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my 16 yr old son will be a Jr in HS this September. His wants to get his Eagle by May 2018 so he can sign up for a split training, Go to BCT next summer between jr & sr yr & then graduate HS & then AIT.
He wants to be a 68W. He wants to help save soldiers lives but he does not want to be in a clinic. He's always wanted to be a solider but recently focused on being a medic. What MOS do you suggest
He originally wanted to be 11B. But the more he thought about it the more he said he wanted to be a medic. But he had concerns. He is a very very...linear boy. But he is also very religious. He said he thought he would be good at being a medic but he had concerns about "Fighting against Gods will" He felt that if someone might die in combat its gods will. I explained that sometimes Gods will is that they live - and he uses the soldiers and medics as his hands. From that point on he wanted to be a medic. Now he isnt overbearing in his beliefs - he just believes in an active and present God. He wants to serve.
Also as a 16 yr old boy he finds himself wondering what sort of man he is. He wants to be tested. Thus the desire to be in combat I think. His grandfather was a combat vetern from vietnam and I think that drives his thinking. I know this will change as he matures - he is only 16...and 16 year old boys think they are immortal.
But if he wants to be 68W - I want to get him the paramedic test materials now and help him start studying. Its sort of how I roll... My eldest was nagged constantly to practice for asvab and DLAB etc and ended up getting top scores. I know once they enlist its out of my hands...so I just want them as prepared as possible for life. (I know...Im a total helicopter mom but its the only way I know to prepare to let go is prepare them for the flight).
He wants to be a 68W. He wants to help save soldiers lives but he does not want to be in a clinic. He's always wanted to be a solider but recently focused on being a medic. What MOS do you suggest
He originally wanted to be 11B. But the more he thought about it the more he said he wanted to be a medic. But he had concerns. He is a very very...linear boy. But he is also very religious. He said he thought he would be good at being a medic but he had concerns about "Fighting against Gods will" He felt that if someone might die in combat its gods will. I explained that sometimes Gods will is that they live - and he uses the soldiers and medics as his hands. From that point on he wanted to be a medic. Now he isnt overbearing in his beliefs - he just believes in an active and present God. He wants to serve.
Also as a 16 yr old boy he finds himself wondering what sort of man he is. He wants to be tested. Thus the desire to be in combat I think. His grandfather was a combat vetern from vietnam and I think that drives his thinking. I know this will change as he matures - he is only 16...and 16 year old boys think they are immortal.
But if he wants to be 68W - I want to get him the paramedic test materials now and help him start studying. Its sort of how I roll... My eldest was nagged constantly to practice for asvab and DLAB etc and ended up getting top scores. I know once they enlist its out of my hands...so I just want them as prepared as possible for life. (I know...Im a total helicopter mom but its the only way I know to prepare to let go is prepare them for the flight).
Posted in these groups: 
MOS
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
What Would You Do
Combat Arms
Military Career
MOS 68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic) What Would You Do Combat Arms Military Career
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 95
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I can't speak to specific a MOS, but his talents/gifts/interests may come out and help him decide what to pursue. There may be some volunteer opportunities he could pursue in these areas that might help him decide. I wouldn't worry too much about what will carry past a military career; my first didn't (you don't load bombs on civilian planes), and my second hasn't done much so far. But, I do have some things to pursue and I know I did what God wanted me to do...
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(Join to see) I would recommend that your son would choose to be a combat specialty such as 11b infantry or 12b combat engineer, or 19D cavalry scout initially.
After completing training and an assignment I would hope he would push for special forces where he could be train to be a medic or another specialty.
Starting out in combat arms would help him gain the perspective of those he would be treating as a medic.
The Special Forces medics are trained at the level of PAs or MDs.
My background is 12b as an enlisted man and 11A as a commissioned officer.
Thanks for mentioning me COL Mikel J. Burroughs
After completing training and an assignment I would hope he would push for special forces where he could be train to be a medic or another specialty.
Starting out in combat arms would help him gain the perspective of those he would be treating as a medic.
The Special Forces medics are trained at the level of PAs or MDs.
My background is 12b as an enlisted man and 11A as a commissioned officer.
Thanks for mentioning me COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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(Join to see) Excellent question - you can update the question you just posted to add additional information in order to get more responses. I will share your question with my network as well to help you get the answers for your 16 year son.
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CDR Kenneth Kaiser
I will tell your son what my dad (Army Ordinance) told my brother and I. He said join the Navy. The other services usually end up out in the dirt where as the Navy you have a clean bunk and visit the various ports (downtown and in major cities) He tried to keep it basic for my brother and I. In all seriousness though there are several opportunities in all of the services. I am not familiar with the MOSs of the other services but I would recommend as some have suggested that he look at the career growth opportunities offered in the various specialties. The medical field is excellent so is IT, intelligence, and other technical fields. It may be more difficult to get into those fields but the growth opportunities are there. If he decides not to make it a career, then by all means stay with the reserves, that way he guarantees himself retirement income (although that is deferred somewhat under the new system, and medical coverage. He also will be able to maintain contacts within his chosen career field if he stays in reserves . This is particularly beneficial for maintaining contacts and getting employment leads in hard times. That advice applies to whether he joins the Navy or whatever service. Best of luck to him and I wish him fair winds and following seas.
