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I am soon to be reclassing to 68W from 11B. I am proud to once and always be an Infantryman, but as a Medic, I have better opportunities later in life, and better experience having multiple MOSs. But RP, What are YOUR thoughts on transitions like this?
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Medic
Infantry
Reclass
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
Infantry Reclass Course (11B)
Combat Medic Infantry Reclass 68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic) Infantry Reclass Course (11B)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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Your experience as an Infantryman will be helpful as a medic. If you get attached/assigned to an infantry platoon, you already know much of what the team/sqaud will be doing and you may be able to help out. I know when I was on the line with Sappers, they looked at me weird when I would help out with demo ranges and stuff because I guess for them having a medic doing stuff non-medical was just not heard of. Medics have that stigma of being stuck in the FLA asleep most of the time on ranges and such, it is an image I have tried very hard to dispell from each unit I am with. I went to AIT with someone who pretty much was doing the same as you, 11B to 68W, but in his case it was to honor the memory of the fallen medic who gave his life to save his. I applaud your choice of MOS and look forward to seeing you around.
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I went from being a grunt to aviation, only because there were no medical jobs. That infantry background is going to really help you stand out amongst tour peers IF...IF...IF you can survive the mental breakdown when you see how different things are. Watch your mouth. Repeat...watch it. You will not whip your unit into an infantry unit. You can bring a valuable skill set t the team, but if you try to reinvent the wheel you will be one miserable mother scratcher. Feel free to contact me if you want to avoid the 100 ways I screwed up making the transition.
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I personally think that it is a fantastic move, IF it is something you are called to do. Being a medic is a totally different world then being Infantry. Yes...you may be the medic in an infantry unit, but as medic, you are no longer infantry.... Promotions are probably faster as Infantry.... last I knew, medic was pretty slow to promote. It will open doors for civilian employment...opportunity to be an EMT, and will give you additional experience if you choose to go nursing, PA, or get your MD.... Go for it and enjoy the ride!
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LTC James McElreath
The medical MOS can open more doors than being an Infantry soldier when it is time to retire.r. You will more than likely work hand in hand with fellow soldiers that have more education than the average military person. The medics assigned to true medical units, period are allowed to use common sense and think on your own. Combat arms not so much as you could get someone killed going outside the box. That 68W mos is basically an LPN. There are a few ways you gain the MOS, already an LPN, they send you to a private nursing school or to the school at Ft Sam. (very high-intensity program).
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It's not much of a step up from 11B in terms of civilian job opportunities. A 68W is only EMT Basic with a National Registry certification. This means you will be skilled enough to drive an ambulance, but only after you apply for the state certification you are working in. In terms of the job, you will generally do what you did in the infantry, but now you will have an aid bag, until you make SSG.
If you are going to be a 68W, you either want to stay in to retire, in which case 11B has better promotion opportunities, or you want to move on to more advanced schooling. The closer you get to working in a clinical setting, the smaller scope of practice you have. You want to look into Flight Medic, 18D, SOCM, PA program, Nursing program, Army-Baylor PT program, or the USUHS program. Being a medic will give you the exposure to medicine you need to get the letters of recommendation into these programs.
I'm curious, how you are getting this reclass since you are in a balanced MOS and moving into an Overstrength MOS, and you have less than one year Time on Station?
If you are going to be a 68W, you either want to stay in to retire, in which case 11B has better promotion opportunities, or you want to move on to more advanced schooling. The closer you get to working in a clinical setting, the smaller scope of practice you have. You want to look into Flight Medic, 18D, SOCM, PA program, Nursing program, Army-Baylor PT program, or the USUHS program. Being a medic will give you the exposure to medicine you need to get the letters of recommendation into these programs.
I'm curious, how you are getting this reclass since you are in a balanced MOS and moving into an Overstrength MOS, and you have less than one year Time on Station?
