91A vs 68W - is a combat medic a combat medic?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:45:20 -0400

I was a combat medic in Vietnam in direct support to the 1/26th Reg, 1st Inf Div.
I carried the basic load (to include 80 rounds), M16, and standard rigging with 2 canteens. and pack. I also carried a M3 medic bag and two 1,000 count bottles of Salt Tablets and Darvon in canteen pouches.
I quickly ditched the M16 in favor of a 1911 in a shoulder holster.

So what do the 68W carry around while in the field now days?
What “specials” did you carry?
Are Salt Tablets still "the kind"?

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 12:02 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 12:02:43 -0400

I can not speak for every medic, but I carried a full combat load for M4 plus a M9 with 45 RDS. Usually had a thigh pack with combat gauze, tourniquets, morphine for short trips, for long trips I carried my medic bag with everything including IV and suture kits.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 3:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 15:07:16 -0400

I carried an M4 with 210 rounds, an m9 with 60 rounds, an Aid bag that had everything I could possibly need and a drop leg pouch that had tourniquets. All of that was in addition to the IOTV and ACH that we all have to wear. All of that gear easily took me from 185 lbs to 235-240 lbs. Forget about needing a rucksack. We conducted an air assault mission in Iraq and had to pack for a month....I chose medical gear over uniforms. Couldn't carry both!

Response by CPT Bob Moore made Apr 18 at 2015 4:22 PM

CPT Bob Moore — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:22:38 -0400

I would definitely prefer a dirty and smelly medic with medical gear than a medic that had clean clothes.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 6:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 18:53:40 -0400

So I'll give you my run down of deployment as a combat medic (I say combat medic meaning with infantry, with countless patrols a week. All that hooah jazz)
I had my m4 for combat load and M9. Wearing a plate carrier.
As far as medical supplies I carried multiple bags of he tend as well as saline for just incase heat injury. Massive amounts of bleeding control. TQ combat gauze all that jazz. Airway control and pain management meds. For longer times away from the fob I would also carry meds and other stuff to take care of minor medical issues to keep my boys going. In total I carried around 120lbs of gear. Weighing 270lbs standing normal i weighed myself just over 400 in full everything. Combat medicine has change and advance for the better. Our ability to move combat wounded from point of injury to role three care and home has a massive survivabilty rate. It is thanks to those that came before us that we are where we are today.
Welcome home SPC, thank you for your service.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 7:09 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:09:56 -0400

To add to salt tablets they're no
Longer needed. I use salt from MREs with flavor packets and water to ghetto rig and not have extra weight.

Response by SSG Wayne Edgeworth made Apr 19 at 2015 4:47 AM

SSG Wayne Edgeworth — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 04:47:57 -0400

I carried an M-16, a 9mm pistol, and a 12 gauge shotgun. Not all at the same time mind you. It all depends on the company you are in and what the company regs. say you can use. The medic bags are larger and come in a wide variety of setups and the equipment is much more improved than that of the stuff used in the Vietnam era. Treatment on the battlefield is very different as well and so survivability rates have gone way up. The "combat medic" is constantly evolving and taking on more and more roles and responsibility which enables them to be used in more settings other than the "front line".

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 2:59 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 14:59:36 -0400

There's a difference between a combat medic and a healthcare specialist. When I was a medic, all the medics in our unit carried a load almost identical to MSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 8:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 08:03:46 -0400

Just to comment on the differences. My last three deployments were as team medic for PSD teams or platoon medic for infantry platoons. I have only done one deployment as a hospital medic. Now I'm in a medic unit and even my superiors give me strange looks because of some of the training I suggest. Hospital medics receive far better training, but most simply don't have what it takes to be field/combat medics. Good combat medics could kick a hospital medic's ass in any trauma situation, hands down. As far as gear is concerned, it usually depends on the mode of travel (an MRAP can carry a lot more than a single person). If you're patrolling, it's probably advisable to spread load gear throughout the platoon (one WALK kit per squad to include poleless litter). Not only is the medic dual carrying weapons and ammo, he also has his aid bag to consider.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:33 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:33:24 -0400