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Why not an 8404 Field Medicine will guarantee him time with the Marines and those who choose to stay around the FMF can always find away but shore duty can also be a place to refine your skills as he gets rows he can choose to be an Independent Duty Corpsman with the Marines on ships or in my case Submarines as the sole medical provider
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(Join to see)
Is his heart set on the Army? Has he looked into the enlisted medical programs in the Navy & Air Force?
Is his heart set on the Army? Has he looked into the enlisted medical programs in the Navy & Air Force?
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Not sure. I think the biggest issue navy and air force has is he also wants to be a "soldier". Ill tell him to keep an open mind.
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PO1 John Miller
As a Navy Corpsman, he could get stationed with the Marines and be a "Green Side Doc," meaning that he would have the potential to see ground combat.
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Anything in the medical field should be a good move. How is he around blood? Because he will be seeing lots of it as a 68W. Depends on the type of unit he is assigned to on how often he will be out ''humpin'' in the field with the ''grunts.'' But I would say that chances are he will be working in a clinic 90% of the time. Nothing wrong with that, though. Everybody loves their medics.
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example - he put his fist through window accidentally (his brother had his cell and he was pounding on bathroom door demanding it be given back). He calmly applied pressure, walked outside where i was in the garden and said, "hey mom - I think I need stitches..." His voice didnt even waiver. I thought he was joking till I saw blood all over. Thumb sliced at summer camp he just glued back together. When his little brother sliced open HIS finger with a pocket knife...they opted not to tell me. Why - because I had JUST yelled at them to stop wrestling and calm down. His little brother was competing in state championships that weekend and I didnt want him injured (their wrestling involves alot of the small one being thrown about). So they calm down - little one decided to sharpen his pocket knife and slices finger tip open. I wake next morning to find blood ALL over the bathroom. They choose not to wake me because...well I had just told them if the small one hurts himself before states Id kill them all. So instead - he gets the steri strips and super glue - pulls finger back together and glues it all back. Had I not seen the blood - not sure I would have noticed. I made the small one practice anyway - blood all over the gym as a result. But in the end his brothers finger healed without scar or infection and by state champs (7 days later) he came in as all star and champ.
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SFC (Join to see)
(Join to see) - From the sound of it, I think your boy will be successful with any MOS he chooses.
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If he originally wanted to be an 11B, he may enjoy being a 68W because it seems to be one of the few MOSs in which you can get some field experience, as well as learn a very useful skill. I'm sure after spending enough time in a line unit, he will enjoy some time in a clinic. Best of luck to you and your son.
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Just for clarification - my eldest son is waiting to go to BCT. If all goes as it should - he will finish AIT etc Aug 2018 and be a 35T. This question is for my middle son - still in High School. Eldest son wants to do 4 years and get out and work in Tech Industry. Middle son has always wanted to be a career soldier. He is a Life Scout in Boy Scouts. He back packs, hikes, shoots (amazing with rifle.). He wants to be a soldier in truest sense of word. He also wants to be a medic. He's always been good with emergency situations. Hes patched up the youngest boy more than Id like to admit - if they remembered to clean up the blood in the bathroom - I might not have noticed the finger tip sliced open... (his use of steri strips and skin glue was genius).
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SSG (Join to see)
I'm a bit curious as to what your eldest wants to do in the tech industry after his active duty time. I have been stationed with many MI units, and have only ever met one (1) 35T. And when I asked him about what he did since he was the first one I met, he didn't do much equipment repair. He often would do a bit of troubleshooting and diagnosis, but would just place a work ticket with the equipment manufacturer. I'm not saying it is a bad MOS. I'd like to see it line up with what he has an eye on doing later on. Others on this forum may have met more 35T's than I have so may have other thoughts.
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35T includes training in software, hardware, networking, security, etc. They also learning linx etc. They end up with a computer sciences associate degree. That plus security clearance makes them attractive to most companies. plus the army PaYS program hooks them up with army friendly tech companies and guarantees
them a job interview.
them a job interview.
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SFC (Anonymous) - Yep - 42 weeks. And yes the PaYS isnt just for Tangos. Seems like a good program. Only drawback I see is you ahve to select your company preferences when you enlist. I think my son selected CISCO and HP and Sony Playstation and a few video game companies. I hear most units have no clue how to use their tangos till something breaks.
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If your son is that serious about being in medicine and not a clinical setting,chances are he may go to a line unit ,medical bn etc,if he decides to stay in he may want to choose 18D special forces med sgt,they are some of the best medically trained enlisted.
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-12W, 12R, or 12E, Carpentry/Masonry , Electrician, or Heavy equipment operator. All marketable trades when he gets out.
-Seriously though everyone loves the Medics and if he tends to his schooling while in he could do as a couple of our Medics did and land an EMT job when he ETS's.
Good luck on his Eagle, great accomplishment.
-Seriously though everyone loves the Medics and if he tends to his schooling while in he could do as a couple of our Medics did and land an EMT job when he ETS's.
Good luck on his Eagle, great accomplishment.
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