Posted on Aug 9, 2021
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By best I mean which job transfers over to civilian jobs the easiest, or is the most useful/interesting. I am currently considering 68W, 68P, and 68Q, as well as 68N and 68X but my recruiter said the latter are not as common as the former.
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Responses: 8
LTC Vincent Moore
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Perhaps I’m a bit biased as a radiology, but 68P rad techs that I have worked with have been well-trained, work in their profession more often than their other 68-series peers, and many have gotten out and secured civilian employment. There are opportunities to train in advanced modalities such as CT and if you take the initiative to pass the exam, you will leave the Army with the same qualifications as your civilian colleagues PLUS the leadership and supervisory experience that is somewhat easier to come by. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.
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SGT Erica Smith
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Honestly, 68W doesn’t give you much in the civilian world. You can be an EMT-B, so basically driving the ambulance or do no ACLS patient transports from hospitals to nursing homes. The pay is equivalent to or less than working at Target. I don’t know about the others, but if you are looking for a decent paying job after, I would not opt for 68W.
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SGT Erica Smith
SGT Erica Smith
>1 y
PFC (Join to see) Then do 68C. LPN. You will actually do your job and get more medical experience. That would be your best bet if you want any real world experience. But honestly it sounds like you are set on 68W. It won’t help you with future medical degrees but do what you want.
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SPC Stephen McDaid
SPC Stephen McDaid
>1 y
Everything Erica is saying is spot on. I was a 68W from 2010-2014. There is no path to go from 68W to MD while on active duty. If you want to be a Doctor, these are the steps you should take.
1. Pick a MOS you might enjoy. (68W is honestly the worst 68 series MOS there is. It's the largest and you'll probably end up in a combat unit. If you have the option, choose anything else.)
2. Enlist for the shortest contract you can get out of the recruiter. You can always reenlist if you want to stay.
3. Try and earn some college credits while you're on active duty.
4. After you ETS, go to college using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It's amazing!
5. Finish your undergrad and apply to Med School. Once you have been accepted, go back to a recruiter. There are programs that will help you pay for med school in exchange for service time.
In 10 years you can either be an E6 68W or an O3 Medical Doctor.
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PFC Partner
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SPC Stephen McDaid Thanks. I already have Associates degrees. I am already halfway done with my bachelors. I plan to finish it while active duty. I do not want to blow my GI bill on two years of college. I have been told I can apply to med school while active duty in exchange for a few more years in the army and that I would get it paid for through perhaps the health professions scholarship as well as receive a stipend while I'm in. I see no use in going through a 1 year AIT for LPN, something I do not have any interest in, if I don't plan on becoming an RN. I can just do 68WF2 become a Paramedic and go to med school after that. Out of all the 68 jobs I can't find very many that appeal to me other than 68w. They all bore me.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
MAJ Byron Oyler
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PFC (Join to see) - I am very late to the game here but it sounds that you had your mind made up before posting. I hope things have changed for you since posting as this attitude can be a career limiter.
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1SG 1 St Brigade First Sergeant
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The 68P course is accredited on the civilian side. So when you graduate the military year long school you can sit for the registry test and get licensed in your state. The equivalent civilian school course is 2 years or longer and you have to pay for it.
I did the 68P course as an old guy because I wanted to do something in medical on the civilian side when I got older. I work for the VA in radiology now taking care of our brothers and sisters. Great course and great profession.
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