Do you prepare your medics? We are nothing on the civilian side.

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 12:57:15 -0500

This is something I constantly preach to the young medics I meet working in my hospital or clinics.

Army medics and Navy corpsman are extremely qualified and experienced. Far above what our civilian crossover scope of practice is, and I believe it is an injustice by the army not to recognize this. There used to be chatter from NREMT and the mothership back at fort Sam to have us fall into our own qualification category of EMT to properly encompass our scope, but that is dead in the water.

What is disheartening is what I've seen far to often is people forgetting we are only EMT-Bs. Which is why I push my medics to gather up every type of certification that can. ALS, PALs, BLS instructor cards. Anything at all to make you more qualified. I'm fortunate to have a NCO channel that allows me and my soldiers to better ourselves. Even taking paramedic classes at night and allowing us time to build hours on an ambulance for testing.

As an Army medic we can initiate IVs, push medications, initiate chest tubes, suture, staples, and the primary bread and butter of treating the sniffles and bubble guts effectively, a complete waste of talent if you allow yourself to get out of the army and go to a job that you can only provide oxygen and transport legally.
I wish I had an answer to the problem, but for now it seems we're on our own.

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/former-medics-find-themselves-on-bottom-rung-in-civilian-field-1.344392?utm_content=buffer502d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Former medics find themselves on bottom rung in civilian field

In four deployments as an Army combat medic to some of the most dangerous corners of Iraq and Afghanistan, Joe Carney had seen the worst of war — bullet wounds, severed limbs, shrapnel. He saved lives amid bombs and gunfire, his emergency room often a patch of dirt in the desert or a rocky mountainside. None of that mattered when he left the Army three years ago.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 1:10 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 13:10:29 -0500

Great post, my wife and I have tried for years to find an effective bridge to these skills. Many of the continuing education courses (ALS, etc) can be supported by your unit. Overall, I've found that LPN bridge programs and Medical Assistant jobs provide the best use of skills (far over an ambulance driver or civilian EMT-B). As an example this problem my wife works as a security officer and I am a social worker.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 1:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 13:20:36 -0500

It is a problem. A lot of units don't support medics taking paramedic classes either due to the time commitment. At least in my unit, it would be a big deal to effectively lose several medics for a year to a Paramedic program. I've tried to do do that. I've decided the best waycto get the Paramedic certification is to take the Army's flight paramedic course. Which is a great way to advance yourself along with a lot of other follow on schools. EMT-B really does us no justice though. I'm a volunteer EMT on my off time and it sucks being limited.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 1:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 13:35:39 -0500

If I remember correctly the National Registry at one point actually tried to set up a new level to coincide with Medic/corpsmans skill sets. Unfortunately since both are not trained the exact same way they were unable to. I think that would be a great move since we can in all reality do a lot of things on NREMT-P level (given training and approval by our Doc or PA.) I don't see it happening though until there is a DOD standard of training as opposed to service standards.

I worked as an EMT for quite some time before coming into the army and that's why I try to explain to people that they need to take advantage of the education they can get while they are in. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have to go from having the ability to practice at the level most do in the army to "O2 and transport". I for one and waiting to hear back on flight medic school, hoping I hear something about a training seat soon!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 2:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 14:15:58 -0500

Great discussion, will give pointers once I get on a laptop.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 4:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 16:51:58 -0500

Doesn't the Army have a practical/vocational nurse certification program for enlisted medics. (used to be 91C in the 70s/80s MOS designations)

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Nov 29 at 2015 6:17 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 18:17:13 -0500

Check this link, the VA is starting transition training program at many facilities
http://www.bronx.va.gov/BRONX/features/medictransition.asp

Response by SSG Michael Hathaway made Nov 30 at 2015 4:35 AM

SSG Michael Hathaway — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 04:35:35 -0500

I hate how much medics get crapped on. Classes and schools are closed to medics for the most part as they are not pertinent for their MOS...except of course for Field San. I think there needs to be more training for medics to prepare them for a civilian equivalent job when they get out. At least something other than a ambulance driver.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Nov 30 at 2015 1:30 PM

SrA David Steyer — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 13:30:45 -0500

I was Public Health om the USAF. We were told in tech school years ago we were MEDICS. Not medical but straight up MEDICS. Um... no. I knew this was BS then because we didn't get any medic training, other than what you would get in basic training like SABC.

