I am a split ops soldier, back from basic training but have not yet gone to AIT. What exactly should I study for 68W AIT?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:05:18 -0500

I have been told to study Anatomy and physiology, what does the NREMT test you on? Should I be concerned? I have until June to study before I go to AIT. Should I start studying now or should I wait a while?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 8:24 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:24:06 -0500

I graduated AIT November 23rd of 2017 from Bravo Company. I didn’t get recycled to any other companies and I maintained a 87-89 GPA throughout the entirety of the training. Anatomy and physiology are the least of your worries. If you paid attention at all during high school biology you will be good to go. I would focus on buying one of the $15 (or free) NREMT prep apps. Answer the questions daily, look at what you got wrong and why and do that routinely. The NREMT is what fails most Soldier Medics. Study now. I’d say focus on Trauma and and other things. If you contact me I would be more than happy to show you the book you will be studying and what chapters (MODs) fail the most trainees. There is no need for concern, whatever they tell you is mostly true but as long as you maintain your discipline and don’t mess around with drugs, alcohol or female Soldier Medics you should pass. This means staying up a little later than you’d like and studying. 04:00 wake ups suck but they suck even more on test day when you know you haven’t been paying attention for that portion of the class. One last thing to focus on is physical health! Whiskey training, although watered down, is still tough. You will see many of your battle buddies get recycled from injuries more than the testing itself. If you maintain good physical health that you got from Basic Training you have much less chance of getting injured. That’s all I can think of for right now, feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Response by MAJ Montgomery Granger made Jan 2 at 2018 8:24 PM

MAJ Montgomery Granger — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:24:30 -0500

Congratulations! Yes. Study everything and anything related to your future MOS. Go above and beyond! Best MOS in the Army! You represent the next generation of the finest soldiers on Earth. Endeavor to ace every test and practical exam. Be the BEST soldier in your unit. Remember the Army values: LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY and PERSONAL COURAGE. And remember the Combat Medic motto: “Soldier Medic, Send Me!” PS - Enjoy every minute! Hooah!

Response by SPC Ryan Dietrich made Jan 2 at 2018 8:48 PM

SPC Ryan Dietrich — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:48:38 -0500

Learn to stay awake. Surviving death by PowerPoint is the worst part of AIT. Everything else is manageable one day at a time. Pay attention every day, take notes, ask questions until you understand the how and why of everything you're learning. You need to be better than you are, always. Because one day, one of your brothers will need you to know your shit, and you don't want to be in that situation and not know what you're doing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 9:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 21:52:29 -0500

If you have the opportunity to attend any EMT classes prior to it will make life easier. If you want to get your NREMT before your go you will have to pay for it however it will make your time at FT Sam shorter. That is the biggest separator of the course and most soldiers drop because of it. The Combat Medic portion is a lot more physical so make sure you’re able to drag, lift, and carry a grown man in full gear. It is however what you make of it so visit the river walk but don’t spend all of your time out there. Listen to your NCOs and instructors they have your best interest even if you’re having a rough time. Study, study, study all class work and hands on skills.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 11:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 23:04:17 -0500

Does anyone know what phone privileges are like at for Sam?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 11:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 23:58:44 -0500

I went through in 2010. From the other soldier medics here, it looks like not a lot has changed. Study the materials and you will do well. Lean on your battle buddies, but focus on your own. Get a good study guide, take some pre-tests, and focus focus focus. Ft. Sam has a lot of opportunity to party, but you’ll have plenty of time after you pass the exam. Best of luck!

Response by CPL Chris Palmberg made Jan 3 at 2018 12:46 AM

CPL Chris Palmberg — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:46:55 -0500

68W was one of 4 MOS I carried at some point during my tenure. My others were 91A (enlistment contract) 91B (merged to single "medic" MOS) 91W (the 2001 consolidation with about a dozen MOS becoming ASI)... in short, I was always a medic.

If you are concerned about academic capacity for the Whiskey course, I'd recommend auditing or outright taking an EMT course just so the material won't be 100% new to you. A&P is nice, but a collegiate level course is overkill at this stage in the game. Don't bother trying to board, unless you are a R/C soldier whose state doesn't accept NREMT for direct reciprocity. Just get the class under your belt and then let Uncle Sugar pay for your test.

Once you've completed your training, the real work begins. Unlike most other careers, both within the military and in civilian life, to avoid being the barely tolerable POS Medic who nobody trusts to take a blood pressure, you need to take EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY that presents itself to learn ANYTHING VAGUELY APPLICABLE not only to your MOS, but to the people who you are tasked with caring for and working alongside. Those additional talents may come in handy at some point, as I have yet to see a casualty taken who lays down on their back quietly and calmly waits for assistance in a safe environment. You may have to breach triple strand concertina wire to reach your patient. You may have to blow up obstacles to get a medevac in. Your sole evac vehicle may be a Brad or a tank, so you'd better know how to get in and out of them without help. If you can swing it, do ridealongs with a local EMS provider, or volunteer with the local EMS or Fire Department just to learn how to deal with the chaos that Murphy's Law always brings.

I have been saying for nearly 20 years that being a medic is the most rewarding, versatile and challenging job in the military. It is what you make of it. But, perhaps unlike any other job, it requires versatility beyond the constraints of the skill list. And always remember... you are a Soldier Medic... so work hard to become an invaluable member of the team BEFORE the cry of "Medic!" rings out.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 10:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:21:42 -0500

Definitely study A&P, focus heavily on trauma and also over child birth and complications that can occur, found that the test that covered childbirth was the hardest of all the tests you take

Response by SPC Jordan Keane made Jan 3 at 2018 10:25 AM

SPC Jordan Keane — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:25:38 -0500

Go into the NREMT and forget all of the shit you learned. You are just some regular dude out on the street while taking that test. You know nothing but how to fetch.

