TRADOC Headquarters, US Army Training & Doctrine Command
TRADOC Headquarters, US Army Training & Doctrine Command
Posted on Nov 29, 2015
Do you prepare your medics? We are nothing on the civilian side.
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This is something I constantly preach to the young medics I meet working in my hospital or clinics.
Army medics and Navy corpsman are extremely qualified and experienced. Far above what our civilian crossover scope of practice is, and I believe it is an injustice by the army not to recognize this. There used to be chatter from NREMT and the mothership back at fort Sam to have us fall into our own qualification category of EMT to properly encompass our scope, but that is dead in the water.
What is disheartening is what I've seen far to often is people forgetting we are only EMT-Bs. Which is why I push my medics to gather up every type of certification that can. ALS, PALs, BLS instructor cards. Anything at all to make you more qualified. I'm fortunate to have a NCO channel that allows me and my soldiers to better ourselves. Even taking paramedic classes at night and allowing us time to build hours on an ambulance for testing.
As an Army medic we can initiate IVs, push medications, initiate chest tubes, suture, staples, and the primary bread and butter of treating the sniffles and bubble guts effectively, a complete waste of talent if you allow yourself to get out of the army and go to a job that you can only provide oxygen and transport legally.
I wish I had an answer to the problem, but for now it seems we're on our own.
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/former-medics-find-themselves-on-bottom-rung-in-civilian-field-1.344392?utm_content=buffer502d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Army medics and Navy corpsman are extremely qualified and experienced. Far above what our civilian crossover scope of practice is, and I believe it is an injustice by the army not to recognize this. There used to be chatter from NREMT and the mothership back at fort Sam to have us fall into our own qualification category of EMT to properly encompass our scope, but that is dead in the water.
What is disheartening is what I've seen far to often is people forgetting we are only EMT-Bs. Which is why I push my medics to gather up every type of certification that can. ALS, PALs, BLS instructor cards. Anything at all to make you more qualified. I'm fortunate to have a NCO channel that allows me and my soldiers to better ourselves. Even taking paramedic classes at night and allowing us time to build hours on an ambulance for testing.
As an Army medic we can initiate IVs, push medications, initiate chest tubes, suture, staples, and the primary bread and butter of treating the sniffles and bubble guts effectively, a complete waste of talent if you allow yourself to get out of the army and go to a job that you can only provide oxygen and transport legally.
I wish I had an answer to the problem, but for now it seems we're on our own.
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/former-medics-find-themselves-on-bottom-rung-in-civilian-field-1.344392?utm_content=buffer502d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Posted in these groups: 
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)TRADOC HQ
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)TRADOC HQ
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 35
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So I was a Ranger Medic for 4 years and when I got out, I had the same problem in that we had the skill set for many invasive procedures, but the best I could do was exactly what you are saying, drive the Rig or give O2. After a few years, I eventually went to medical school and have become an ER doctor. In this position, I work with a lot of the Paramedics as well SWAT teams in my location.
As having been on both sides of the fence at this point, there is a significant difference between what a combat medic does and what a civilian paramedic does, both of which are unbelievably qualified in their specific areas of operation. As much as I would love to see a bridging program, that is never going to happen as the powers that be all like to have their control over their wheel houses and won't give up any of that control.
My suggestion is this: Seeing as the US is not as deployed as in recent years, true military leaders should be taking the initiative to truly square their guys away by letting the go getters get additional training as a paramedic. Additional classes in ACLS, PALS, etc will not increase your opportunity in the civilian sector nor will it bring a higher paycheck. They are important, but won't improve your outlook upon leaving. The only way a combat medic will be able to take their skills and turn it into a meaningful career in medicine in which they can use their skill set is to become a paramedic, RN, PA, NP, or Physician. Again, an LPN for a combat medic is a lesser position. This is unfortunately the nature of the beast and I don't see it changing anytime soon
As having been on both sides of the fence at this point, there is a significant difference between what a combat medic does and what a civilian paramedic does, both of which are unbelievably qualified in their specific areas of operation. As much as I would love to see a bridging program, that is never going to happen as the powers that be all like to have their control over their wheel houses and won't give up any of that control.
My suggestion is this: Seeing as the US is not as deployed as in recent years, true military leaders should be taking the initiative to truly square their guys away by letting the go getters get additional training as a paramedic. Additional classes in ACLS, PALS, etc will not increase your opportunity in the civilian sector nor will it bring a higher paycheck. They are important, but won't improve your outlook upon leaving. The only way a combat medic will be able to take their skills and turn it into a meaningful career in medicine in which they can use their skill set is to become a paramedic, RN, PA, NP, or Physician. Again, an LPN for a combat medic is a lesser position. This is unfortunately the nature of the beast and I don't see it changing anytime soon
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree, and will add that while in garrison, military units should engage with the community. There is no reason medics cannot cycle through the local teaching ER or ride-out with local FD's to keep skills sharp.
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I might get some flak for what I am about to write, but someone needs to be the Devil’s Advocate. There are many opportunities in the Army to advance in a medical career. Starting with the EMT-B. For someone coming off of the street into the Army and being a registered EMT-B in less than 16 weeks is amazing for starters. Some medics go to line units some to hospitals and some to mailrooms. Yes, we medics are highly qualified on the battlefield. There is no question to that. But we are not highly qualified on the civilianfield. Medicine goes far beyond skill level. It goes into legal, insurance, religious and many other twists and turns. This is the reason medics start here. Should be glad, since medics were not always EMT-Bs. And how many medics actually have every reacted to a true emergency on the civilian side? Just because you are an Army medic does not mean you can react better than a civilian EMT-B, who does the job daily.