The only certification we got was to give hearing exams and it only was good for five years and you'd have to get re-certified every five years. It was only good for the military unless you got a rare civilian job doing hearing exams on a military base.

I had a NCOIC a few years after tech school who wanted to send us to Paramedic/EMT training because we were starting to do PHA's. The training never happened but the fact of the matter is that Public Health never should have done PHA's and we still are doing them years later but thankfully it is going to go back in a couple of years

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2015 4:59 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 16:59:19 -0500

This is unfortunate. I was unaware that our medics, some of the best and most dedicated medical treatment personnel I have ever worked with aren't getting credit for the work they have done. I wish I had known this was a problem when I was in Squadron Command when I could do something about it. If someone makes the mistake of making me a brigade commander, I'll make this a program to look into. Highly unlikely though.

Response by SGT Victoria Belbusti made Nov 30 at 2015 6:42 PM

SGT Victoria Belbusti — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:42:21 -0500

I think the problem begins with AIT. I can't tell you how many soldiers thought were going to become Paramedics just by completing the course. I am not sure if we can have the opportunity to get Paramedic as skill identfier other than for Flight Medic. I think it would be in our best interest to train us as Paramedics from the get go. Here we call paramedics if someone is injured and 9 times out of ten, the paramedics knows just to trust us. Lack of training is defininately the reason we have lost these perishable skills.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Nov 30 at 2015 7:13 PM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:13:21 -0500

In my opinion.. There really is no incentive to become a better medic. There is no fast track promotion because you are a more qualified medic. Of course we all are self starters and want to master our craft so we do it on our own (some of us). However, at what point in your career do you have to pass a bench mark to get promoted to the next rank? Do you need a certain credential? No you do not, as illustrated by a medic I came across (SSG with 17yrs) that had ZERO additional certifications. In my opinion he shouldn't have made it that long. There are PLENTY of promotion opportunities for Ranger, Airborne, and other cool guy stuff, but none of those actually make you a more qualified medic. A more well rounded one maybe. When a good guy gets out, regardless of the cool guy trauma stuff they were doing while in, they are an "unproven" EMT-B. I do not agree with this, and I hope someday we get it right.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 30 at 2015 7:29 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:29:00 -0500

I have been out of this area for sometime. However, I am a former EMT and I still do non-medical Emergency Services planning and operations.

The services have some unique requirements and then some very traditional (directly transferrable to civilian life) requirements. The challenge is establishing a program to track, document and revalidate the knowledge, skills and abilities obtained while in the service. This would have to be vetted and audited by an accrediting authority (e.g. the national registry) to ensure conformance.

It is not impossible to establish a program similar to the vocational/technical programs that currently exist. However, there are some challenges. The various Army Centers of Excellence are regionally accredited, and organizations such as ACE accredit college equivalency, as is the Community College of the Air Force.

IMHO (and experience) it is a lack of priority, motivation and benefit to the services and the needs of the services, vice the benefit to the services of having civilian/commercially certified individuals.

You have cited the problems you are faced with when departing the service and not being considered qualified in civilian life. Remember the reverse is generally true as well.

This situation is (to my way of thinking) would benefit greatly if the academics were documented via a service university and the courses were structured to permit certification to the military requirements and the civilian concurrently. However, before such a program is started some basic questions have to be asked, such as:
- Who is to pay for the initial certification exam and license?
- Who is responsible of the renewal and sustainment training costs?
- What is the standard to be used? True there are national standards and certification bodies,
- Is it worth it to the services and will it improve first line medical care in the field and during transport to a medical aid station, etc...?
- Are you willing to undergo the required continuing education and recertification exams?
- If you fail to maintain your civilian certification or fail the exam, are you prepared to take a career hit?
Just some points to consider.

[For the record - I earned my EMT Certification by attending college (5 credit hour program) while on active duty. I was both nationally and state certified. However, as some have noted, in those days (70s/80s) the service was unimpressed. However, I did it to improve my personal capabilities.]

