Civilian Pararescue/SWAT

[Gin121]

I am just starting my career in EMS at age 37. I've always wanted to be a Cop bc of the excitement and adrenaline rush that goes along with the job. Since I'm now over the age limitit for PD in my area, I've decided to go EMT/Paramedics as it shares similar exciting qualities as PD. Does anyone know if there are civilian Pararescue or SWAT opportunities on Long Island?

[tniuqs]

Perhaps you should evaluate the need for your adrenaline fixation, if in an interview situation just my advice, if question of why you are getting into EMS the best answer would not be as previously noted, i.e. it was my second choice or adrenaline junkie. Typically SWAT or CPS details or pararescue a military background is preferential (DwayneEMT-P) our token para-rescue ninja will see this post and comment.

There is one civilian Helo sling/winch rescue in Canada (look north) from long island with Cougar Helicopters specialising off shore oil platform stuff as in Hibernia but those ninjas are transplanted US military or ex CAF SAR techs ... the toughest of the tough.

What did you do before you thought of a career change ?

ps love your tea

cheers

[Gin121]

I have my BS Degree in Education and am a former Physical Education Teacher/Coach. I didn't like the political aspect involved with Education so I left and went back to school and became an Air Traffic Controller. I liked that but my timing was bad. I was hired and flew out to Oklahoma City for training just days after 9 11. That gig lasted about 2 years. Since then I have been is business for myself and dabbled in Security work. Yes I am an adreneline junky. But no, that's not my primary reason for EMS and nor is EMS a backup or 2nd choice. Yes, it was at first. But the more I researched it and the more I thought of what I wanted for an ideal career, EMS was and is choice 1. The excitement of PD sucked me in at first. But now, at 37 years of age, I prefer some excitement while giving back and making a positive impact on peoples lives. Not writing tickets and pikssing people off!!

Additionally, 2 years ago this past December my local EMS crew saved my life. While working under my pick up truck, the jackstands gave out and the truck fell on me. My 7 and 4 year old boys heard me yell and quickly got the neighbor who called 9 11. The quick and professional work of EMS, and my boys, surely saved my life. I was air lifted to Stony Brook Hospital and was discharged later that night with some good burns from the gas tank puncturing and fuel penetrating my skin and some cuts and bruises from the truck resting on me.

That's why I've ultimately chosen EMS. As far as Pararescue, that's the EMS/Adreneline Junkie in me coming out!!!

[tniuqs]

I have my BS Degree in Education and am a former Physical Education Teacher/Coach. I didn't like the political aspect involved with Education so I left and went back to school and became an Air Traffic Controller. I liked that but my timing was bad. I was hired and flew out to Oklahoma City for training just days after 9 11. That gig lasted about 2 years. Since then I have been is business for myself and dabbled in Security work. Yes I am an adreneline junky. But no, that's not my primary reason for EMS and nor is EMS a backup or 2nd choice. Yes, it was at first. But the more I researched it and the more I thought of what I wanted for an ideal career, EMS was and is choice 1. The excitement of PD sucked me in at first. But now, at 37 years of age, I prefer some excitement while giving back and making a positive impact on peoples lives. Not writing tickets and pikssing people off!!

Additionally, 2 years ago this past December my local EMS crew saved my life. While working under my pick up truck, the jackstands gave out and the truck fell on me. My 7 and 4 year old boys heard me yell and quickly got the neighbor who called 9 11. The quick and professional work of EMS, and my boys, surely saved my life. I was air lifted to Stony Brook Hospital and was discharged later that night with some good burns from the gas tank puncturing and fuel penetrating my skin and some cuts and bruises from the truck resting on me.

That's why I've ultimately chosen EMS. As far as Pararescue, that's the EMS/Adreneline Junkie in me coming out!!!

Lets see .. out of the top ten of most stressed careers in the workplace ATC, Education of (hormone induced hysteria) school and now EMS ... ah you will fit in nicely with this tribe of loonitics.

