Posted on Dec 25, 2014
Civilian Credentials for Military Education, Training, Experience? Are enlisted personnel getting screwed?
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I'm a Cold War vet, so I'm looking for more recent information. I also have the means and opportunity to hire veterans, but I am frustrated in that effort because most recently-released veterans lack the civilian credentials to do the jobs for which I'd like to hire them.
It seems to me that the officer corps takes pretty good care of itself. Their graduate schools, like the Army War College and many others, give civilian-accredited master's degrees. Officer health professions programs (like the PA programs) are civilian-accredited. Yet the excellent military medical programs are not accredited, so the medics, Corpsmen, and PJs can't get civilian work upon discharge without going back and repeating training that they have already had.
What's with that? Why aren't the 68W, 18D, IDC, and PJ schools accredited by CoAEMSP and their graduates eligible to sit for civilian paramedic licensure exams? Sure would love to be able to hire some!
Same questions for schools like MP, aviation MOS, computers and communications, etc.
It seems to me that the officer corps takes pretty good care of itself. Their graduate schools, like the Army War College and many others, give civilian-accredited master's degrees. Officer health professions programs (like the PA programs) are civilian-accredited. Yet the excellent military medical programs are not accredited, so the medics, Corpsmen, and PJs can't get civilian work upon discharge without going back and repeating training that they have already had.
What's with that? Why aren't the 68W, 18D, IDC, and PJ schools accredited by CoAEMSP and their graduates eligible to sit for civilian paramedic licensure exams? Sure would love to be able to hire some!
Same questions for schools like MP, aviation MOS, computers and communications, etc.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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If that's the case with the enlisted medical MOSs, PO2 Skip Kirkwood - that they have to repeat training (in the civilian world) that they already had in the military - that's clearly not fair. That's something for folks to take up with the accreditation element (CoAEMSP?).
As for the War College .. that's a whole different level. I believe the Sergeant Major Academy has a Bachelor's Degree option/track as well. (Turns out some get master's degrees from the SMA: http://www.army.mil/article/21162/sergeant-major-academy-class-graduates)
As for the War College .. that's a whole different level. I believe the Sergeant Major Academy has a Bachelor's Degree option/track as well. (Turns out some get master's degrees from the SMA: http://www.army.mil/article/21162/sergeant-major-academy-class-graduates)
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CW5 (Join to see)
Actually, PO2 Skip Kirkwood, I wish I did have some particular insight or influence regarding this issue. Unfortunately, I don't.
The cynic in me is wondering this: Could it be that the Army is concerned that giving civilian credentials in the medical field might negatively impact retention?
The cynic in me is wondering this: Could it be that the Army is concerned that giving civilian credentials in the medical field might negatively impact retention?
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
I was hoping, CW5 Scott Montgomery, that you might. They didn't have CW5s in my day, but the Marine CWOs that I had contact with seemed to know everybody and everything - no source of knowledge greater than a Marine Gunner!
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
That too seems to be cyclic. One year it's retention, the next it is downsizing.
There is an actual clinical/content separation. To accomplish the military objectives as well as the civilian objectives, some additional time would be required. Right now, the military enlisted medical curricula are focused on combat medicine - which is mostly caring for healthy young people who suffer severe traumatic injuries. In the civilian world, those are the 1% issues - most of the business involves caring for the elderly and the very young, who are sick, not injured. It wouldn't take much, but somebody would have to actually want to do it.
I know that there are a bunch of ex-Corpsman pushing on the Master Chief of the Hospital Corps to address the issues - not sure what kind of traction there might be.
There is an actual clinical/content separation. To accomplish the military objectives as well as the civilian objectives, some additional time would be required. Right now, the military enlisted medical curricula are focused on combat medicine - which is mostly caring for healthy young people who suffer severe traumatic injuries. In the civilian world, those are the 1% issues - most of the business involves caring for the elderly and the very young, who are sick, not injured. It wouldn't take much, but somebody would have to actually want to do it.
I know that there are a bunch of ex-Corpsman pushing on the Master Chief of the Hospital Corps to address the issues - not sure what kind of traction there might be.
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CW5 (Join to see)
Good point, CWO2 Shannon Reck. And thanks for clearing that up, PO2 Skip Kirkwood. I would think that in the days of downsizing, it would make even more sense to give the medical personnel leaving the force a little boost by having them leave with a civilian credential. And I've been saying Army, because I am/was Army, but it probably applies to all services.
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In answer to your question about Army 68W, and fully MOS trained medic is considered an EMT-B, and I believe he has to peruse the EMT-P on his own time, but I think the military will pay for the schooling and certification.
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SSG Justin McCoy you are absolutely correct...some of the colleges that will transfer a lot of your military stuff over, include Thomas Edison, Excelsior, AMU, and University of Pheonix. There is a military friendly college post here on RP that can answer which college is best. If you provided a resource for these veterans, instead of saying you're not qualified, you would be carrying on the military mission, and providing direction to our newly discharged troops. I urge you to find thst post of military friendly colleges, cut and paste into a document, and hand it out to all veteran no-hires. I'd be stoked to hear if you did that.
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