Response by SGT Mairi Hawker made Nov 30 at 2015 9:16 PM

SGT Mairi Hawker — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 21:16:37 -0500

there is something in the works to give 68W the right qualifications when they get out.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 8:25 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 08:25:57 -0500

As an EMT who went on to complete my Paramedic licensure on the civilian side, I now have a greater scope of practice when I 'm working as a Paramedic Civilian job vs when I'm performing Military duties. The problems I was dealing with as an EMT working outside the Military have just reversed itself. I run into problem on the Military side of the house because I am a Paramedic and I cannot fully practice my scope of care I can in my civilian job.

Response by SGT Matt Voll made Dec 1 at 2015 9:02 AM

SGT Matt Voll — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 09:02:40 -0500

So I was a Ranger Medic for 4 years and when I got out, I had the same problem in that we had the skill set for many invasive procedures, but the best I could do was exactly what you are saying, drive the Rig or give O2. After a few years, I eventually went to medical school and have become an ER doctor. In this position, I work with a lot of the Paramedics as well SWAT teams in my location.

As having been on both sides of the fence at this point, there is a significant difference between what a combat medic does and what a civilian paramedic does, both of which are unbelievably qualified in their specific areas of operation. As much as I would love to see a bridging program, that is never going to happen as the powers that be all like to have their control over their wheel houses and won't give up any of that control.

My suggestion is this: Seeing as the US is not as deployed as in recent years, true military leaders should be taking the initiative to truly square their guys away by letting the go getters get additional training as a paramedic. Additional classes in ACLS, PALS, etc will not increase your opportunity in the civilian sector nor will it bring a higher paycheck. They are important, but won't improve your outlook upon leaving. The only way a combat medic will be able to take their skills and turn it into a meaningful career in medicine in which they can use their skill set is to become a paramedic, RN, PA, NP, or Physician. Again, an LPN for a combat medic is a lesser position. This is unfortunately the nature of the beast and I don't see it changing anytime soon

Response by SPC Joshua Dawson made Dec 1 at 2015 9:16 AM

SPC Joshua Dawson — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 09:16:58 -0500

Of course you're on your own. I know even when I was in the unit I was in treated us all like we were lower than dogshit, even though as line medics we had to know and be able to perform all of the other job duties of everyone else in the platoon. The platoon of medics that I was in was even named the top medical platoon on the whole installation, not that that mattered to our unit any. Then we get out and find out that our civilian equivalent is barely even paid minimum wage and the GI bill wont even cover a four year degree. So for serving 5 years on a three 3 year contract just because my unit wouldn't let me clear because I was a medic, I got nothing but injuries and a massive headache trying to fight with the VA to get the benefits that I have already earned. Yeah I would definitely not do it again if I had the chance.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 10:18 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 10:18:01 -0500

I might get some flak for what I am about to write, but someone needs to be the Devil’s Advocate. There are many opportunities in the Army to advance in a medical career. Starting with the EMT-B. For someone coming off of the street into the Army and being a registered EMT-B in less than 16 weeks is amazing for starters. Some medics go to line units some to hospitals and some to mailrooms. Yes, we medics are highly qualified on the battlefield. There is no question to that. But we are not highly qualified on the civilianfield. Medicine goes far beyond skill level. It goes into legal, insurance, religious and many other twists and turns. This is the reason medics start here. Should be glad, since medics were not always EMT-Bs. And how many medics actually have every reacted to a true emergency on the civilian side? Just because you are an Army medic does not mean you can react better than a civilian EMT-B, who does the job daily.
More basically, there are the ACLS, PAL, and NLS. All of these are great options to go through if you are in an area to use them, otherwise they are almost pointless. Medics instructing ACLS, PALS or NLS is not a good idea, since majority of those in these classes are Providers and Registered Nurses. Teaching BLS is a great idea though. Plus TA and GI bill cover a good bit of medical courses. The GO bill can cover the cost of civilian PA school. Take night EMT courses and take the Paramedic NREMT.
Options. There are so many options. The LPN course, flight medic course, reclassing to other medical MOS which are highly prized in the civilian sector, 68K, 68D, 68P and 68N.
Options to become even higher qualified such as the EMDP2, AECP, IPAP, MSW, PTBP and the HPSP, which will send you to medical school, dental school, veterinary school, optometry school and clinical or counseling psychology school.
There are many option for a medic to advance. It just depends on drive. So basically if a medic gets out with no additional skill it is their own fault. The NCO shouldn’t matter. Yes they should help guide, but I do my own research and call AMEDD recruiters myself. And before anyone starts shaking their head on this, just remember, in the civilian world the legal law runs the medical field, in the Army its more of a guideline.
Bottom line, should the Army do more to help medic when they get out? There are already tons of options, what else can the Army do besides do the work for you?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 1:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 13:00:10 -0500

I think it depends on the state. I'm in the F2 paramedic program, and on ride-outs with San Antonio fire, EMT-B's can do advanced airways like King Tubes, initiate IV's and anything else. Even in Hospitals, the people you see doing the most IV's are the medic-equivalent techs.

