View Full Version : Combat Medic
Back in 2002 I was im position to join the Marine Corps but broke my collar bone, wrist and shoulder blade. Long story short I never went cause I was too busy chasing girls and drinking beer.
Well guess what...... Now im 25 I hate my job (Civilian Security Police Officer on a Air Guard post), mostly because I am bored as shit. Within my work as a Reserve Police officer and full time Collge Police officer I learned I like working the "medical calls" a lot.
Now this leads us to today. I dont really care for my job, I want more out of my life and I still want to serve something larger than myself. I have been thinking about going into the Army, as an 11B, but would prefer 68W (I think thats the correct job field). I would love to be a combat medic, being able to fight and then save when needed.
If any body could point me into the correct direction to find some decent info or even provide some. I would be very appreciative. I know I could talk to a recruiter but they want nothing to do with me until I lose some weight ( too much beer and pizza).
I am currently getting over a nasty fight with bronchitis and as soon as I am on the winning side I will be out pounding the pavement again while at work, so please no "just lose of weight, you fatbody" comments.
Thanks to any one who responds
BTW: Whats up guys, I've been away far too long, I have about 150,000 posts to catch up on!
-DM-
You're correct, it is 68W. I believe one of our members here that goes by 'DragonDoc' is a career soldier as a medic. You might try approaching him via PM with your questions. Other than that I'd say go to the Army recruiting website and see what you can find. Kudos to you for still wanting to man up.
Gutshot John
11-24-09, 21:11
Navy Corpsman 8404. Field Medical Technician.
All the respect of being in the Marine Corps, with a better haircut. :)
In all my life I've never been more satisfied and proud of the job I've done.
Personally, I would like to commend you for your mindset. Anybody who thinks outside their self is stellar in their own right. You are on the right track.
However, other than to encourage you to get in shape, there really is little else to say. You know what your skills are, so build on them while there.
When I was 17 I enlisted in the Marines. On my 18th birthday I got a letter in the mail stating that while my ASVAB was fine and I passed all physicals, there was a record of hospitalization for asthma in my past and I was disqualified.
To this day I wonder what could have been, especially since I played both college and semi-pro football after my "rejection". Maybe you won't have the same cloud over you if you do what you need to do tomorrow.
Just do it before it's too late.
Best of luck.
I'm in the same boat but going 31B to be an MP. I am in my later 20s and got fed up with my job too. All I know is I want to stay in a Law Enforcement related field, so thats why I chose that MOS. Waiting on a ship date to MO for B.C.T. still need to line up a few things before I go. I did almost all my research online, and asked a buddy who was an MP in the early 90s. Found out what I needed to know and decided its right for me. Convincing a wife is the hard part. Leaving my kiddo behind wll be just as hard.
So your a guard on a Air Guard post. Why not see about an Air Force medic?
Pararescue,or Combat Control Team?
Get your ASVAB and GT scores done first,then see.
Smart to be hard,,,hard to be smart.
SEMPER FI
Go ahead and become a 68W. You will get the oppurtunity to pound sand with the grunts and when you get tired o that you also have options for assignments that will get you out of the field for a bit. I have been assigned to Infantry, Armor, Armored Cavalry, Air Defense Artillery, and various medical units over the last 22 years. All of my combat tours have been on the line. I think being a medic is the greatest job that you can have in our military. Here is a link to the Army Medical Department School.
http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/default.aspx
Thanks guys, this really helps. I just dont want to get stuck giving shots to troops deploying or some in the rear with the gear job (nothing against it, its just not for me). I really want to be pounding the sand and ear a CAR.
-DM-
Thanks guys, this really helps. I just dont want to get stuck giving shots to troops deploying or some in the rear with the gear job (nothing against it, its just not for me). I really want to be pounding the sand and ear a CAR.
-DM-
80% of the Junior enlisted slots are in line units. It took me 10 years to get an assignment in a rear unit (I had to make SSG for it). So if you want a line unit just tell your recruiter that you want an assignment to one. Ask for Bragg, Benning, Stewart, Bliss, Drum, or Campbell and you will definitely pound sand. Ask for Airborne and Ranger and you will get in the fight rather quickly.
I just graduated from 68W AIT not long ago.
It's a great feeling to have passed the course and while it's not the easiest, it's not really that hard either.
First off, I'd advise against telling the recruiter about any breaks you've had in the past. Others can take that advice as they want but I'd hate for you to be disqualified from service off the bat over an injury that happened ages ago and has healed up just fine. I'm sure the recruiter will keep some facts from you, so it's a fair trade.
I went in at 29. I went to the APS program at Ft Jackson (I believe it's now dead) to get a GED as I'm from the UK and haven't seen my exam certificates since I was a kid. Army was paying so what the hell. BCT at Ft Leonard Wood where they have apparently REALLY toned things down. By week three we were still waiting for the Drills to put the pain down but it never happened. I'd recommend requesting Benning if you want Army style BCT rather then Girl Scout Camp BCT. After that I went on to Ft Sam Houston.
DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE DUDE TO CHICK RATIO. It's a sausage fest.
Ft Sam is essentially broke into two areas. Up the hill, pretty much every other 68 series does their training. X ray techs, vets etc. At the bottom of the hill is where the Whiskeys train. It's undergoing some big changes at the moment. New dorms are being built, as is a new dining facility to seat around 2000 people. Current trainee levels are high, with about 90 people to a sleeping bay.
There's six training companies, Alpha through Foxtrot. Golf company is reception for incoming trainees and Hotel is just being started for medical hold overs and "problem" individuals. Every company varies greatly in the way they manage discipline and overall operation. I was lucky enough to be in Bravo, which is probably the tightest.
Course breakdown is basically spread over 16 weeks. First 8 weeks you learn the civilian EMT-Basic course. At the end you will take the National Registry exam which you will have three goes at. You'll get up at around 0430, do PT, eat, then be in class for around 0800 til around 1730, eat and then get released for about two hours and then go to bed at 2130. Lack of sleep and falling asleep in class are your enemy at this point. You will have academic tests once or twice a week on each module which you must pass at at least a 70% rate. However, if your GPA drops below 80% you'll lose your weekend privileges and civilian cloths (believe me, you want privileges). Not passing your PT test at at least 60% will do the same. One of my battles was smart as hell, could max his run and his push ups but sucked at his sit ups. He was miserable that he couldn't leave the post until over half way through the course.
Fail a test more than three times and you get recycled to the next company. Fail the National Registry more than three times and get re-classed to another MOS. Drop you GPA below 70% and get re-classed to another MOS. It's too easy though so don't let it scare you. Memorize -> Dump -> Memorize -> Dump.
Whiskey phase is where it gets more interesting. Your "scope of practice" greatly widens as you're now dealing with military rather than civilian medicine so you can do things like give someone a crichothyroidotomy. You'll still be in the classroom for a while but you'll be going in full battle rattle (IBA and nasty PASGT rather the MICH you got in basic) and a sweet LBT aid bag stocked to the gills with kerlix and ace wrap and NPA's to give each other in the barracks. IIRC, there's a couple of exams but it's mostly hands on training at this point with lecture. Once you get to the end you'll start doing situational training with blood and gore and then get evaluated on the trauma lanes putting what you learnt into effect on simulations. You'll be giving (and taking) a lot of IV's, NPA's, tourniqueting stumps and packing wounds.
Last two weeks of the course you'll go off to Camp Bullis (at a big mock up of a FOB) for the last Field Training Exercise. THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. Here's where you'll do your final skills evaluation with the SMTC (soldier medic training camp) instructors. 95% of the instructors here are who you really need to pump for as much advice and knowledge as possible. They're not in a TraDoc environment so they tend to be a lot more prone to giving you no BS "this is what worked for me/the way it really is in Iraq/Astan" answers to your questions. Don't get me wrong, the Cadre and Whiskey instructors who babysit you at Ft Sam are great and all, but they really only have time to babysit you.
You'll do more training on convoys, MOUT operations, patrolling, FOB operations and security. Some of it will be basic stuff, some will be more advanced.
On the whole, it's a great course. I tried to learn as much as I could while I was there and was desperate to go to a line unit. I actually got the the most relaxing job posting in Europe and there really isn't any guarantee where you'll end up. Some companies at Ft Sam will let you trade orders amongst yourselves. Mine didn't.
I'd obviously highly recommend getting Airborne in your contract at the very least. If they say "we can't do that for you" then say fine and leave. I will almost guarantee they'll call you back. At the time I enlisted, I was on a green card with no high school diploma which severely limited my bargaining ability, so that's my excuse for not getting Airborne or Ranger. We were given the option to volunteer for Ranger in AIT but not Airborne. If you get into great shape and want to go on to more advanced medical training and then go to a high speed unit then do the Ranger thing. My citizenship came through two days after I left AIT so I have to just suck that one up.
You're an older guy, so I don't think you'll go too crazy when you get to AIT. A lot of them go nuts at being able to drink in San Antonio, start messing around with the nasty army females, get the herp and keep getting Article 15's. You won't get a lot of free time to do much. You should study but paying attention in class alone is more than enough to get you an 85% GPA. I'd recommend remembering what drove you to make this change in lifestyle in the first place and you'll keep your head in the game when you get bored or frustrated.
Good luck. It's a great MOS that's pretty much universally respected by everyone else but most importantly the 11 Bang Bangs. :)
I thought 95W was the MOS for the combat medics attached to our infantry platoon...you best make sure before you end up stuck behind some desk at a TMC.
Negative.
They're all 68W now. Like I said, no guarantees where you'll end up when you graduate pretty much unless you go Airborne or Ranger.
I thought 95W was the MOS for the combat medics attached to our infantry platoon...you best make sure before you end up stuck behind some desk at a TMC.
All medics are 68Ws. I don't think there is a MOS 95W.
Negative.
They're all 68W now. Like I said, no guarantees where you'll end up when you graduate pretty much unless you go Airborne or Ranger.
