garry Ryan. The office and position of the Surgeon General, and the Army Medical Service were established in 1818. The Surgeon General is the administrative head of the Army Medical Service. Reports, returns, and communications relating to medical matters are made to the Surgeon General's office, and the Army Medical Service develops plans and programs designed to provide medical service during both war and peace time. The Army Medical Service includes the Medical Corps, the Dental Corps, the Veterinary Corps, the Medical Service Corps, the Army Nurse Corps, and the Army Medical Specialist Corps. The mission of the department is to "maintain the health of the Army and conserve its fighting strength."The records of the Surgeon General (Army), at the time this inventory was compiled, amounted to 4,240 cubic feet and comprised Record Group 112. Record Group 112 consists of records of the Surgeon General's central office, records of the various sub-divisions of the Surgeon General's Office, records of Army medical examining boards, records of Army medical installations, and records of various military units. Document dates range from 1818 through 1951.