Is combat required to be called a Combat medic?

That's pretty typical of a Vietnam vet. "You didn't see combat" response is something you'd expect to hear. There is nothing post Vietnam era that measures up to what they went through. Don't believe me, ask one. It's the same at my local VFW, they refuse to recognize my participation in the Gulf War because it was such a short war. Sorry fellas.
You are recruited as a Combat Medic, trained as a Combat Medic, assigned to a unit as a Combat Medic. Looks like, smells like, tastes like, therefore it must be true! You're a combat Medic!!

Unless you have been awarded the CMB, you are a medic. Don't get me wrong, I know that todays medics know a hell of a lot more than those of us from Nam, hell we got our training in firefights.

Here is a excerpt from Army HRC regarding the award
Since inception, the intent of the Department of the Army regarding this requirement has been that medical personnel must be personally present and under fire in order to be eligible for the awarding of the badge. So stringent was this requirement during the Vietnam era that recommending officials were required to document the place (in six digit coordinates), time, type, and intensity of fire to which the proposed recipient was exposed. This fact naturally precludes the awarding of the badge to those medical personnel who accompany infantry units into a potential engagement area but do not come under enemy fire. Over the years, there has been some confusion concerning the phrase "...in direct support of an infantry unit...". The CMB is intended for, and awarded to, those medical personnel who accompany the infantryman into combat. The Army has never approved of deviations from this purpose and its restrictive criteria.

If a Medic has been trained to be a "Combat Medic" then that is his title/MOS. Combat medics or Field medics (or medics) are military personnel who have been trained to at least an EMT level (16-week course in the U.S. Army),[1] and are responsible for providing first aid and front line trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injuries. Combat medics are normally co-located with the combat troops they serve in order to easily move with the troops and monitor ongoing health.

When a government document asks for an MOS, they're not asking for anything but the code number assigned to jobs in the Armed Forces. Infantryman is not an MOS, but 11B is, same goes for any other MOS. Learn to read, answer, and understand the question before answering it, And don't add or change anymore than what it asks. Plenty of times I've been asked by the civilian world what my MOS was and I've answered 11B40, then go into explaining about Infantry, not the reverse.

In the Mid to late '70s until "Desert Storm" we were a "lost" MOS; our "Hospital" counterparts didn't think we knew our MOS, and if we were un-lucky enough to have a hospital medic assigned it took what, 3 months to integrate them into the unit. also while we're in the Aid-station reviewing Med Records for shots, physicals, PRP, putting them together per AR 40-XXX; some members of the unit thought we were just goofing off and needed to hang out in the motor pool for a few hours a day.

CBT Medic; that was what Ft. Sam considered us if we ended up in a CBT ARMS unit.

In the Mid to late '70s until "Desert Storm" we were a "lost" MOS; our "Hospital" counterparts didn't think we knew our MOS, and if we were un-lucky enough to have a hospital medic assigned it took what, 3 months to integrate them into the unit. also while we're in the Aid-station reviewing Med Records for shots, physicals, PRP, putting them together per AR 40-XXX; some members of the unit thought we were just goofing off and needed to hang out in the motor pool for a few hours a day.

CBT Medic; that was what Ft. Sam considered us if we ended up in a CBT ARMS unit.

In 1980 the Medic's mos was 91B, however the course was called Medical Specialist course. As a 91B you could be assigned to a combat related unit for example an airborne unit or any unit in the "rapid deployment force" or stationed in a medical unit, or any unit over seas that is first line defense at that time during "Cold War". A Medical Specialist needed to have the skill set to work in the hospital setting as well as the Aid station/division clearing station, or front line "combat" duties. The discussions about weapons of choice secondary I believe, I was stationed in Germany from 1980-1983 and fortunately did not have to go through wartime Army however I was willing and prepared to do so. I did earn my EFMB, Expert Field Medical Badge,which was very challenging and I am proud of that. I do know at times in AIT instructors would refer to us as combat medics but I believe you need the "combat experience" to call yourself that. However you should be prepared for war. On a side note I would carry the the M-16 and the 45. The standard Medic bag needs to be supplemented and most guys I knew,did that. Question for any of you out there..... why did they get rid of the 91B ? When I was in they had a 91 C but it was so long they made a short couse so the guys who were 91C's always had to say if they were short course or long. They were the equivalent to nurses( LVN )

Reposting as my original response is buried way down in the chaff.
The "Combat" in the term Combat Medic refers to someone who is expected to be able to perform medical treatments in a combat environment, I believe this is mostly geared towards ensuring recruits have a better understanding of the expectations for the MOS. Many of the manuals for medics are titled or reference "Combat Medic". It is referring to what those medics are expected to be able to do, not what they have done.

Update. They changed 68W's from healthcare specialist back to combat medic.

We are called combat medics because our training is geared toward a combat environment. We get clinical training too, but that is not our main focus. That is why we also have the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB), of which I'm a recipient. All the tasks are common tasks and medical tasks in a simulated combat environment. I was also in Germany in the late 80's. SGT Wilcox, where were you stationed?