Where did you end up?
1st Armored in Wiesbaden, Germany. Pretty soon they're going to be gone and I'm going to still be here on clinical duties.
No morning PT, office hours Monday through Friday, lots of four day weekends, no field problems, no range days.
To say that I'm less than excited would be accurate. However, after listening to people far more clued in than me, I should be patient and be careful what I wish for. There's also a lot to be learned here and I should take the opportunity presented, rather than wishing that I was hiding in a bush with a rifle and an aid bag.
With a potential surge on the cards, who knows what will happen.
1st Armored in Wiesbaden, Germany. Pretty soon they're going to be gone and I'm going to still be here on clinical duties.
No morning PT, office hours Monday through Friday, lots of four day weekends, no field problems, no range days.
To say that I'm less than excited would be accurate. However, after listening to people far more clued in than me, I should be patient and be careful what I wish for. There's also a lot to be learned here and I should take the opportunity presented, rather than wishing that I was hiding in a bush with a rifle and an aid bag.
With a potential surge on the cards, who knows what will happen.
I take it that you are in a clinic? Have you tried to get in the Dustoff unit?
Yeah....they're not letting me go anywhere. That's just the opinion of my 1st Sgt.
My Sgt has tried to get deployed six times since he arrived here. It's pretty tough apparently. If you really want to get out of here before your tour is up, going for SF is the commonly accepted route. Coming back broke off and injured is even more common.
parishioner
11-27-09, 14:56
Im in the middle of getting my BSN at the moment and I'm pretty sure I'm going to join up once I'm finished. I'm open to both Army combat medic and Corpsman but I'm leaning more towards the Navy. I think working in an army or navy hospital would give me a chance to gain valuable knowledge for my career when I get out all while serving the country but saying that I also have a very strong desire to get into the fight. Since I'm not sure what the military's needs are exactly, I have a question.
Is there any chance that I may be overqualified with a BSN and never get to see combat? It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I couldn't, because I'll do whatever they tell me, but I mean..I would rather get my hands a little dirty in the front for at least some of the time of my service.
Thanks.
Is there any chance that I may be overqualified with a BSN and never get to see combat? It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I couldn't, because I'll do whatever they tell me, but I mean..I would rather get my hands a little dirty in the front for at least some of the time of my service.
Thanks.
Nope. You'll role the dice like the rest of us. You could probably enlist as a Specialist right off the bat with a BSN though.
Have you looked into the Mic 6 option for 68 Whiskey? I think that also prepares you for the NCLEX exam from what I've read so it may be a waste of time for you. Thought about going officer and the army PA program?
parishioner
11-27-09, 15:35
I just glanced at the Army PA program and it looks like an excellent learning opportunity. I was planning on attending grad school after I got out anyway to become either a Nurse Practitioner or CRNA but this program looks like I could knock that out while serving. I will definitely look into this. If I did go this route, I fear I may not get to lace up boots and pick up a rifle as much as I would want to. I'll do more research. This looks promising though.
Im in the middle of getting my BSN at the moment and I'm pretty sure I'm going to join up once I'm finished. I'm open to both Army combat medic and Corpsman but I'm leaning more towards the Navy. I think working in an army or navy hospital would give me a chance to gain valuable knowledge for my career when I get out all while serving the country but saying that I also have a very strong desire to get into the fight. Since I'm not sure what the military's needs are exactly, I have a question.
Is there any chance that I may be overqualified with a BSN and never get to see combat? It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I couldn't, because I'll do whatever they tell me, but I mean..I would rather get my hands a little dirty in the front for at least some of the time of my service.
Thanks.
With a BSN you are eligible for a commission as a 2LT in the Army Nursing Corps. Nurses are in the BCTs but see very little combat. However, you will get a chance to deal with the wounded when the are medevac'd to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH pron. cash).
parishioner
11-29-09, 00:13
With a BSN you are eligible for a commission as a 2LT in the Army Nursing Corps. Nurses are in the BCTs but see very little combat. However, you will get a chance to deal with the wounded when the are medevac'd to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH pron. cash).
So with a BSN its pretty unlikely that I could go for 68W or FMF Corpsman?
No. You misunderstand. There's nothing to stop you from being enlisted as a 68W. Just seems a waste with all that schooling that you don't tack something on to it at a later date.
parishioner
11-29-09, 10:57
No. You misunderstand. There's nothing to stop you from being enlisted as a 68W. Just seems a waste with all that schooling that you don't tack something on to it at a later date.
I was just exploring the idea of maybe doing combat medic for some of the time and then moving into the nursing corps.
I was just exploring the idea of maybe doing combat medic for some of the time and then moving into the nursing corps.
Sounds good. I have met some nurses that started out as medics and other specialties. It doesn't hurt to get some time in the line so that you have a proper understanding of how the Army works. With a BSN you could also pick PA or Physical Therapist at a later ddate. Both programs offer Master level degrees. As a added bonus, PA and PTs are needed in all line units to include Ranger and SF. Good luck with your decision.
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