Which is better in the long run, reclassifying to 68C or 68W?

Definitely reclassify to 68c if the opportunity is available. It will give you a solid working career after the military. There is no real progression as a 68w beyond EMT-B as most ambulance company require EMT-P paramedic for applications and the pay for a 68C (LVN) after the military is much better.

Depends on if you want an LVN license or EMT. Paramedic if you go Flight Medic. Where do you want to work if you don’t stay in the Army or after you retire? Check civilian equivalents and see what pays the best outside and pick that one.

68w would make more sense for you to get your advanced paramedic. Youd start with EMT out of AIT. But, after if you go flight paramedic in the Army you will get your paramedic. And from there can take another 6 week course to get your critical. 68C has a high fail rate aswell it just isnt discussed as much since it is such a new MOS and much smaller.
I have been a 68W for 3 years and worked in the ER on post. Some in our dept run with EMS side. So there is plenty of room for experience within that MOS.

Full disclosure: I am civilian paramedic and a reservist 68W, so definitely biased.
1. Regardless of your job, you will probably learn aspects of the other. Our 68C when I was in Kabul basically worked as a medic and did very little nursing per say and had no prior emergency medicine experience, so he learned a lot from that. Likewise, I knew a lot about our monitors, pumps, , and vents - traditionally nursing roles in the hospital setting, and learned alot more pharmacology while I was overseas. Doesn't matter the job, you will learn alot outside of your initial education.

2. If paramedic is your civilian goal or you want to be an army flight medic, 68W makes more sense since you come out with your NREMT license, which will make you eligible to enter a paramedic program. Its much harder to go from 68C/LPN civilian side to become a paramedic if you don't have an active NREMT license, which requires you to take an EMT class in the first place - you cannot just simply challenge the exam for NREMT. Once you have your NREMT, you can pretty much work anywhere as an EMT and later a paramedic. Personally, I think if you are a trauma junkie or would rather work with acute patients that you have to stabilize, package, and bring to a provider alive, and work more independently of others, being an LPN will not be as fulfilling and you'll want something more exciting.

3. 68W is an easier MOS for promotions since you'll potentially have more slots open and you choice of assignments will be bigger. On the civilian side, you can work as a paramedic in the hospital, ambulance, community paramedicine, etc. A lot of choices nowadays. And on the education side - there are a lot of bridge programs out now from paramedic both to ADN and directly to BSN - and most workplaces love their RNs who were paramedics before since they tend to come in with alot more practical experience. A lot more medical schools and PA schools are looking at paramedics as potential students because you already have practical experience and generally speaking sound judgment, if that is something you are looking at in the future.

If your not trying to become an RN, and really just want to be a paramedic then 68C is a waste of your time and the Army’s resources. Go 68W, it’s a lot of information in a short time, so go to your local aid station and ask the medics for one of their books. For your specific goal of paramedicI agree with SGT Steinnerd’s plan to flight medic. Pretty solid path. However, as someone that started as a medic and crossed over to An LPN and became a 68C Instructor I have to say ‘big picture’ 68C is the way to go. You get paid to go to a year of school and have a license, and your well on your way to becoming and RN. Those skills transfer well outside of the military and pay well, part of the reason the 68C series has a hard time keeping people, more money, and less hours and red tape as a civilian. Only you know what you want. If you want to make the Army your career then flight medic could be fun. However, also recognize in the military all roads eventually lead to a desk. You may love that excitement now as a flight medic, but when your pushing paper as an NCOIC and not flying anymore if you decide to get out, paramedic won’t pay as much as LPN, or lead to as many medical job opportunities. Hope this helps.

I was a 68W, then became a 68WM6 that became a 68C later. If you are planning on doing 20 years go 68W and get flight medic. If you want to do less then 10 years go 68C finish course and start online school. Then you can cross over to nursing.

depends on what you want to do when you get out. I was a 68W with an associated in EMS and NREMT-P. I also am a RN with a BSN. I will say they are both very tough. (Imagine Ranger school for your brain!) But I no longer work in EMS but I still stay certified and after doing mental health and a stent in med/surg Im about to start training for the OR. Nursing does open more doors. So its a choice you have to make.

As a 68W, AIT did not adequately prepare me for civilian emergency medicine. On the civilian side, there is a lot less trauma. It's more cardiac patients than anything. If your end goal is advanced paramedic, go 68C.

Dont worry about the 40% drop out rate. These courses are designed for you to pass. The 40% that fail either had medical issues, were dirtbags, or didnt have the motivation to study. As long as you put in the time to study, you are pretty much guaranteed to pass.

How do you even know they’ll even allow you to reclass when it comes time for your reenlistment?

If you are dedicated to being a paramedic then be a 68W and try to get flight medic thrown in. That is if you can pass a flight physical. I highly suggest the nursing route though. I worked civilian EMS before becoming a 68W and paramedics are lucky to get 17$ an hour most places unless on a fire department or a flight medic. It's a tough job to do for peanuts. You will see horrible things. If you go the 68C route then branch over to RN you could retire as an officer or ets and get a high paying career. But life as a RN is boring and filled with paperwork vs a paramedic gets the fresh GSW's and saves babies while also transferring grandma from nursing home to nursing home