What makes combat medics stand out?

2025-02-06T22:07:29-05:00

I’m heading to 68W reclass school soon and my question is what are things that make certain combat medics stand out amongst their peers?

Response by SSG William Jones made Feb 6 at 2025 11:47 PM

2025-02-06T23:47:41-05:00

I think attitude comes into play, somewhere.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2025 12:12 AM

2025-02-07T00:12:32-05:00

Lifesavers! And for sure 18D also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUIteLeJ7HE

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2025 6:01 AM

2025-02-07T06:01:45-05:00

EFMB. Expert Field Medical Badge

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Feb 7 at 2025 6:15 AM

2025-02-07T06:15:15-05:00

Competence and confidence

Response by SSgt Dick Foster made Feb 7 at 2025 11:31 AM

2025-02-07T11:31:46-05:00

A word to the wise. Avoid reunions. I went to one for The Geodetic Survey Squadron that I was once a part of. After I was there, I wondered who the hell all the old folks were, before I realized that I was also one of em. That was the last reunion I attended.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Feb 7 at 2025 11:41 AM

2025-02-07T11:41:21-05:00

Something I wrote awhile back;

ANGEL IN A STEEL POT

Corpsman Up comes the call
Or Medic is another’s cry
Either call has the same result
A Warrior is about to die

You could see him crawling through the bush
Under the enemy’s fire
To reach and help a wounded man
To aid was his desire

You open your eyes and see him
Checking you over with care
You’ve never been happier to see someone
As he administers to you there

A field dressing, a quick compress
A shot of Morphine for pain
Then a call from another wounded man
And he moves off once again

Most called him Doc or Bones
Some didn’t even know his name
He was just one of the squad
He wasn’t there for fame

He was there to do a job
To help out if he could
When the call came to him for help
You always knew he would

He wasn’t there to fight the war
Just to help those who fell
He had his own worries and fears
But on those, he could not dwell

He had to keep his head clear
For if there came the need
He had to be ready to move ahead
And he had to move with speed

He carried all which he could find
Supplies at times were thin
He scrounged and sometimes even stole
What was needed to help his men

Any soldier or Marine knows
As they put their lives in harm’s way
Medics are the unsung heroes in war
Regardless of what they say

Though they could never save them all
The Medics and Corpsmen saved a lot
They put their lives on the line everyday
To me each ones an Angel ,, in a steel pot

Stan H
7/11/2001

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 7 at 2025 2:59 PM

2025-02-07T14:59:49-05:00

A good medic is worth theirweight in gold. Stays sharp,always check on the troops, ask questions, be an integral part of theteam!

Response by SGM Jeff Mccloud made Feb 9 at 2025 2:19 PM

2025-02-09T14:19:23-05:00

This first part applies to any MOS, but I'll detail it as 68W:
Never stop learning; approach every day of the MOS-T course as if anything below 100% is failing.
And then understand that MOS and MOS-T schools for the most part just give you the tools to learn your job on the job.
Learn from your other medics, and the BN surgeon/PA.
Learn from everyone around you during TMC or hospital rotations.
Learn every day.

Also, most days as a line medic, you will not be carrying the whole aid bag; but you should carry the simple "return to duty (RTD)" items like motrin, tylenol, aspirin, antacids, antihistamines, bacitracin, an assortment of small bandages and trauma shears in a small pack or camelbak. Just for problems that don't require sick call or elevated care. You win, your troops win, and the line at sick call wins.
Be the best medic at sick call, TMC, hospital, and just everyday walking around your company.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 10 at 2025 9:06 AM

2025-02-10T09:06:32-05:00

SPC Gooldrup,
HEART. To be a standout combat medic, you need to have all the Army Values BUT you also need to have heart. Your soldiers, and as a combat medic, you have to look at them as your soldiers, they need to know there is NOTHING that will stop you from being there for them when everything goes sideways, and the World will go sideways if you are in the combat arms long enough.
You are wise to ask the question but be careful what you ask for because you will get it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2025 9:55 AM

2025-02-12T09:55:44-05:00

Other than earning the EFMB, what also sets a medic apart from their peers is the constant need to grow medical knowledge, proper use of said knowledge and always ALWAYS checking on the troops you are medically responsible for. What I mean by this, is that if you are assigned to a Line unit (be it Artillery, Infantry, Engineers), and there is a pause in movement from them, you still move IOT constantly check on their medical welfare; checking water consumption, looking at/for blisters.....and perhaps the occasional IV infused at 2300 when folks are banging on your barracks door (interrupting you and your gf engaging in "activities") because someone drank way too much and needs help, and you go help them (yes, this happened to me).