In our bn medics usually get a m9 over the m4. Personally I opted for the m4. I work with infantry guys and when you do a dismounted patrol through Baghdad or anywhere else where combatants have eyes on you, you try to blend in. As for special gear, I decided to upgrade my aid bag from the issued aid bag.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:39:47 -0400

The best part was giving all your infantry guys trauma shears. They loved free stuff. One asked me why and I told him because every medic I've seen has them hanging off their vest. That's how grunts identify us during training, I'm sure the enemy has picked that up too

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 6:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:17:27 -0400

I was a Combat Medic deployed with a Light Infantry 81-mm Mortar Platoon in 2003 to Kuwait a month before the war, then headed north after things kicked off. My basic load was an M4 with 210 rounds, two cans of smoke, my M17 aid bag, JSLIST chemical suit, M40 chemical protective mask, and all the water and stripped down MREs I could carry in my large ruck.

When I deployed back to Iraq as a Combat Medic to conduct mounted patrol, my basic load was both an M4 with 210 and an M9 with 3 mags of 15. My aid bag was upgraded to a Blackhawk STOMP II packed solely for trauma. I also carried a pouch on my left thigh, opposite my M9, that carried a couple tourniquets, some needles for chest decompression, a couple homemade cricothyrodoromy kits, a field dressing and some tape and dressings. Of course I squirreled away some goodies in other trucks, just in case my truck was taken out.

As far as calling those that haven't been engaged in combat, or haven't done time as a line medic...I guess it's all semantics. We train for combat from day 1, so I'm cool with it. Even with this badge above US ARMY, there's still someone better at my job who hasn't had the pleasure of deploying to the nether region of the earth. We all have our specific duties, but our core fundamentals are the tactics, techniques and procedures associated with combat medicine.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 11:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:50:55 -0400

I usually just carry a CSH on my back. 18D (best medicine is shooting the bad guy first)

Response by SPC Chris Ellis made Apr 22 at 2015 10:58 PM

SPC Chris Ellis — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:58:37 -0400

In Iraq I carried a full combat load (210 rounds) for the M4 and a drop leg holster for my M9 and 45 rounds. In the other leg I had a drop leg pouch with tourniquets and Supplies to gain IV access and leave a saline lock. I did convoy security so in my truck I had my Blackhawks stomp 2 aid bag complete with several liters of normal saline, lacerated ringers and a 500ml bag of hextend. Also several of the (then) new bandages that would heat up and cauterize wounds when they contacted blood. An intubation kit and several bandages for sucking chest wounds and 14ga needles for decompression of pneumothorax. Along with 20mg morphine. I was lucky and only had to use a couple tourniquets and the morphine once. Also carried plenty of kerlix and ace bandages. Some splints.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 3:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:16:59 -0400

I carried an M16A2, 210 rounds of ammo pries my personal aid bag (Camelbak BMG w/ medic organizer insert). I generally had 2000 ml in LR, 2000 ml NS and 1000 in Hexend when I had it. 5-6 CATs, 20-22 ETBs, airway kit, wound care kit (bandage scissors, forceps ect.) , 4 Sam splints, Kerlix, coban, 4" and 6" Ace wraps, Poleless litter, NSAIDS, antibiotics, epipens, antihistamines, anti diarrhea, anti nausea and cold medicine. A K-bar was sheathed on the shoulder strap for vehicle extrications (Cuts belts and vests, breaks glass and prices doors). I prolly had more but that's what comes to immediate mind.

Was a E4 68W, Iraq 06-07.

Response by SFC John Mikelson made Apr 24 at 2015 3:41 PM

SFC John Mikelson — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:41:52 -0400

When I was with the infantry I carried what they carried plus.

When I was in an evac unit the M4 was a crew served weapon between driving and treatment we needed covering fire

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 3:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:41:53 -0400

Medics do such broad jobs now. When I started, I was a grunt medic for an infantry co. Then was deployed with a medical co. As a trauma team member, eventually moving over to ER platoon. I later would do a stint as a Ambulance team leader before being moved back to ER as a team leader. Now I operate in an MP BN as both the HHC medical NCOIC while also the BN Medic (chief of training and logistics for medical staff in BN). Each job is considered within the basic medic scope of training but all required different approaches and tactics.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 8:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 May 2015 20:08:47 -0400

