What are the pros and cons of getting my EMT-B Certification prior to enlisting as a 68W?

You actually get E4 and get to skip the first 8 weeks of EMT phase. Honestly I wouldn’t do it, emt phase is very good and it’s nice to stick with a class the whole way through. A lot of expectations come with the E4 rank as a medic too. Also just because you don’t have to do emt phase if you’re already certified doesn’t mean you won’t sit around as a holdunder for weeks until a company starts whiskey phase. Save your money and have the army pay for your certification.

You need to worry about training and very first; rank may come with certain perks; but as a medic you only get the title of “Doc” if you know your “crap”, and you gain the trust of who you are attached to; regardless of your rank. I know because I had highly trained soldiers I lead downrange that had higher level certain from the civilian sector; total different ball of wax when bullets and IEDs are trying to kill you. So, concentrate on the AIT, use that time you may be given by the cadre or drill sergeants to use as a refresher, so you can stay on top of the game; watch out for being complacent; overall good luck; hopefully with hard work you will be squared away before your first permanent duty station.

Why pay for the training when you going to get it for free?

If you enlist as a 68W, you will be granted a promotion to SPC. Guaranteed. Many of my friends did it just last year when we enlisted. You get promoted to SPC AND you skip the classroom based portion of your AIT and go straight to camp bullis.


Overall you become a specialist once you graduate basic, get accelerated to the second half of your ait training which is only 2 weeks!!!

Why leave San Antonio early? Every medic spends the rest of their career trying to get back there lol.

I realize I’m late to the party, but I’m going to toss my two cents in regardless. Sure, being an E4 has its perks. But your job is 100% (well maybe 95% if you take into account laying out connexs) supporting your guys on the line. And believe me - they can tell if you know your stuff. If you don’t, they’ll never trust you - and you cannot be an effective medic if your guys don’t completely trust that you’re going to be there when they call for you. So slow down, let the Army send you through EMT and just focus on knowing your stuff.

Your a step ahead of the game!

Would be a waste of time and money. In '75, I had earned my NREMT and enlisted in Jan of '76 as a Medic; the knowledge I had, though useful, was "Not Army Training"(Stripes), and for reasons only known to MEDCOM; the Army's training of 'first responders' became dumbed down between the late '70's and '92 when I took the VSI option, just look at the difference between a TM-8-230 and the material being used today. [TM 8-230 Army Medical Department Handbook Of Basic Nursing 1970
by United States. Army Medical Dept. / http://www.webpal.org/SAFE/aaarecovery/7_medicine/Medicine%20-%20Severe/FM%208-230.pdf]. So, in my humble opinion, be familiar with the material but...


Now, if you wanted to change branches and still be medical.... Go Navy!

As far as the rank I am not sure, that's on your recruiter. Now I can tell you that yes if you get your NREMT-B before you ship out yes you will shave off I think 4 weeks. Try and get some good ride outs on an ambulance as well because that helps. When you get to Whiskey school (the combat side of the training) pay attention to what the instructors are teaching and study! The curriculum has changed since I went through in '09 but I was just there for 68w ALC and was spun up on what they are teaching now. Damn, it's some good stuff like whole blood and what not. Good luck!

At least you'll be able to have already passed the National Registry. School doesn't give you experience though.