Response by SPC Eduardo Gomez made Jan 3 at 2018 10:50 AM

SPC Eduardo Gomez — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:50:19 -0500

If you have the AIT books on hand, wouldn't hurt to have a look

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 1:15 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:15:27 -0500

Also know that time management is huge when you get there. You'll have to use every minute you have free studying and exercising. Don't wait till the last minute because some of the companies in Fort Sam that you will be a part of, do not let you sleep near as much as you should think. NREMT is going to be difficult be it makes you critically think on everything you learn from the books. Reading isn't enough to pass. Watch videos on YouTube about some of the test question makers for the NREMT. That will give you an idea about what to keep in mind when reading the answers theyve given you to choose from. Dont study right before the day of a test. Always get your sleep so you're awake and alert for that day.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 5:08 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:08:58 -0500

Keep up your PT, I've met a few Docs including my brother and they carry more than the Infantry does. As for classes you might be able to do yourself... He (my brother) said a lot of guys had issues with the medicine portion, so maybe you can take an EMT class to help you get acclimated to it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 5:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:24:57 -0500

Get with the senior medics in your unit. They will have training materials to help you get familiar with the skills your will be tested on. You can message me if your unit doesn't have those resources. I can get you some of the skill sheets.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 6:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 18:28:38 -0500

It would be good to brush up on A&P. There are some NREMT study guides and websites out there. Check them out to see what you'll be tested on.

Response by SGT Bleddyn Wilson made Jan 4 at 2018 7:49 AM

SGT Bleddyn Wilson — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 07:49:11 -0500

I would go ahead and get your NREMT-B... if you at are heading in that direction. I was a NREMT-P when i went and cut my AIT time by half, and tutored on the side .

Response by SSG Kasius McCall made Jan 4 at 2018 9:31 AM

SSG Kasius McCall — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 09:31:58 -0500

First, don’t go out and pay money for an EMT certification that the Army is going to give you for free. I’m an active duty medic and have seen plenty of people that pass and go on to be medics in the army that definitely have no idea how they even made it through basic let alone AIT. If you really want to get ahead I would rent a EMT book or find it used for cheap (point is don’t spend a shit ton of money) and go over it. Hardest part of AIT is NREMT and a third of your class will go home or reclass because of it. The NREMT test is random and user adapted so not everyone gets the same amount of questions or the same questions so someone trying to tell you what’s on it is a bad idea. Get yourself the latest edition of the EMT book and study. That’s it man.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 10:04 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 10:04:17 -0500

If you become EMT certified before you go then you will arrive as a specialist. Which is 3 ranks/ 3 pay grades higher than what you would be if you weren't EMT. I strongly recommend you do it and it will literally pay off.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 4:38 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 16:38:05 -0500

hey brutha dont sweat it wait until you get to AIT they will get you straight honestly the first few tests in emt phase I stayed up late as fuck studying even after the homework was done and did horrible but then I noticed if I cracked my self out on coffee and let nothing in class take my attention away and racked out right after my homework was done is when I started getting high scores on my tests good luck man and just remember the homless guy gets nitro

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 7:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 19:30:07 -0500

Hey, congrats on making it through Basic. As an AMEDD instructor I can tell you that phase 1, or the NREMT portion is a civilian style lecture and hands on portion aimed at getting you a civilian NREMT certification. Without it, you cannot be a medic, or advanced to the whiskey side until you do. NREMT covers a wide range of BLS knowledge, from cardiovascular function and issues, to ethical and legal issues the EMT might face while operating as one. A and P is good to know, but a college level is not required. There are plenty of books out there such as any updated EMS book and even volunteering at a local FD or EMS company can get you some good knowledge, or at least a good ground game before you go. Be mindful though that your state might not recognize an NREMT cert, and might follow different protocols you will learn at FT Sam. As far as the Whiskey side of the house, your best bet is to wait to learn all you can from the instructors who teach it, as a lot of the practices differ from civilian practices. Hope this helped and good luck. Medic is an incredibly rewarding job.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 9:24 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 21:24:51 -0500

You got a lot to look forward to

Response by SPC William Weedman made Jan 6 at 2018 4:09 PM

SPC William Weedman — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 16:09:37 -0500

I took the 91A course in 1988-1989 the greatest gift I got was a copy of the EMT manual used in my state from my uncle (former Marine and EMT instructor) during Christmas break. It was an excellent resource but now is probably the book that is used for the NREMT phase.

Response by SPC John Tesh made Jan 6 at 2018 6:22 PM

SPC John Tesh — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:22:38 -0500

Study up on anatomy, physiology, emergency medicine, combat medicine and basic pharmacology. All of these things came in handy during my session back in 2007. NREMT will test on your basic skills on first response and what to do in certain situations (it all trial and error, took me 3 tries to get my NREMT) also look up some stuff on combat medicine, because the whiskey side of the school will trip you up quite a bit. I freaked out a few times just because a lot of the combat stuff is memory based and making sure you get the steps to proper care right. Otherwise stay awake, drink water and really work on your PT. I cannot stress PT enough, medic shit is no joke when your lifting a guy up who weights 280+lbs with all of his gear on. Otherwise brother, keep up the hard work and drive on soldier medic, Hooah!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2018 5:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 17:31:32 -0500

SSH Tuckness, I am a 68W instructor. The more you know about anatomy and physiology the better off you will be. Knowing the how and why is a big part of being a combat medic

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Jan 21 at 2018 9:34 PM

SSG Dave Johnston — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 21:34:23 -0500

Can you volunteer at a local hospital or EMS/Fire Rescue? Tell them why your volunteering and ask a lot of questions of the parameds.