More basically, there are the ACLS, PAL, and NLS. All of these are great options to go through if you are in an area to use them, otherwise they are almost pointless. Medics instructing ACLS, PALS or NLS is not a good idea, since majority of those in these classes are Providers and Registered Nurses. Teaching BLS is a great idea though. Plus TA and GI bill cover a good bit of medical courses. The GO bill can cover the cost of civilian PA school. Take night EMT courses and take the Paramedic NREMT.
Options. There are so many options. The LPN course, flight medic course, reclassing to other medical MOS which are highly prized in the civilian sector, 68K, 68D, 68P and 68N.
Options to become even higher qualified such as the EMDP2, AECP, IPAP, MSW, PTBP and the HPSP, which will send you to medical school, dental school, veterinary school, optometry school and clinical or counseling psychology school.
There are many option for a medic to advance. It just depends on drive. So basically if a medic gets out with no additional skill it is their own fault. The NCO shouldn’t matter. Yes they should help guide, but I do my own research and call AMEDD recruiters myself. And before anyone starts shaking their head on this, just remember, in the civilian world the legal law runs the medical field, in the Army its more of a guideline.
Bottom line, should the Army do more to help medic when they get out? There are already tons of options, what else can the Army do besides do the work for you?
More basically, there are the ACLS, PAL, and NLS. All of these are great options to go through if you are in an area to use them, otherwise they are almost pointless. Medics instructing ACLS, PALS or NLS is not a good idea, since majority of those in these classes are Providers and Registered Nurses. Teaching BLS is a great idea though. Plus TA and GI bill cover a good bit of medical courses. The GO bill can cover the cost of civilian PA school. Take night EMT courses and take the Paramedic NREMT.
Options. There are so many options. The LPN course, flight medic course, reclassing to other medical MOS which are highly prized in the civilian sector, 68K, 68D, 68P and 68N.
Options to become even higher qualified such as the EMDP2, AECP, IPAP, MSW, PTBP and the HPSP, which will send you to medical school, dental school, veterinary school, optometry school and clinical or counseling psychology school.
There are many option for a medic to advance. It just depends on drive. So basically if a medic gets out with no additional skill it is their own fault. The NCO shouldn’t matter. Yes they should help guide, but I do my own research and call AMEDD recruiters myself. And before anyone starts shaking their head on this, just remember, in the civilian world the legal law runs the medical field, in the Army its more of a guideline.
Bottom line, should the Army do more to help medic when they get out? There are already tons of options, what else can the Army do besides do the work for you?
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SGT (Join to see)
Excellent post Sgt Woodall, I'll add that more and more posts are offering NREMT-P schools to medics these days. There is one at Fort Bliss for sure, we have a Sgt that just came to us from there and he finished an NREMT-P school. He was assigned to go to school for 6 months, that was his place of duty. Also the flight medic course that you listed now will end in Paramedic cerification with ACLS, ITLS, AMLS as well as PALS or PEPP, unsure which. You also get to test for civilian flight paramedic certification at the end. With all these new classes and opportunities coming out I feel it stands to reason the Army is moving in the right direction with this and taking civilian medical education a little more seriously, or at least trying to help their medics for after they transition out.
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SSG (Join to see)
NCO medics should be afforded the opportunity to get their NRP. A few years ago, this would not be feasible, as commanders would have to give up their medics for a year while away at school. With online paramedic schools, the only time required away from the unit is the time for clinical rotations and EMS ride-outs, which can be dispersed across the training schedule. Critical care could then be added on.
Financially, it might not be feasible to train all medics to the NRP standard, but I see at least training some NCOs as worthwhile, as the tools are available.
Financially, it might not be feasible to train all medics to the NRP standard, but I see at least training some NCOs as worthwhile, as the tools are available.
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SSG Erin Hicks
I secured an ASI of Occupational Therapy Assistant for myself and I am thankful for the certification. However I do miss emergency medicine. I was disappointed to find I needed separate certifications to perform, burn care, IVs, intubation, wound care, sutures and basically any other procedure I was highly skilled in other that chest compressions and driving the cracker box and M113! Fort Sam could definitely improve the Combat Medic training by simply recognizing these individual SKAs with separate certifications within the training so our Medics would be on par with their civilian counterparts.
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PFC (Join to see)
Perfectly spoken, the Army gives you the fundamentals, you need to be qualified. It’s up to the soldier to be motivated enough to channel their opportunities the Army has given them. I have met guys who rode out their time and just went on to be EMT-Bs complaining about the limited scope of practice. So yes the crossover isn’t fluid to many high speed careers however, if you use your time wisely attending night classes, taking every course that is offered to you civilian and military is always in your best interest. You decide to re-enlist, you have plenty of quals to be considered for a leadership role. If you decide to ETS you already have enough college credits that you can use towards finishing your degree and starting your civilian career.
Nothing pisses me off more than hearing guys say that the military didn’t do shit for me. No you didn’t do shit for yourself
Nothing pisses me off more than hearing guys say that the military didn’t do shit for me. No you didn’t do shit for yourself
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This is unfortunate. I was unaware that our medics, some of the best and most dedicated medical treatment personnel I have ever worked with aren't getting credit for the work they have done. I wish I had known this was a problem when I was in Squadron Command when I could do something about it. If someone makes the mistake of making me a brigade commander, I'll make this a program to look into. Highly unlikely though.
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MAJ Matthew Arnold
The system should make it similar to what we army pilots do. All we have to do is take the FAA exam to receive an FAA commercial/instrument pilot license.
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