Question For Military Medics

[flamingemt2011]

Was just watching Candy Crowley on CNN as she was interviewing someone from the VA about unemployment among veterans. She specifically pointed out the Military Medics or truck drivers can operate in the military for years, but when they get home, their skills can not be transitioned into those jobs, they have to start over at the beginning. I can see that military medics would be masters of trauma, but could be weak in OB, Peds, and Cardiac. Can any of you speak to the level of military training, and is it sufficient to be able to jump on a civilian ambulance without any classes ?

[Richard B the EMT]

Most of the military Medics and Corpsmen I knew had just come out of the military, at the end of the Vietnam conflict. By their own statements, and quoting yours, they would be "masters of trauma, but could be weak in OB, Peds, and Cardiac."

[chbare]

The Army health care specialist course is 16 weeks long and the only civilian credential gained is NREMT-B or EMT as the new SOP would like to call it. The medical material learned is fairly basic.

One must remember that military schools prepare you for military jobs (MOS) and there may or may not be significant civilian crossover. Also remember, the military is your job and there is little expectation for equivalent civilian crossover. We typically do not demand that our current employers give us credentials to work for rivals, I do not expect anything different from the military. Of course leadership, teamwork, respect and life experience gained in the military is always welcomed in people who embrace those concepts when encountered in the military.

Of course, soldiers who are wounded and require help should have good support networks, but that is most certainly a topic for another conversation.

My recommendation to many people is look at going reserve or guard after active duty and cash in your education benefits if you want to compete as a civilian.

Take care,

chbare.

[Dustdevil]

Well, the only thing military medics (in most cases) come out qualified for is the same thing that any other EMT-B is qualified for, which is very damn little. There is about this much ---><--- difference between a job as an EMT-B and unemployment, so the observation is valid. Unemployment pays better than non-emergency ambulance driving.

Of course, qualifications vary greatly from provider to provider. Not all medics are created equally. There are some with a wallet full of merit badges that don't know shyte, and there are those without all the bling who have acquired a significant education in four to six years of service. Not all military medics are "masters of trauma." In fact, most never even see combat. Some spend an entire career working in a laboratory or running x-rays. Some make great nurses aides, but are experienced in little else. On the other hand, some are overqualified for civilian employment.

But really, the bottom line is that the theory holds true. No matter how good a provider one leaves the military as, s/he is still just an EMT-B in the real world. But most come out of the military with no desire to stay in medicine anyhow, so it's no big deal. They are still more employable than infantrymen, artillerymen, military policemen, tank drivers, and the majority of other veterans, so I don't understand why the concentration on medics.

[Richard B the EMT]

No matter how good a provider one leaves the military as, s/he is still just an EMT-B in the real world. But most come out of the military with no desire to stay in medicine anyhow, so it's no big deal. They are still more employable than infantrymen, artillerymen, military policemen, tank drivers, and the majority of other veterans, so I don't understand why the concentration on medics.

Well, this IS a discussion on EMT City.

(Don't mind me, Dusty, just having a small bit of fun at your expense. Hope you had a good Memorial Day Weekend, with my thanks for services rendered that I probably could not have done)

[xselerate]

The confusion seems to be the term "medic". Army medics aren't paramedics. There fancy EMT's.

[FormerEMSLT297]

I tend to disagree. I have seen many military "medics" come out of the service, and go into EMS as an EMT, and then work their way up to Paramedic. I have also seen several of the more progressive military units, get their people into an NREMT-I or NREMT-P program....

So, I dunno about all the military medics, but let's just say jobs are tough all over.......

[DwayneEMTP]

I tend to disagree. I have seen many military "medics" come out of the service, and go into EMS as an EMT, and then work their way up to Paramedic. I have also seen several of the more progressive military units, get their people into an NREMT-I or NREMT-P program....

So, I dunno about all the military medics, but let's just say jobs are tough all over.......

What/Who are you disagreeing with exactly?

Dwayne

[yakc130]

The confusion seems to be the term "medic". Army medics aren't paramedics. There fancy EMT's.

Oh wow. I would have to disagree with you on that one. Many military medical personnel are more than just EMT's. Many have the training of not just paramedics, but of PA's and dentists to boot. They just lack the cards for the positions.

[chbare]

Oh wow. I would have to disagree with you on that one. Many military medical personnel are more than just EMT's. Many have the training of not just paramedics, but of PA's and dentists to boot. They just lack the cards for the positions.

I am afraid not. You seem to be confusing skills with education. As a medic in the military I too performed skills such as laceration repair and basic dental procedures. Unfortunately, I was simply performing a psychomotor exercise in "monkey see monkey do" without having any real appreciation for the theory and physical science behind said procedure.

Take care,

chbare.