Does the the army have independent duty medics?

[flightdoc09]

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The Navy has the Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC). The Air Force has the Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT). Does the Army have anything like that? Basically taking a corpsman/medic and sending them to a 13 month course for IDCs and I think 5 or 6 months course for IDMTs.

Not sure about IDMTs, but IDCs practice indepndently. Can prescribe from a certain list of medications. Can do certain procedures. Are technically allowed to manage chronic conditions like HTN, HLD, order labs and imaging. They're mainly designed to go on smaller vessels like destroyers, or submarines. They have a supervising physician who can be a GMO or a board certified physician, however there is often very little supervision happening.

Curious if the Army has anything like this. And if not, how do you get away with not having them?

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

I'm not an expert on Army (was Navy) but in my experience I've never met an Army equivalent to IDC on Big Army side. The only thing similar I've seen are the 18Ds (Special Forces Medical Sergeants) that practice independently overseas. My guess is that the Army gets away without having IDC equivalents since that they usually don't deploy on ships or subs and are usually deployed onto a larger base (aside from SF). Also, I've worked with several Army PAs overseas on smaller bases, which would be the civilian equivalent to IDC. Fun fact: The PA program started with Navy corpsman after the Vietnam war in order to help alleviate physician shortages.

Hopefully one of the Army folks that may be better versed will chime in but that's my two cents.

 

[armytrainingsir]

18D would be the closest thing the army has to an IDC

 

[Apollyon]

18D would be the closest thing the army has to an IDC

I just thought of something - do the 18Ds ONLY treat 18 MOS, or are they used for, say, a 19 or an 11, if they happened to be on the same battlefield?

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

I just thought of something - do the 18Ds ONLY treat 18 MOS, or are they used for, say, a 19 or an 11, if they happened to be on the same battlefield?

In the end, when there are injured people, an 18D is a health care professional and will treat anyone that is wounded or needs medical attention. That includes other American forces, foreign military personnel, civilians, and even injured enemy combatants. As usually the most experienced medical personnel on the battlefield, 18Ds will often direct/help other medics (i.e. 68Ws) in providing care for their constituent units as well. Another strong point of 18D's is that they will often hold clinics for indigenous people in the area of operation to treat everyday non-combat related ailments. Winning hearts and minds through medicine.

 

[Apollyon]

In the end, when there are injured people, an 18D is a health care professional and will treat anyone that is wounded or needs medical attention. That includes other American forces, foreign military personnel, civilians, and even injured enemy combatants. As usually the most experienced medical personnel on the battlefield, 18Ds will often direct/help other medics (i.e. 68Ws) in providing care for their constituent units as well. Another strong point of 18D's is that they will often hold clinics for indigenous people in the area of operation to treat everyday non-combat related ailments. Winning hearts and minds through medicine.

What I more meant was while the team was moving. Clinics are "winning hearts and minds", but not what I meant.

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

What I more meant was while the team was moving. Clinics are "winning hearts and minds", but not what I meant.

I guess I still don't quite understand the question. Sometimes 11's (less likely 19's) are attached to SF units and so fall under the 18D's care and subsequent medical chain o' command. Other times they are just on the same battlefield under different commands but the 18D will still help treat all casualties. If you can clarify what you mean, then I may be able to answer (wasn't an 18D but was a JSOC medic so fell under the same command and had nearly identical SOPs). My point overall was they'll treat everyone that needs their care.

 

[Apollyon]

No, that was it. I just wondered if the 18 mission meant they kept rolling (taking the 18D with them), leaving any others just there.

 

[Just Call Me Doc]

No, that was it. I just wondered if the 18 mission meant they kept rolling (taking the 18D with them), leaving any others just there.

Short answer is: it depends. If the particular mission means that they have to keep moving into potentially dangerous areas then the 18Ds will almost definitely go with their team. If the team needs to head back to base/safe area but there still is a need for medical oversight on the X, then they may potentially leave one of the deltas back (usually a senior and a junior medic on a team).