However, the deeper issue: what the hell were you doing while you were in? My heart goes out to the 18D's and W1's at SOAR and Ranger Bat, but for anyone else, you had time for school. In my unit, we only had a handful of people using TA, and complaining that points for E5 were too high.

The Army has greater opportunities to expand your skills if you will take them. From what I understand, PA schools are extremely competitive on the civilian side, whereas in the Army, you can drop a packet, and get into one of the best PA programs in the country. It certainly is competitive, but not to the level that you see in the civilian sector. You might as well apply to medical school with the credentials you need for a civilian PA program.

Flight Paramedic was also an easy packet to drop, and don't let the numbers on the BLS.gov website fool you; paramedics make sick money. They work hourly, and have huge amounts of overtime built into the schedule. The guys I'm doing ride-outs with in San Antonio report incomes of six figures like it's no big deal. There are many other areas in the country where this is the case, as well.

TLDR: If you want to make it as a medic, both inside and outside of the Army, education is mandatory.

Response by SPC Adam Avinger made Dec 1 at 2015 6:58 PM

SPC Adam Avinger — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 18:58:43 -0500

All those added certifications like PALS and ACLS, and PTHLS.... They don't mean jack shit in the civilian world unless you have your EMT-P to back it all up. The part that prevented us from transitioning our skills from the battlefield to the ambulance or hospital wasn't a lack of extra certs, it was being issued an EMT-B certification in the first place.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 9:23 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 09:23:02 -0500

This is the major reason why I went into aviation. As a flight medic you become extremely qualified on the out side. So much so it's almost the main reason why we are short flight paramedic. Not only do we get paramedic be also the civilian FPC and if we wanna pay and challenge it the crit care ground cert as well. The opportunities are out there it's weather or not you wanna put in the effort to pursue them. If any one needs help contact me [login to see]

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 3:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 15:48:33 -0500

I have always ran thru this in my head, and struggle trying to put it politely. The only way being a medic in the US Army serves a purpose is if you plan on never getting out. I tell all my junior medics, that if they plan on getting out of the Army they need to do one of two things. Get a college degree or change their MOS, there is no real future outside the Army without those choices, at least not in the medical field. Unless you want you want to make $11.50 an hour in some Podunk county as a ambulance driver, most places won't even hire EMT-B's anymore. Another thing that really bothers me is where is our warrant officer cross over, we are one of the few MOS's that has no WO counter part? PA school is the closest thing but like any officer program you need college. The way it sits now I would never tell anyone to be come a 68W, until our credentials match our actual skill level. This is the sad truth about 68W. At least how I see it in the Army.

Response by 1SG Paul DeStout made Dec 4 at 2015 5:56 PM

1SG Paul DeStout — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 17:56:39 -0500

This is what the NREMT was trying to do at one time but never really panned out as an official EMT course. http://emtt.org/ I think Georgia was the test state for it. I feel that the medics certification should be tiered. AIT = EMT-B and ALC = EMT-P but the army will not spend the money for certification, since the certification isn't necessary in the military. The medic will be forced to use TA to accomplish EMT-P with command support.

