Armed for self protection

[pfdffemt82]

first of all i really don't care i am not not english teacher second my spelling and grammar doesn't effect any of the jobs i do you can sit back in the rear while people like me were up front in the theater and doctors are the last to talk about writing have you ever read some of there writing ya my writing sux but i am able to fight fire treat my pt's and i was able to support and defend my country any one with a problem with that i will challenge you to any of my skills i am sorry i suc at grammar and spelling but i have had a head injury and a torn acl defending my beloved country so buzz off

[FormerEMSLT297]

As a former Navy Corpsman attached to the FMF, IO understood the rules on arming medical support to be as follows:

A medic/Corpsman cuold carry ANY non-crewe served weapon as long as it was for personal protection.

I carried both pistols and M-16/M-4 rifles, when I was deployed. But I could not carry a 240G or M-2.

Many corpsman I worked with chose not to carry a rifle becaue they felt it:

1. slowed them down and

2. if they really needed it, they ciould use an inuured marines rifle.

I liked to carry idf because it made me look more like a marine AND

LESS LIKE AN OFFICER or Corpsman (READ TARGET).

I also put me med bag in a regular ALICE or small frame pack for the same reason.

Just my 2 cents from the FMF guy

[scratrat]

This is going off topic:

While the USAF USED to be a part of the US Army, they are a separate agency now. I think the USAF version of a/an Army MP (Military Police) is a/an AP ("Air Police"). The US Navy has SP (Shore Patrol) for, obviously, patrolling on shore, and unless I was misinformed, they are armed only with batons/nightsticks. On ships, they have "Masters at Arms", or Marines to do Police duties.

If I am wrong on any of this, please correct me.

We now return to the topic at hand...

YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

The Marines are only on Navy ships becuase the sheep are too obvious! :twisted:

[Richard B the EMT]

As per several friends and associates who advise me there is no such thing as a "former" Marine, just no longer in active service, these folks all tell me the USMC is a part of the US Navy, specifically, the best part. They also tell me they will be a part of the US Navy until they learn to walk on the waters, SIR!

FYI, I am pure civilian, but mom (PFC) and dad (T4 Sargent) met while they both were in the US Army, at Fort Knox, KY, during the second world war. My brother in law is a retired US Air force Sargent.

[CSAR_MEDIC]

Armed, and extremely proficient too. And if I say so one of the better tac drivers on my team. Being armed is one thing, being able to shoot on the move and proficient is another thing.

High Speed Medicine, Low Drag Medic.

[tniuqs]

Armed, and extremely proficient too. And if I say so one of the better tac drivers on my team. Being armed is one thing, being able to shoot on the move and proficient is another thing.

High Speed Medicine, Low Drag Medic.

Holy a revival of a really old topic, my opinion has never changed, if I am in an area where there is a potential a 2 way shooting range.

If I am not permitted to carry .. then don't ask me to go in, bring them to me behind the wire.

If I am permitted to carry ... no prob ... only question is what is issued and can I bring my own ?

CSAR so what's your "choice" ... would like to know, am a big fan of 7.62 x 39.

cheers

[chbare]

Holy a revival of a really old topic, my opinion has never changed, if I am in an area where there is a potential a 2 way shooting range.

If I am not permitted to carry .. then don't ask me to go in, bring them to me behind the wire.

If I am permitted to carry ... no prob ... only question is what is issued and can I bring my own ?

CSAR so what's your "choice" ... would like to know, am a big fan of 7.62 x 39.

cheers

I assume you are talking about the AK and it's various amalgmations? There were clear benefits to carrying these types of weapons in Afghanistan; however, I am not sure about carrying such a system as a tactical medic stateside? My issues very well may be due to a lack of trigger time on said weapon systems.

My issues:

1) The mechanism and process for performing tactical and emergency magazine changes is very non-intuitive, cumbersome and requires a fair amount of fine motor coordination. Clearly, I think this is detrimental when you are placed into a situation where the acute stress encountered can degrade one's ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor coordination.

2) Not too many agencies use such a weapon system as part of their standard kit as far as I am aware of. Clearly, you would be using a different system than the people in your squad or unit. It is my personal bias that team members should typically carry a similar kit and utiise weapons that have the same mechanical characteristics and use the same type of ammunition. Obviously, highly specialised roles such as a sniper element or using a shotgun to breach will be an exception. I am not sure this applies to a medic carrying an AK variant system however.

3) Some of the AK variant systems may require modification to accept items such as aimpoints, lighting systems and so on. I know many mods exist and are fairly easy to use and even some AK variant system are being produced stock with picatinny rails and so on; however, I still think from a logistical and familiarity standpoint, going with a "standard" system may be a better idea.

My thoughts for what they are worth.

Take care,

chbare.

[5m27medic]

my company prohibits us from carrying any weapons, there stand point is were there to save lives not take them.

[matt202]

my company prohibits us from carrying any weapons, there stand point is were there to save lives not take them.

IMHO you are of no use to anyone if you are in there and dead because you cannot protect yourself. Please tell me what is the difference between somebody else taking a life to protect you, rather than you doing the same?

[leylandauto]

Sorry for the late addition here and resurrecting an old thread but the original question only got maybe 2-3 responses. So, nationally about 50% of the TEMS medics are armed. In Maine there are eight teams that I know of. Three of them have armed Medics. One has a FT LEO they sent to Paramedic school. One has a FT FD medic they sent to the 18 week LEO academy. The other team just armed their medics and they are for defense only with no LEO certs. I am unarmed in my team. Having said that, I would be happier with a sidearm as I have seen the tail become point more than once.