Any Respiratory Specialist here? I'm thinking about reclassing this week and would like some inputs on your experience. Thank you!

I highly recommend it. We have clinical skills and opportunities that don't exist elsewhere in the medical world. Our sole focus on the cardio-pulmonary system and disease processes makes us a valuable asset within a hospital. Short answer, we're hard to replace. There's great opportunities when you finish your Army career as well.

The only issues you may have is dealing with snot & sputum, especially when you get a funky disease process or burn patient that creates a unique and less than pleasant smell.

SFC Crouch is definitely the most qualified expert on the school requirements, so do what he said.

One of the best decisions I ever made was reclassing to 68V (formerly 91V). I loved the job.

Does anyone know the updated prerequisites for 68V? The Met-c website and reserve career counselor data are different. I plan to transition from active duty to the reserves for 68V.

I was a graduate of (at that time our mos was 91V. Respiratory Specialist) in December 1976. I had opportunities to open two Respiratory Departments. One at Ft. Polk, Louisiana and the other at Augsburg, Germany. I enjoyed every second of my 7 years in the army. Respiratory therapy has a lot of different exposure from neonatal care to geriatric care. I highly recommend going into this field. Sp 6 Danny Miller

That would be one of the best decisions you ever make in your life.

I’ve been a Respiratory Therapist since 1972. What questions do you have?

I was in the second or third class of the Respiratory Specialist course back in 1976. Our official designation was 91V Respiratory Specialist. If I’m remembering correctly we started with 33 students and graduated 17. I loved every minute that I served. Danny Miller

I did the Respiratory Specialist program through a Reserve Unit where I went to a technical college (in Milwaukee), and the completion of the course also granted me the MOS. This was a particularly good way to go as I received an associates degree and was paid as an E-6 >10 with all benefits while going to school.

Once I finished, I only worked as an RRT for 1 year before switching to sleep diagnostic testing, which I did for 5 years. During that time I completed my BS and MS and now work in Hospital Administration.

The bottom line is that you get great skills, you can help some really sick people, and have a lot of different choices on how to proceed in the civilian sector.

All that said, I wish I would have went into nursing (RN) instead. I would be an executive by now, but I could not get past the "Male Nurse" stigma at the time...

Thanks SFC Crouch, this helped out quite a bit in what I was looking for. I am taking my 1301 ENGL and Algebra now and already have 4 social studies knocked out of the way.