EMT-Tactical

EMT-Tactical, Professional and certified Tactical Medic training and instruction for SWAT, police, fire, EMS and medical personnel in tactical medicine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2015 7:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:46:11 -0500

It's true. The Army does not set up our medics for life on the outside. I manage a nursing staffing agency and I can't even hire a medic to work as a CNA. I think army medics are the most well trained and reliable 1st level responders America has, but an EMT-B makes less then a fast food worker on the outside. I think there should be a beige program in place to transition medics out of the Army and set them up for the civilian world. It is an injustice to deploy and experience what our medics experience and then come home and not be ale to work at something you are great at

Response by CPT James Hubbard made Dec 4 at 2015 9:45 PM

CPT James Hubbard — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 21:45:43 -0500

Medical personnel are certified by the medical boards in each state. So it's a political issue to get those boards to recognize training provided by the armed forces. I wrote a sole source grant request from the Labor Department some years ago when I was the Director of Economics for The American Legion. The study found that enlisted medical training largely qualified many of the medical speciality MOS's as having direct relevance to civilian life. The trick is to get the civilians to recognize the military training. The VA educational benefits due to service people will pay for the fees associated with the necessary examinations. Or at least they did at one time. We got that legislation passed in less than 6 months from its introduction. Much has changed. Is the Army transition site cool.army.mil still active. It used to provide current advice on what training was necessary based on ones MOS to qualify for the civilian certification. I've been out of that business for a long time but we got the ball rolling. Bring me up to date please.

Response by Capt Kelvin Sumlin made Dec 5 at 2015 5:33 PM

Capt Kelvin Sumlin — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 17:33:19 -0500

This is true, I spent 11 years as a corpsman with the Marines and the Seabees but when I got out to go to college I was not allowed to do much.

Response by SrA Chris Lay made Dec 6 at 2015 5:23 AM

SrA Chris Lay — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 05:23:56 -0500

Just cutting teeth, but don't forget about the air force medics. I lot of us are right there in the ICUs at Brook Army Medical Center

Response by PO3 David Fries made Dec 10 at 2015 6:39 AM

PO3 David Fries — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 06:39:16 -0500

I was a Corpsman for 6 years, got out and never got back into medicine. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because of the hurdles you have to overcome to get to the level you were at in the military. On a regular basis I was doing things that either a PA or NP would do. No way I was wiping ass again. It really is a shame too, not only did I love what I did, but I was damn good at it.

Response by SGT Matt Voll made Dec 11 at 2015 10:42 AM

SGT Matt Voll — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 10:42:05 -0500

So I don't spend a lot of time posting to forums but this is one, especially this topic that I believe is important. As I had put before, I was a Ranger medic, got out in late 2006 and am now a practicing ER doctor, so I think I have a little experience in regard to this conversation.

One of the comments mentioned that he doesn't advocate for people to become or stay a 68W because the future on the civilian side is bleak which is the wrong answer. Does the job completely translate over to the civilian sector? Absolutely not, but the intangibles you gain as a combat medic are immeasurable and will make you the most sought after EMTP around. This article I've attached explains it the best.
https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/12/why-the-best-leaders-have-conviction/

The next question is why does it not completely cross over?? In the Army, especially in combat, you are it if someone gets hurt. You're possibly hours if not days from a higher level of care and thus the only resource is for you to put the chest tube in. In the civilian side, you are 8 minutes from a hospital nearly anywhere in the US and when the option to have that same chest tube placed by a trained emergency medicine doctor in a sterile environment everyone is going to take that option.

Furthermore, what you don't learn as a combat medic because it has no place is what to do with the fat tub of shit lady who is clutching her chest and screaming she's having a heart attack. Once the line is placed then what?? The EKG needs read, the rhythm needs to be interpreted and drugs given. I didn't learn that as a Ranger Medic and on the civilian side this will be nearly every patient you see.

Lastly, does it take extra work on the outside to get that job, sure as shit does, but once there it's a lot of fun, the pay is good and you'll still be the most interesting person at the Christmas party.

I think if a line medic has decided to get out but wants to remain in medicine, the senior enlisted leaders should continue to set them up for success. Get a plan in place, let them start taking classes toward that EMTP, get certified and use that sweet sweet tuition assistance on base and so these guys can walk off base and get a solid CAREER! This would help keep our guys off the streets and decrease the suicide rate that is so prevalent. It does take more work and effort, so stop bitching about how the Army didn't do this or that. We know the problem exists so be proactive before you sign out that one last time.

If anyone needs any help or suggestions on what courses to take or want advice on what I did don't hesitate to drop me a line

Response by SGT Victoria Belbusti made Dec 15 at 2015 9:54 AM

SGT Victoria Belbusti — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:54:32 -0500

Now you can get credit for your military medical training towards a BSN. Check out the pics I posted.

