Hello from a 21 year old from NC!

[Jeffry]

Hey guys, I'm Jeff.

I'm a 21 year old from southern NC (Fayetteville area) and I am interested in discovering some information on the EMS career. With New Years coming up I REALLY need to get some goals in place. I have a love for public service and emergency response careers (EMS, L.E. and Fire Fighting). I just want to find out the perks and the not-so-perks about being an EMS:

Right now I am considering it as a long-time career. I have a few ideas of what I want to do at the moment but at the same time would like to get other people's opinions...

Here are my options:

1) Attempt to join the US Army and shoot for a 68W spot (combat medic) so I can pay off some student loans and even work on getting a house.

2) My other option of course is to use the remaining 3 years of my pell grant and just get my Associates in Emergency Medicine (EMT-B, I, P classes).

For the second option, there are two community colleges nearby. One is located a lot closer 20 mile drive while the other is a whopping 35 mile drive each way. The closest one offers a EMT program while the second one offers the full fledge EMT-P program (2 years).

I'm going to shoot a call to the local one and get some information. I just would like y'alls opinion on the matter?

Thanks again!

[Just Plain Ruff]

Jeff, many opinions on this but here's mine

Take option 2, go to the full bore college that offers the paramedic course. You have to get the emt before medic so why not just get the medic.

15 miles is not a big deal in terms of driving distance.

When I was in paramedic school I was driving to clinicals that were upwards of 80 miles one way and I was doing that for 5 days a week.

Good luck.

PM me if you need anything.

[ERDoc]

You need to really think about what you want to do. EMS is a lot different than Fire and PD. You are half public safety, half medicine. There are many people out there that enjoy the public safety aspect but hate the medicine aspect (including talking to pts) and they generally don't make good providers. They are better off being fire or PD.

[paramedicmike]

Welcome.

Do you want to be a soldier? If you really want to be a soldier then consider the military. If you're just looking for what you think is a road to student loan repayment please look elsewhere. You will be in for a rough ride.

Coincidentally, 68W is not a combat medic. It's a "Health Care Specialist". You can wind up doing a lot of things none of which involve being a combat medic. This is especially true if you don't see combat. This isn't to say there isn't opportunity for learning there. But know what you're getting into before jumping into an assumption.

If you have the opportunity to go back to school and want to do EMS then go for a paramedic program. This will benefit you more than an EMT program will.

You will very seldom go wrong by choosing to pursue and enhance your education.

Ruff and ERDoc both make excellent points as well.

One of the hardest questions people face is "So what do you want to do?". Until you know the answer to that question, though, we can talk until we're blue in the face. It probably won't help you. Pick what you want to pursue then do it. We'll help if we can.

[Jeffry]

You guys are being very helpful and I appreciate the assistance.

As for the military, I look forward to the life-long skills and education opportunities that they will set me up for.

So, I'm trying to get in contact with the EMT program coordinator at the moment. I just need to find out if it is solely a EMT course as there isn't much information on the website. However, at the moment I'm sure it's just an EMT-B course.

As for the Paramedic program I need to find out what their schedule is like. I'm assuming it will probably be 5 days a week. A little planning and coordination with my employer may allow me to work weekends.

I appreciate the help once again, guys! I will continue to look at my options and ask you gentlemen for any advice.

Thanks