Flight paramedic schooling concern?

2019-06-19T16:55:38-04:00

Hello, to begin I’m a E-4, 68W, with EMT-B with one year left on my initial contract. I’ve spoke to my retention NCO and submitted a flight paramedic packet and a few weeks later he came back to me saying there’s no way I can get accepted into the program this year. His reasoning was that the school that teaches the paramedic course, University of San Antonio, is having issues. He stated that until they get the schooling fixed they are not accepting into the program.

So first question is how true is this? My SGM said there’s no way the army could completely stop the pipeline of flight medics and that there has to be an alternative route.

That brings me to my next question, is there any way to do the paramedic schooling through the army at another location? Not through TA or on my own time since it would take a year or more and there’s no way my unit would let me out of work to do clinical time? Another army way to do the course, accelerated and whatnot.

Any POC I could reach out to or get more information from would be much appreciated!

Response by SFC Michael D. made Jun 20 at 2019 8:19 AM

2019-06-20T08:19:18-04:00

AMEDD AVIATION CREWMEMBER COURSE (300-F3)Critical Care Flight Paramedic (ASI F2) Phase III

Course Director: DSN: 558-9423 Commercial: [login to see]

Course NCOIC: DSN: 558-1837 Commercial: [login to see]

Course ANCOIC: DSN: 558-1835 Commercial: [login to see]

Scheduling Information: DSN: 558-7460 Commercial: [login to see]

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2019 5:12 AM

2019-06-23T05:12:09-04:00

I was in the same boat. Apparently there was some contract issue but that is only speculation. I would reach out to WAMC at Ft Bragg. They run a program through Fayetteville Technical Community College. PM me for more info.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2019 2:01 PM

2019-06-25T14:01:36-04:00

My state has recently started only considering paramedics to the flight medic program, because the failure rate of the school(s) are too high, and you must be a paramedic to be a flight medic anyway. Not sure if your active guard or reserve, but if it’s something you really wana do then you might have to just say forget it and go do paramedic school on your own and then try again if you get that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2019 10:31 PM

2019-06-25T22:31:14-04:00

Flight paramedic classes were pushed off until next fiscal year for a while. Then they stopped filling future classes for a short time during which they are working on contract issues. Retention branch was told not to slot any more for the rest of the fiscal year, which is only about 90 more days. Your CSM is right, there is no way they will permanently stop the paramedic program because of instructors, it will be worked out in time.
There are some bases that have paramedic programs for medics currently. All paramedic programs are not two years in length. Here in Washington we have a paramedic certificate program that's 9 months in length, and I know other states do as well.
I would just wait till September / October time frame to resubmit your request