What possible assignment can I get as a 68W? What is the most likely thing I'll be doing?

Simon Hemingway — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:40:54 -0400

I'm enlisted in the US Army as 68w I know you can get stationed anywhere, but my question is what are the odds of what I actually do?I know there is hospital, clinic, line medic ect But I was curious if anyone could quantify what exactly is the most likely thing I'll be doing ?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 8:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:43:24 -0400

Motorpool Maintence, screening whiny soldiers with fake problems 90% of the time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 8:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:47:11 -0400

Male Medics are typically assigned to MTOE units their first assignment. This generally means combat units but it’s not set in stone. I’ve met (and trained) plenty whose first units were also in the MEDDAC (clinics/hospitals). Keep your options open, LEARN, and follow the guidance you're given, you’ll be okay.

Response by SSG Shawn Nelson made Aug 9 at 2018 8:55 PM

SSG Shawn Nelson — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:55:35 -0400

I am a retired Combat medic. Regardless of where we are stationed; either in Combat Arms or MEDDAC; all Army Corp disciplines are the same for us; ie, physical fitness, education and professional development. In addition; as medics; regardless of assignment will be immersed on all sides of the Army doctrine; combat and clinical medical experience. With experience we still have to maintain our skill sets thru our medic tables; emt recent and basic Army Corp competencies. Lastly; as medics regardless of clinical or Combat Arms assignments it’s imperative that discipline and the practice of the Army Corp values are followed; so as not to become complacent in any environment.

Response by SSG Shawn Nelson made Aug 9 at 2018 8:58 PM

SSG Shawn Nelson — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:58:08 -0400

Also; regardless of the assignment for medics; Combat Arms or MEDDAC, we are still deplorable in any unit.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 8:58 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:58:52 -0400

80% go to line units and 20% go to clinic out of AIT. Once you’re in AIT about half way through you’ll get your projected orders to where you’ll be goin to most likely with your UIC (unit identification code) just copy and paste it into google and it should pop up.

Response by SSG Shawn Nelson made Aug 9 at 2018 9:05 PM

SSG Shawn Nelson — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:05:44 -0400

My apologies for a typo; i meant to type deployable

Response by Simon Hemingway made Aug 9 at 2018 9:11 PM

Simon Hemingway — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:11:13 -0400

Tbh I'm excited and scared at the same time. Not for basic. I'm not too worried about that. AIT is what I'm scared for. I was homeschooled and as a result I have no idea how I'm going to react in a classroom environment. PowerPoint and stuff I know I can do, classroom... Not quite sure

Response by SSG Kasius McCall made Aug 9 at 2018 10:21 PM

SSG Kasius McCall — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 22:21:00 -0400

Medics are a very versatile MOS. They can literally put you anywhere doing anything. Lines unit, support battalions, clinics, hospitals, etc...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 11:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 23:42:56 -0400

I was assigned to a field artillery unit at my first duty station, then went onto hospitals for my second and third duty station and now I’m assigned to a support battalion (a Charlie Medical company)...as a medic (along with pretty much every MOS in the Army) you can go pretty much anywhere...just depends where the Army needs you.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2018 1:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:08:43 -0400

When leaving AIT as a guard soldier, I asked around to see what types of units some of our guys got sent to. We had a few going straight to other schools (airborne or air assault), a few going to hospitals (one in Hawaii), line units, and a few unlucky sons of guns that ended up being stationed at reception units for IET soldiers....

Response by SPC William Weedman made Aug 11 at 2018 9:23 AM

SPC William Weedman — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 09:23:44 -0400

I was Active Duty almost 30 years ago, but here is my military career went. From Fort Sam I went to a medical company in Korea near the DMZ. Every male that was AD either went to Korea or Germany, about 90% of the females were also sent to Germany but a few stayed stateside, I don’t recall any women in my class going to Korea. Our medical company became a Charlie Company support battalion while I was there. From Korea I went to Fort Hood to an Evacuation Hospital (today it is a Combat Surgical Hospital). My mission while there was working the Aviation BAS at Fort Hood airfield. I left Active Duty and enlisted into a NG Charlie company in a support battalion for an Armored Division. So I lived in BDUs for a year, was issued hospital whites in Texas and wore BDUs on the weekend in the Guard.

Response by PVT Charles Kelly made Aug 11 at 2018 8:00 PM

PVT Charles Kelly — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 20:00:41 -0400

It all depends on the setting. But for the most part it's all the setting you described. For example:
1. Garrison - This can be clinic/field work: A) Clinic setting dealing with injury/illness AND B) Field setting. Your infantry company goes out to perform maintenance training. You ensure people are taken care of medically with injuries or dehydration etc
2. Deployment - More or less same concepts as garrison. Difference is that the "field" focuses more on what you generally think a line medic is. Managing injuries from trauma situation, educating soldiers for medical work out on the line in hostile environment etc. Occasionally, you might have rotations in the hospital type setting while deployed. If a mass casualty situation happens and one of your battalions soldiers is injured, they eventually get sent to your station. A typical station will have a couple 68W and a physician.

Hope this helps!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2018 1:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 13:42:45 -0400

There isn’t much of a way as others have said. In AIT you’ll get your orders for your first unit/duty station and it could be anything. Even if it’s nothing you’re thrilled about, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn wherever you go and there are pros and cons to any capacity you are in. If you stay in for a while you’ll rotate around to field units, hospital, FST, clinic, etc.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2018 2:45 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 02:45:32 -0400

Motorpool maintanence I’ve been in 3 units 2BSB and 1 MP company there’s a lot of units it’s possible but not probabable that you can predict what you will do but the only thing that will always be the same is 1layouts 2sweeping/mopping and 3nothing makes sense

Response by SPC Kristina DeRosier made Oct 26 at 2018 11:32 PM

SPC Kristina DeRosier — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 23:32:17 -0400

Ummm... It's the military... you could be doing anything, and your MOS. You are paid 24-7 as a soldier... Remember that... you are not exempt from any other job. As a Whiskey? Administration of shots, meds, referrals for medical, and sick call slips? Absolutely! There is always more. Just go with it.... The military is about "adapting and overcoming". We can all sit here and tell you what to expect, and we will "all" be wrong because thing's just change.