Posted on May 16, 2016
Is combat required to be called a Combat medic?
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When I was in Germany in the early '80s, a fellow medic wrote on a form "Combat Medic" for his MOS. When our Platoon Sargent(a Vietnam veteran) saw that, he made the private change it, and told him that he has never seen combat, and therefore, is not a "Combat Medic". So, does one have to have seen actual combat to take the title Combat Medic, or Combat Engineer or anything else you can put 'Combat' in front of? Or is it enough to simply have served in a combat zone?
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 89
No. "Combat" in this case refers to situations were the military trained soldier can use the skills compared to a civilian medical situation. It is similar to how "combat" is used in combat lifesaver.
This differs from an actual requirement of combat action that one might see in the CIB, for example.
This differs from an actual requirement of combat action that one might see in the CIB, for example.
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I call myself a Healthcare Specialist because that's what I am. I haven't done anything to earn that title. Just because I went through a somewhat difficult AIT does not give me the right to call myself a Combat Medic.
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SSG Dennis Grossmann
Thank you for the clarification Sir. The head honchos need to quit changing the names and titles.
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I think that combat as related to MOS should be just that for direct combat MOS's ie Infantryman Medic in combat unit, engineer. How does Combat PAC NCOIC sound. Don't think it applies to every case. Yes I sered in RVN assigned as personnel specialist/Company clerk got assigned to an MP unit where I was RTO operator supporting Infantry escort, saw bullets fly. I'm not a combat Vet. I'm a RVN Vet.
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SGT Edward Wilcox
This is the same argument could be made for "veteran" and "combat veteran".
Firstly our MOS is no longer "medic" "combat medic" etc... We are health care specialists! (Sarcasim)
It is a significant thing though. To me when I meet new medics (not new to the army just new to me) first thing I look for is a deployment patch. Why? Well with all of us required to go through a certain school now prior to deployment I can bank on that individual having that experiance. I narrow it down again by simple conversation. What type of unit did they serve in while in combat theather? Are we talking CSH or an infantry platoon?
End of the day what it boils down to is experiance. There (as we all know) is the book way(to EFMB standard) of treating a combat casualty, then there is the right way. a "combat medic" that has been through the ringer and came out the other side means but one thing. Which is that I can at least trust that medic in a tight spot.
But does it make a better medic? I would say so.
As I always describe our job to folks we're the armies safety glue. Where there is a medical shortage you can plug in a medic in just about any role. Nurse shortage? Toss in medics. Tech shortages? Medic. Super dangerous experimental testing with radioactive spiders? Two medics in a barely running FLA will do.
Instead of hunting that "combat medic" title I'd rather a medic that hunts for knowledge to provide better care to a patient regardless of environment.
This is the same argument could be made for "veteran" and "combat veteran".
Firstly our MOS is no longer "medic" "combat medic" etc... We are health care specialists! (Sarcasim)
It is a significant thing though. To me when I meet new medics (not new to the army just new to me) first thing I look for is a deployment patch. Why? Well with all of us required to go through a certain school now prior to deployment I can bank on that individual having that experiance. I narrow it down again by simple conversation. What type of unit did they serve in while in combat theather? Are we talking CSH or an infantry platoon?
End of the day what it boils down to is experiance. There (as we all know) is the book way(to EFMB standard) of treating a combat casualty, then there is the right way. a "combat medic" that has been through the ringer and came out the other side means but one thing. Which is that I can at least trust that medic in a tight spot.
But does it make a better medic? I would say so.
As I always describe our job to folks we're the armies safety glue. Where there is a medical shortage you can plug in a medic in just about any role. Nurse shortage? Toss in medics. Tech shortages? Medic. Super dangerous experimental testing with radioactive spiders? Two medics in a barely running FLA will do.
Instead of hunting that "combat medic" title I'd rather a medic that hunts for knowledge to provide better care to a patient regardless of environment.
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MSG (Join to see)
back in the early days sm's where awarded the cmb, just for being in the vicenetity, it got so bad that the efmb, was more importatnat, myself 68wm6, assigned ca unit, and ca qualified (38b), recieved the cab
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Combat Engineer is an actual MOS, so I take umbrage with you saying we just "stick" combat in front of Engineer.
Here are 2 MOS's in the 12 series that are 'Combat'
12B Combat Engineer
12Z Combat Engineering Senior Sergeant.
My other comment still applies.
Here are 2 MOS's in the 12 series that are 'Combat'
12B Combat Engineer
12Z Combat Engineering Senior Sergeant.
My other comment still applies.
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Was he trained to treat combat wounds? Would said NCO prevent this medic from treating him if he were gut shot? Just cause he wasnt in combat doesn't mean he isn't fully prepared to operate. Some of these guys think there is something magically different between a shooting victim in East St Louis and one in Afganistan, let me tell you there ain't, they all want mommy.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT William Howell that is hilarious. I actually know a nurse who when doing her clinicals did a digital on every single patient. Her reasoning was it was listed on the assessment so she was doing it. Strange thing is none of her patients ever said anything. She didn't find out until her preceptor was looking over stuff and realized she did it to a patient with bronchitis or something silly like that.
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MSgt Chris Chambre
As a retired IDMT I can attest that the AF trained digital exams the old fashioned way. On your course partner. They probably use dummies now, the plastic kind not army members.
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