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Army Medic
- Thread starter Cziffra
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What do/did you usually get to treat as a medic? Are they usually trauma related? Do/did you have to provide treatment all under the supervision of a physician assistant? (I heard that there are far more PAs than MDs in the military, is that true?) What kind of treatment can a medic perform independently? I guess I could have asked some of these questions during recruitment but, as it's been said by others, the recruiters tend to tell you only the positives. I'd appreciate any insider's comment! 🙂
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Thanks for the link. May I please hear from someone with first hand experience? I think the official websites and the recruiters tend to glamorize the various aspects of being in the army....
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As an army medic you will be a 91W MOS. The army recently transitioned all medics from 91B to 91W. Basically, the MOS change requires are medics to become EMT-B certified. You will come into the army as a 91W since you are brand new. You will go to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio for Basic and AIT. In AIT you will go through the EMT-Basic course, Trauma AIMS, and BTLS. These three courses are the heart of your knowledge as a medic. You are essentially at an EMT-I level.
After graduation from AIT, you will be assigned to any one of the glamorous army posts throughout the world. You could end up working in a hospital, a clinic, or even in a line-unit. If you really want to get out and use your skills, you want to get down to a combat arms unit (infantry, armor, artillery). There, you will most likely serve as a platoon medic...probably the job you imagine when you think about being an army medic. You will be "the doc" for a 20-40 man unit. You will work under the supervision of the battalion PA or MD, but when you go to the field, you are the man. There's no one looking over your shoulder. It's just you. In this regard, the army alows you a much broader scope of practice than the civilian world. You will be authorized to give IVs and meds as well as perform trauma procedures such a needle decompressions and advanced airway maneuvers. I see this as an advantage, but it certainly can have its disadvantages as well. Additionally, the leadership of the platoon will rely on you to train the soldiers in basic medical skills combat lifesaver) as you are the subject matter expert. Being an infantryman, this is the side of the medics that I know best. I can't tell you much about the hospital side of the house, but know it does exist. Personally, I think you might see more stuff because you're working around specialists and docs, but your level of responsibility is much lower...ie taking patient information, taking bp, getting supplies.
Yes, there are probably more PAs in the military, but like medics, PAs are allowed much more freedom than the civilian world. Alot of these guys are former medics or 18Ds. There is plenty of experience there and you certainly would not be at a disadvantage working with them. In fact, in the trauma world, ie combat environment, alot of these guys will have more knowledge than the FPs that get attached to units for deployments.
If you're really gung-ho, consider the 18D route, which is a Special Forces medic. It's a whole different world. Training is very intense but their scope of practive is amazing.
Hope that helps.
After graduation from AIT, you will be assigned to any one of the glamorous army posts throughout the world. You could end up working in a hospital, a clinic, or even in a line-unit. If you really want to get out and use your skills, you want to get down to a combat arms unit (infantry, armor, artillery). There, you will most likely serve as a platoon medic...probably the job you imagine when you think about being an army medic. You will be "the doc" for a 20-40 man unit. You will work under the supervision of the battalion PA or MD, but when you go to the field, you are the man. There's no one looking over your shoulder. It's just you. In this regard, the army alows you a much broader scope of practice than the civilian world. You will be authorized to give IVs and meds as well as perform trauma procedures such a needle decompressions and advanced airway maneuvers. I see this as an advantage, but it certainly can have its disadvantages as well. Additionally, the leadership of the platoon will rely on you to train the soldiers in basic medical skills combat lifesaver) as you are the subject matter expert. Being an infantryman, this is the side of the medics that I know best. I can't tell you much about the hospital side of the house, but know it does exist. Personally, I think you might see more stuff because you're working around specialists and docs, but your level of responsibility is much lower...ie taking patient information, taking bp, getting supplies.
Yes, there are probably more PAs in the military, but like medics, PAs are allowed much more freedom than the civilian world. Alot of these guys are former medics or 18Ds. There is plenty of experience there and you certainly would not be at a disadvantage working with them. In fact, in the trauma world, ie combat environment, alot of these guys will have more knowledge than the FPs that get attached to units for deployments.
If you're really gung-ho, consider the 18D route, which is a Special Forces medic. It's a whole different world. Training is very intense but their scope of practive is amazing.
Hope that helps.
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Unless it's been recently changed, you have to have served for a minimum of 3 years before applying for 18D (SF medic) training - not an option for the OP who is a high school student.
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Cziffra said:
I was in the reserves as a medic with a CASH...went into IRR just before the big stop loss and finished my commitment in the IRR in Jan. Life in the Reserves if you were'nt deployed consited on "hip pocket" training, Inventorying equipment, more Hip Pocket training and then re-inventory the stuff you inventoried last month. Repete q mo.
Dont even get me started to the leadership.
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thanks for all the replies!
just a sidenote, do you get a BTLS certificate after all the training? Is the training program endorsed by BTLS? I heard the military simply used the BTLS books and training materials to support its training....I might heard it wrong...
just a sidenote, do you get a BTLS certificate after all the training? Is the training program endorsed by BTLS? I heard the military simply used the BTLS books and training materials to support its training....I might heard it wrong...
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Cziffra said:
Part of the 91W transition was to ensure that you got civilian equivalent training. So yes, you will receive a BTLS certificate, along with becoming an registered EMT-B. It's a pretty small step from there to an EMT-I.
I work here at the Ft. Carson 91W/EMT School. If you give me a contact, I'll link you up with some of my medics who can probably answer more of your questions.
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The question is are you thinking about enlisting for the sake of being in the military or are you using it for some other purpose(ie medical shcool). If you want to enlist, I highly recommend Active Duty over Reserve. With the pace of operational tempo and the stress of reserve commitmets on family and emplyer is really high. You can attenuate that stress with your civilian job and family expations if you are AD.
Good Luck.
PS
Ft. Sam is a great place.
Good Luck.
PS
Ft. Sam is a great place.