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SFC (Join to see)
It sounds like your retention NCO grievously failed to counsel you. There are no fancy 42A tricks that will change the strength of your MOS, or change the fact that AR 614-200 requires a year on station before you reclass. Also, there is no PA program on Bragg or at the Q course for 18D. If you're fortunate enough to be part of the 5% or so who make it all the way to the end of the Q course, you'll still have to spend a few years on a team, get a certain amount of credits in college, and then apply for the PA program which is over two years of school, then be commissioned. It requires a masters degree and a certification.
The real question is, what is your end goal? Do you want to be a PA or an 18D? Or both? You can only be one at a time, one is an officer one is enlisted. Choose, and do that.
The real question is, what is your end goal? Do you want to be a PA or an 18D? Or both? You can only be one at a time, one is an officer one is enlisted. Choose, and do that.
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SPC Craig Ramon
SFC is correct in his portrayal of what this will do for you in the civilian world should you choose not to pursue retirement in the army. If you think you are not going to be a career soldier and your going through with this transition you need to look into going all the way through paramedic school and taking the national registry exam before separation from the army Other wise you will find yourself over skilled and under qualified to do anything as a civilian except for basic skills. Like driving an ambulance for next to minimum wage. Little bit about myself. I was a paramedic in my home state before I enlisted to the guard as a 91b then we transitioned to 91w the education the army provided was equivalent to a EMT intermediate or EMT advanced dependant on your state but only received EMT basic recognition by the state. The army will provide you a basic knowledge and skill set in AIT then you will learn more while OJT when it comes to slicing the bread upon separation should you choose that with out the advanced traing (paramedic) through a state accredited educator (in your state of choice.) you will find the EMT basic job very unchallenging and unrewarding. All this being said. Its a great mos and with the advanced civilian training being a paramedic in the civilian sector is a great job as well. Good luck to you
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SPC Craig Ramon
SPC Craig Ramon - correction on my previous post the transition was to 68w not 91w please excuse the typo.
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24 years ago, I made the same decision. I was stationed at Fort Ord, and reclass from 11B to what it was back then 91A. I will tell you this I never regretted it. I will get as many certifications as possible and even try for flight medic down the road.
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Well I personally like the medical field due to there being fewer DA's in that part of the Army, but occasionally one slips in. Now from what I have read, you think a 91W places you in units where you will have upward mobility well this is not the case at all. I was on an E-6 list for over six years maxed on everything but war ribbons. I did not get promoted so I left active duty. Now, my experiences I would see people go before a board and after the waiting period they were promoted. I obviously had had enough and got out of service and went to college. I did continue in the service as an officer after ROTC. There are NCO's on here to pick their brain. But lastly, it is a decision you will have to live with, so weigh your thoughts out as to what will be best for you.
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SPC Italimo,
The Army is doing their best to get you trained up in a job that will allow you to continue to serve. Your health coding had to be such that they want to take a chance that you can do the job! Not only that you are going to LPN school which may certify you on the civilian job side as well. Just get the reclass and run, how and where the Army sends you!
The Army is doing their best to get you trained up in a job that will allow you to continue to serve. Your health coding had to be such that they want to take a chance that you can do the job! Not only that you are going to LPN school which may certify you on the civilian job side as well. Just get the reclass and run, how and where the Army sends you!
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I did the same thing many years ago (11C to Medic and the LPN) good idea, however you need to realize you need to keep up all the requirements for 68 W such as EMT etc or you loose the MOS and I assume revert back to you prior MOS
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I hope you didn't do it.. You will regret it..
11B to 68W is what ended up happening to me. I requested a demotion from SFC to SSG to go back to infantry. That was a no-go.
11B to 68W is what ended up happening to me. I requested a demotion from SFC to SSG to go back to infantry. That was a no-go.
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SFC (Join to see)
A little further information. I was reclassed as a SSG, never went to Sam Houston until SLC. AMEDD denied my reclass and HRC approved it anyway. I reclassed as a W1, and working in Special Operations is fine, but regular medical units and training is less than desirable. If you become a medic do whatever you can to become special operations qualified.
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