Differences in military medic programs

[elle_med]

---

Members do not see this ad.

What are the differences in the military medic programs offered by the different branches? (By medic here, I mean those who are the equiv of EMT-B's or P's in the civilian world.) In general, how do the training and jobs differ? The recruiters I've talked to haven't given me any concrete info.

 

[alpinism]

It would be hard to give an accurate answer since I doubt anyone has been a medic in all 3 branches.
In addition, your day to day job can vary greatly depending on the needs of the service and where you are stationed.

Generally speaking however,

AF = stay on base for the most part and respond to medical emergencies in an ambulance or work in the clinic as a technician. You'd also respond to In-Flight Emergencies (IFEs) involving aircraft. Very rarely see combat unless working with special forces or the **** hits the fan. When state side the job is very similar to that of a civilian EMT or ED technician. Getting vitals, starting IVs, drawing labs, giving a few medications, and performing a limited number of procedures. When deployed you usually work at theater hospitals (trauma centers) at Air Bases where they fly in casualties from around the region (my personal experience).

Army = more likely to go off base and see combat.

Navy = more likely to work in a large hospital setting or aboard a ship.

 

[Homunculus]

the recruiters on this aren't concrete likely because the glamorous "medic" you think of when signing up isn't really what most of your job will be. and what you end up doing varies dramatically based on location and unit.

in the army while deployed you may be with a line unit doing the classic movie type "medic" stuff, or assigned to an aid station/level 2 or other "clinic"-ey type place. sometimes you will rotate between them. and yes, this creates some social strife amongst the aid station vs line medics.

in garrison, you may staff sick call with your unit's providers, support training missions, or be an admin "gopher" for miscelleanous departments at the local MEDDAC/MEDCEN. it really runs the gamut. as you advance in rank it looks (kind of like what docs go through) your patient care responsibilites shrink and your admin responsibilities grow.

for the navy, my experience is limited to the hospital setting-- but the theme is the same. medics function essentially like LPN's, with various jobs and duty titles.

--your friendly neighborhood "i'll go find you another toner cartridge, sir." caveman

 

[alpinism]

I'll add this too:

no matter what branch you go into, the majority of your time will be spent doing 2 things:

1. housekeeping (getting supplies, restocking shelves, doing inventory, cleaning, changing bedclothes, etc...)

and

2. meetings/training sessions (IT training, computer security training, terrorism training, sexual assault training, drinking and driving training, etc...)

Like Homunculus said above, for the most part it isn't nearly as glamorous as they make it seem in movies or on TV.