It all depended on the mission, dismounted I would have every one of my infantrymen carry an if kit and I would load down with Hester's and trauma equipment. On top of my m4 and full combat load. Mounted I would have two aid bags, an m9 that never left my back with enough trauma equipment to get my soldier back to the truck where my big aid bag waited.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2015 7:09 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 07:09:30 -0400

I don't think the 91A was as highly trained as a 68W... The main change is the addition of TC3. There is a wider range of medication and supplies a 68W must carry. As I had a conversation with the State Surgeon, the combat load for medics today is 45lbs of medical supplies, much more than what was required in Vietnam or the 1st gulf war.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 5:14 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:14:59 -0400

So, when I was supporting the convoy team during my tour in OEF i had a basic load (210 rounds), my M-4, a London bridge with enough medical supplies to treat 4 or 5 critical causalities. Then on my IOTV i had two pouches with supplies to treat 4 more causalities. I carried basic medications for general health issues and a lot of NSIDs. We were strictly mounted so I did not carry my pack everywhere with me it stayed in the truck.

Response by SGT James LeFebvre made May 16 at 2016 9:09 PM

SGT James LeFebvre — Mon, 16 May 2016 21:09:46 -0400

If that's a rep of the bag you used to carry, that's about what CLS guys carry now, doc's bag is much bigger than it used to be. And thank goodness for the extra gear.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Sep 28 at 2016 3:33 AM

SPC Brian Mason — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 03:33:50 -0400

The MOS numbers have changed of course. Our equipment changes as the time does. We have much better, smaller, and more efficient medical gear now. I had IV kits, tons of guaze, Coban, surgical kit, few syringes w/needles, various medications, morphine/narcan, foldable splints, chest seals, pulse oxemeter, thermometer, BP cuff, stethascope, casualty cards, Tarascon pocket pharmacopia (drug info),tourniquets, bandage scissors, etc.
Standard loadout: BA, helmet, protective pads, M4, 9mm, several different knives. As for 'specials' only those trained could carry and use morphine/narcan. Oh, and I LOVE the Israeli bandages. Everyone including me was issued an IFAK so they'd have basic stuff on them: small things, including a tourniquet. I was one of the lucky ones who got a 3-point sling for my M4 which made it easier to move and stay out of the way when I needed to treat.
Unfortunately, I have but a fraction of what I did have. My first back was the too big, too much padding, clunky Blackhawk bag for only 1 deployment. Thankfully I got a newer bag which carried the same stuff and then some (map holder on the top flap) which is smaller and feels lighter. Much better design and more organized.

Response by MSG Mark Million made Jan 16 at 2017 1:40 PM

MSG Mark Million — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 13:40:43 -0500

Today's bandages are quite different than the bandages that were carried in Vietnam, however at the end of the day they are still bandages, fluids and I.V. supplies are still a staple. However there are many new trends that are often carried, things such as "plastic wrap, i.e. Saran Wrap", and tampons, which have unconventional usages in field medicine that are far removed from the manufacturers envisioned usages. Medics now have single piece rapid application tourniquets that can easily be applied in under a minute, sometimes much faster. No matter how fast a medic was with the old improvised tourniquets, the new are faster. Some of the protocols have changed over the years as now on the battlefield, almost any bleeding injury to an extremity gets a tourniquet initially before even trying any type of bandage (this is in combat conditions), There is an acronym for how to do almost anything these days, but some of us older medics just do it and somehow manage to cover all of those bases. At the end of the day being a medic hasn't changed much, the tools may look different, certain things might be done in a slightly different order, but we still focus on the same goals to take care of our fellow soldiers or any patients coming under our care.

