What are some tips, advice, and stories for a future combat medic?

PVT (Join to see) - Some friendly advice from a field Paramedic... Learn everything you can to the best of your ability. In the back of an ambulance (or out in the field/combat zone/hostile area/etc) your certificates don't mean jack. Only your knowledge and skill will stand between your patient and Death.

Also there are two rules any medic needs to understand:
1. Sometimes despite our best effort, the patient will still pass away.
2. Medics will move Heaven and Earth to change Rule #1.

I have lost patients that should have walked out of the ER later that day. It happens. No one can explain it, and no one did anything wrong. Some times it is just that patient's time. Learn to accept it and press forward.

Never, NEVER be afraid to tell someone you are struggling. Be it with a skill, a concept, or dealing with the amount of death and injury you see every day. We all have our breaking point. Learn to know where yours is and seek assistance as needed.

Take the time to study, Whiskey school is like drinking water out of a fire hose if you’ve never done anything medical before. And even if you have, it can still be kind of stressful.

I remember learning and testing on AHA CPR super early, and feeling unprepared for the hands on. I passed, and was eventually an honor grad, but some reading ahead might help, if you have the time/resources.
If not, SGT Leonard is absolutely correct, take the time to study, don’t get caught up in trying to go out or party as soon as you’re allowed; there is plenty of time for that after school. Learn your job well.
I was a flight medic and PSG on my last tour in Afghanistan, and I was picking up a patient one day from a young Soldier Medic who was only a month out of FT. Sam. It’s rare, but work hard in school, a lot of people are really depending on your skills. Don’t let them down.