Response by CPT James Hubbard made Dec 17 at 2015 4:41 PM

CPT James Hubbard — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:41:23 -0500

Sometimes there is a very real fear that training soldiers in whatever field for work in civilian life will encourage them to leave the service. While the training establishment would likely do this, the recruitment/reenlistment folks are dead set against it. That's the tension that existed some years ago and is probably still there. The answer is that people DO leave the service and go back home. If they have a less than stellar experience in finding a job related to their military training, they pass this along to friends and friends of friends and sons and daughters of friends. That's bad news for the recruiters. More needs to be done to get state medical boards (in the case of the medical specialties field) or other state certification agencies to recognize that the Armed Forces have some of the best training schools in the world that produce graduates who are a national resource.

Response by SSG Kevin Wells made Dec 22 at 2015 8:47 AM

SSG Kevin Wells — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 08:47:46 -0500

Having taught our medics and also having taught paramedics on the civilian side, I see the biggest difference being that the Army does not take the time to teach "why". We would spend many hours teaching "How" to do something. Repetition to the point that it becomes ingrained muscle memory, but hardly any time was spent teaching why we do it. This is a crucial step when the medic is called upon to think outside the box and formulate alternative treatment based on lack of supplies, changing environments, or any number of variables outside their control.
When I entered the National Guard in '97 I was "awarded" my MOS based on already being a Paramedic. I assumed everyone had similar training, but was proven wrong over the years. In 2011, after returning from Afghanistan (and having completed a tour in Iraq, both as a flight medic) I was told my civilian education was no longer valid and had to attend 68W school. Here students learned the requirements for national registry basic EMT over a period of 18 days (the civilian equivalent being 6 to 9 weeks) as they were prepared for a test. The second and third phases did a better job preparing them, but those skills can not be used on the civilian side. (Packing wounds, trach's, decompression, and even tourniquets). In some cases our medics are trained above the standard for their civilian counterpart. But often times, they fail to keep up in understand why something is done. Don't get me wrong, I would take a combat medic / corpsman over any civilian trained paramedic any day of the week, but their is a significant gap in the education process. That said, the new flight medic program is producing board certified flight paramedics which, from my understanding, as it started after I retired, is an outstanding program which bridges the knowledge gap quite well.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 9:42 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:42:58 -0500

We selected three of our best and sent them to a 9 month long paramedic course. Medics are basically EMTs on the outside. But the Army has lots of jobs that don't transfer to the outside, so it isn't like medics are being singled out.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 17 at 2016 1:02 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 13:02:05 -0400

When I was in, our BDE offered accelerated EMT-I courses taught by the local community college, right in our BDE classroom. You gotta talk to the right people and persuade them to spend the money on things like this. Get in touch with your local MEDDAC, who usually will let medics from other units jump in when they offer the ACLS and Peds courses. You can also do BLS-I/CPR instructor courses which will give you a leg up anywhere you go.

Response by SSG Erin Hicks made Nov 11 at 2016 1:50 PM

SSG Erin Hicks — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 13:50:51 -0500

I highly encourage all Combat Medics to reenlist for or go back to Fort Sam for an ASI in an Allied Healthcare MOS. OTA, PTA, LAB tech, Radiology tech etc. Allied Healthcare Additional skill identifiers allow you to test for National accreditation and licensing. Army training is recognized by medical licensing boards. I make a far better living as a GS civilian in my Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant ASI. I let my NREMT expire after I left the Army when I realized McDonalds managers were paid more than ambulance jockeys

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2020 4:11 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 04:11:31 -0500

You have a huge knowledge base and a GI Bill, go to Nursing school when you get out or any school you want. Just don’t let it go to waste. If a 68W wants to walk off base with a DD-214 and get a job offer compared to those who went to another program or school, I’m sorry but they're just not prepared. I could have never walked into an ER, ICU, or stepped into a helicopter as a 68W and been very beneficial. Maybe start some IVs, but I didn’t know crap about shooting cardiac indexes, titrating pressors, hanging multiple infusions, ventilator settings, Impellas, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps, Ventricular Assist Devices, or what any of that meant. Those high acuity jobs really do require education, training, and experience. I would love to see more 68W get out and do good things; however, it really does take self motivation. Come off active duty with a GI Bill, join a GUARD unit so that you can get state AND federal tuition assistance, then go to school. It will pay off in the end!