Response by SFC Lucky Carter made Jun 14 at 2017 9:19 AM

SFC Lucky Carter — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 09:19:52 -0400

I was a combat medic my entire 20 year career. 1967-1988. Majority of my time was spent w combat arms type units. Armored, infantry, engineer ( cbt) to include a tour in Vietnam. ( 69-70) last four years as an instructor at Ft Sam Houston teaching combat medics. No regrets. Medics can be assigned to any unit. I had one hospital assignment in Italy. Rest of rt time was in combat arms units( except my instructor time)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2017 5:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:56:29 -0400

Today's medic carries some new gadgets but the basics of life-saving haven't changed a whole lot. The principles of TCCC give us a solid set of guidelines by which to pack our kit. The first and most important thing during initial assessment is to identify and stop massive bleeding. For this, we use an approved commercial tourniquet, either the CAT or the SOFT-TW. After that, we still open the airway with basic techniques and check for breathing, now with an emphasis on applying commercial vented chest seals. Bleeding wounds which are not appropriate or amenable to tourniquet application may be packed with hemostatic gauze such as QuikClot Combat Gauze. After holding good pressure, an Emergency Trauma Dressing which is a gauze dressing sewn to a compression bandage can be used. We've pushed to keep our patients warm with hypothermia management kits to fight the lethal triad. We're keeping our patient's pain under control with Fentanyl Lozenges or Ketamine injections. We're administering early antibiotics to traumatically injured personnel and improving surgical outcomes as a result!
But, while the tools have been updated, the basics of saving a life are still the same.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Jul 27 at 2017 3:14 PM

SPC William Weedman — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:14:04 -0400

The closet I came to combat was the DMZ in 1989. I carried M16A2 with 196 rounds (mags were preloaded and rarely were the springs stretched), morphine and an M3 aid bag stocked for trauma, 2 flares 2 smokes and my basic web gear with an M9 if things got really bad. no CBRN gear or protective plates other than my kevlar. But patrolling the DMZ was not Desert Shield/Storm or the Global War on Terror.

Response by PFC Jude Livsey made May 26 at 2018 6:53 AM

PFC Jude Livsey — Sat, 26 May 2018 06:53:56 -0400

Every medic I spoke to were all in agreement that we are 68W Healthcare Specialist. You became and could call yourself a combat medic once you earned and got orders for your Combat Medic Badge.
Pretty much in agreement with everyone else’s general load out & packing list. I purchased each of my guys 1 roll of QuikClot Combat Gauze for their own med pouches as well. Besides my Blackhawk aid bag which was glued to me, I had a huge medical door panel from North American Rescue in what We designated as the medevac mrap. It held even more supplies, tools for more invasive techniques, etc. for the couple times conditions were red and we had to reach the next level w/o a bird.
Kept the collapsible litter/CLS pack in the team leaders truck who I felt was the best medically trained. Anyone of my guys were still more qualified to call themselves combat medics than most of these healthcare specialists that call themselves combat medics.

Response by CPL Chris Palmberg made Aug 17 at 2018 3:17 PM

CPL Chris Palmberg — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 15:17:08 -0400

I enlisted as a 91A. Before I arrived at Sam, it was merged into 91B. Carried that MOS until 2000, when they merged about a dozen clinical MOS into 91W, then when they renumbered everything Army-wide so Officer & Enlisted branch numbers matched. At the end of the day, a line medic is still a line medic, and while the knowledge base may have expanded and capabilities grown, the majority of the complaints remain the same... chronic diarrhea, dehydration (our Joes have energy drinks instead of amphetamines,) monkey butt, and other forms of the crud. APC pills are long gone, but the treatment creed has remained "Change your Motrin, Drink your Socks, and Take some water..."

Response by SFC Michael D. made Jan 9 at 2020 6:27 PM

SFC Michael D. — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 18:27:41 -0500

All they did was change the number. A Combat Medic is a Combat Medic.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 7:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 19:41:33 -0500

I worked on an airfield in Afghanistan and did a lot of stuff on base (some beyond the wire stuff too). Aside from IOTV and M4, I carried 3+1 mags and then used my IOTV as a Medic bag. For off base stuff I carried a small medic bag and a VLAK from mystery ranch - light and maneuverable.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Apr 5 at 2020 10:13 AM

SFC Michael D. — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 10:13:56 -0400

I was a Flight Medic. We carried everything.

Response by SSG Ken Potts made Jan 20 at 2022 6:23 AM

SSG Ken Potts — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:23:00 -0500

We carry an M-4 with 210 rounds, 60 pounds of battle rattle, a 2 quart Camelback, and an aid bag. The packing list varies, and salt tablets are a thing of the past.

Response by SPC Ed Logan made Feb 11 at 2022 11:41 PM

SPC Ed Logan — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 23:41:55 -0500

Don't you mean 91B?