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Feb 12 at 2025 9:06 PM

2025-02-12T21:06:41-05:00

How do you want to stand out, as a soldier, as a medic? The Army has a bad pattern of hiring you for a job and once you are in long enough, being good at it is not so important. EFMB is a perfect example. The medical on the EFMB almost anyone that has done basic training can learn to pass yet we use it as a marker of a good medical soldier. People will brag up on how good our medics are and while the training is great, the opportunity to practice at a high level is generally not there for enlisted. You want great medical skills, go find a civilian ambulance company to work for or a busy volunteer fire department. The ambulance company must have the 911 contract for the county you are in and hopefully, it has both urban and rural environments. I started as a 91B medic and did not make it past major because being a good critical care and ER RN was more important than being an office dweller. Now that I am retired from the Army I can run circles around most of my civilian peers.

Response by SGT Carl Blas made Feb 12 at 2025 10:27 PM

2025-02-12T22:27:35-05:00

"Know your stuff", our feild MEDICS had our respect.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Mar 5 at 2025 12:12 AM

2025-03-05T00:12:16-05:00

There is a special bond between Grunts and their medic. A "Doc" that takes care of his patients, is awesome. I am walking today because of a Combat Medic. I have a family, and have a great life because a "Doc" knew what he was doing. Greater love is never found than between a Grunt and Doc.
You want to be a Great Doc, then take care of those under your care. Sometimes, Doc has to say No, suck it up, but sometimes Doc has to say, Hey, this guy is really hurt. Know the difference and don;t be afraid to do the right thing, always.

Response by 1SG Skip Pettit made Mar 24 at 2025 9:40 AM

2025-03-24T09:40:28-04:00

Attitude, Competence, Courage, Determination and Focus combined with sharp intellect, physical and mental stamina, and a team player - make for a world class Combat Medic. I knew a few but only a scant few!!! MSG SKip Pettit, 91B (Combat Medic)

Response by CPT Jim Pratt made Jun 15 at 2025 6:31 PM

2025-06-15T18:31:42-04:00

I was initially a combat medic when I joined; back in those days it was 91A!
I was a civilian paramedic before I joined, so that was a huge advantage at the medic course at Sam Houston.
I would say get some basic EMT books and study them. Read everything you can get your hands on, maybe take a CPR and first aid/first responder class. The more you know going in the better off you will be. While you are there, have fun, but study, be prepared.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2025 8:17 PM

2025-07-28T20:17:53-04:00

I will give you my opinion and some information I wish I had when I was lower enlisted. Im a 15 year 68W, the last 8 have been as a Flight Paramedic (F2).

The answer starts with who do you want to stand out to? If the answer is your peers, advance your understanding and medical knowledge. AIT will teach you the basics of Army Medicine. Try to obtain additional certifications such as ALS, PALS, and attend courses like DECM. Once you expand your base knowledge (crawl), become an instructor in those courses and master your understanding (walk), and at some point seek higher echelons of medical licensing like Paramedic (F2, W1, W2), Nursing, or Physician Assistant (IPAP). Now, if the answer is you want to stand out to your leadership, then focus on operationalizing your medical knowledge. You can put on a tourniquet but do you understand your role of care and how that fits within the battlefield or your Unit's METL? Learn the warfighting doctrine for your formation, become familiar with supply and maintenance for your medical inventory, and become the subject matter expert in your medical AO. You should aim to couple technical knowledge over your peers with tactical knowledge and be a well rounded medic. Put effort into refining your personality so you can communicate effectively in both oral and written formats and have a positive demeanor so you are viewed favorably by the people you interact with (this takes lots of work). Finally, if your goal is to impress the board, do all of the above and focus on showing growth and diversity. You are a medic but go to airborne or air assault if you can. You have skills badges, go to courses that make you a more versatile tool like CFDIC (instructor) or broadening assignments. Once you have hit SSG, go to Battlestaff. Build your leadership resume by holding Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant time. Once you have done these, show that you can operate AND plan by getting involved in the MEDOPS positions or work in BN S3. GET A CIVILIAN EDUCATION, if you look in ACT you will see only 17% of E7 and below for 68W have an associates degree. Get your EFMB. At 15 years, try to be nominated for the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Build a history of being a high quality person, have technical mastery, tactical proficiency, and build a diverse portfolio so you stand out to the Army and always seek growth. Good luck to you, brother!