Welcome aboard highly motivated one, and btw doing the dope on a rope thing, is a blast anf a high on the CDI scale.

chicks dig it !

cheers

[Gin121]

Lol, nice! Yeah I don't spook easy and I like a challenge. I actually spoke with someone today about Flight Medics. I have a long way to go since I haven't officially joined EMS yet, but I will get there. Also placed a call to my County PD who has a CERT (community emergency response team) which is a civilian volunteer based team that responds and treats major accidents and disasters. Rock On!!!

[DwayneEMTP]

Welcome to the City.

Pararescue is a very specific, elite title held by those very, very few people able to qualify for it in the USAF. They are the elite of combat medicine. There is no like civilian title. I keep it on my profile as a lame protest of some asshole giving that title to a bunch of yahoo wannabe medics I've worked with.

You need to focus on education brother long before you start thinking about excitement. If you want to be as good for EMS as EMS will be for you then you're at least two years from the "YeeeeHaaa" stage.

And you didn't like the politics in teaching? You've made a very serious error deciding to join EMS. I've be around the block a few times, and the reason that I will only do remote medicine from this point on is that it, to a small degree, insulates me from the politics. But you also don't move forward very well in EMS without them.

And this is meant to be helpful, not hateful. When you come here asking how you can be Pararescue and/or SWAT before you've even gotten your Basic you put the lie to your comment that you've "Done a lot of research" before making this decision and make yourself look foolish. If you'd done any significant amount of research you'd know what Pararescue is, that flight is not the heroic adrenaline occupation you believe it to be, and there are few things more discussed and covered than how to be a SWAT medic. Try to stop getting your information off of glorious TV shows and it will help you approach this in a more realistic manner.

I do wish you the best of luck!

Dwayne

Edited to fix those typos that seem to magically appear only after I've hit the submit button. No contextual changes made.

Edited February 9, 2011 by DwayneEMTP

[Richard B the EMT]

There's a cartoon panel out there, showing the Devil talking with some of his Demons, pointing out a woman. The quotation reads, "We can't scare her, she taught in a public school".

Downplay the "Adrenalin Junkie" aspect. Most EMS providers fire those who display that too much, as accompanying actions might open the agency up to litigation.

Civilian medical flight Paramedics and Flight Nurses, as you're probably getting the idea, is a small group of accomplished personnel. I'm 37 years into the game, and I know I cannot qualify. I just know my limitations. Those who I have met, usually don't flaunt the fact, until and unless they run into EMS braggarts. "Ground Grippers" and "Flight Crews" know that they both need and can depend on each other.

It's nice to think one can become a Medical Flight Crewperson, but it's kind of like the US Marine Corps' recruitment line, "The Few. The Proud".

[Gin121]

Thanks for the replies guys. Dwayne, Although I appreciate your experience and expertise, I have not gotten my research off tv shows. I have compiled good hard thought out data. You are seeing a tiny clip from a thread and hanging on some words and taking them out of context. Another member said adreneline junkie so I used his words. Again, I'm 37, not 18 and kind have been there done that. No premature ejaculation here! I know it takes many years of class and experience to get to Flight Medics. I simply put it out these to get personal information rather than reading documents and formal research.

The plan is to volunteer at my local EMS.

Obtain my EMT B Certification.

Continue being a volly but join another company as a paid EMT.

Obtain EMT I Cert.

Enroll in and train for Paramedics.

Obtain Paramedic Cert and work as a Paramedic for 2 or 3 years as I study to get my RN Cert.

Obtain RN Degree and continue to get more experience, then, perhaps become Flight Medic.

The way I see it I will be studying and training for a minimum of 4 or 5 years before being ready to consider Flight Medics.

Again Dwayne, all do respect, don't go making ill advised and judgemental posts. Remember this is an open forum for people to "put it out there" and get ideas and share thoughts. My 2 cents....

Edited February 9, 2011 by Gin121

[tniuqs]

"We can't scare him, he taught in a public school".

<edit>Re: gender referencing.

How true that is.

[Gin121]

<edit>Re: gender referencing.

How true that is.

Lmao! .... and yes I am a dude.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Gin121