Army Combat Medic AIT...

[mycrofft]

This always happens historically as the supply of recruits gets dry.

We civvies and oldies have clue zero about new MOS and other designators. How about a URL to reference for translation?

 

[Afflixion]

Lol I don't know where to look. but a jist is.

68W = "Healthcare Specialist"
91W = Field Medic (old designator prior to 68W)
-10 series is E1 - E4
-20 series is E5
-30 series is E6
-40 series is E7 - E8
-50 series is E9
68Z = Senior healthcare Sergeant (awarded to E8's and E9's)
18D = Special Operations Aidsman

ASI = Additional Skill Identifier
-W1 = Advanced combat medicine (condensed 18D school)
-M6 = LPN
-F1 = Flight Medic

JSOC = Joint Special Operations Command

Edit: Hey Mycrofft where you been?!

 

[mycrofft]

Afflixion, sharpening the knives.

Lots of real life stuff and department moving to 12 hr shifts.

The hard sad fact is that for most trainees the only really effective training in field EMS, IS field EMS.

 

[FieldMedic2007]

Well, I have been away from this site for a while now due to training and deployment but im finally in kuwait waiting to head up north. Alot of what has been said is true. I have been in the army a long time now. I signed up and did 6 yrs in the reserve as a 91b, which is what medics were before the 91w transition for those who didnt know. Back then the training was more dumbed down and hella easier, plus you didnt have to pass the nremt to even become a medic. Just pass your exams and do what your supposed to and you would be good. I have done the CMAST course which is what was brought in to condense other training for the transition and i was highly dissappointed. CMAST is no more than CLS for army medics and the only difference is that they add a few admin notes and minor training to it than when we teach CLS to our line boys. I am on my second tour out here just cant wait to get it over but the thing is, the government shouldnt dumb down medical training just to fit numbers. The war here in iraq may be coming to an end but we still have afghanistan to deal with and we are still taking casualties. I know a big number of injuries are now due to bombs in iraq but we cant slack on med training just so some big wig can have the numbers they need.

I used to work for a PA and am back at a lvl where we dont have one. I am hoping that we will get to work with one where we are going this time compared to my last deployment.PA's are a big part in the continuation of training for army medics from the experience i have seen. Even though the school house may push out some crappy medics some are still able to be molded to in life-saving machines given the proper mentorship and time to do so. I totally agree that some providers dont pass on their knowledge as they should and the majority of PA's that I have worked with and like were former enlisted medics. They know what you learn and since they have the new skills as a provider they also know they can teach you and get you ready for the game in the box when the time comes. Had a medic who was with me back in 08 who got pulled from our unit to fill in a slot with one of our sister units who was short a medic. I tried to go but since we just came back they wouldnt let me. Anyway she had about a month or so before she went so one of the PA's we were working for at the time basically took her under his wing and taught her alot to catch her up to speed. She had been outta the schoolhouse for about 4-6 months i would guess. She made it back safely and is better now with the experience. Training gets you so far and helps prepare you. Experience fills in the gaps.

 

[boingo]

25th ID? I spent some time there in the early 90's, WOLFHOUNDS! Hope you get back to the rock soon.

 

[FieldMedic2007]

Nope, I am stuck with MP's. they have their ups and downs. I dont mind sometimes. We just got to kuwait and head up north soon. I am hoping this tour doesnt get extended like my last one, that sucked. I love hawaii, it was a change of pace from korea.

 

[DADDYTATTOOED]

i didnt read all the way through the tread but this actually applies to me. i recently enlisted and will be going to basic in december as a 68W, i joined this forum in hopes to get a heads up on all things EMS (guess i found the right place). i guess i'm not surprised but i would have thought that the military would have invested a little more into trainning medics but i guess they have no shortage of new recruits to fill used boots and they have a huge demand for medics and standards fell because of it.

on a side note someone posted about the enlistment bonus (for 68w you get nothing but they give you a little extra to use for schooling) if i had gone navy and became a NUKE like they wanted it would have been $60k after their AIT program better known as the NUKE pipeline.

also the army.mil website reported that they are doing a study with troops back from Iraq from airborne to gather research to help develope new tools

 

[FieldMedic2007]

I have recently found out that 2 of my mps in my plt recently failed outta the new 68w course back in jan sometime Of course what got them was the NREMT. They were passing everything else. So they got reclassed and are out here, but they will be a good asset for me and my plt as cls providers, lol. I will be relying on them more and mentoring them in hopes i can convince them to re-up and try to become medics again as well as try to get them their nremt when we get back to schofield. Oh well anyways this tour is gunna be different from my last one, gotta love iraq, lol.

 

[RocketMedic]

I went through Ft. Sam in class 08-08, D Co. I was relatively unimpressed with it as a whole. Some parts were well-done (the outdoor STX lanes, the FTX, and a few parts of the didactic course), but there's not too much else to recommend it. The class sizes are way, way too big, the companies are too large for effective leadership, and the NREMT portion for ours was treated like a joke by the vast majority of the students and cadre.

If I hadn't gone through I-school and gotten into P-school, I'm certain that I'd be SOL. My unit has perhaps five medics I'd trust, everyone else I'd have to say I don't trust their skills. Assessment, medical conditions, and assessment (again) are extremely weak. On our last FTX, the vast majority of our medics treated EVERYONE as a heatcat, but ignored a Level-2 trauma patient and sent him back to his tent (pt was c/o signifigant neck and back pain after falling from a 5-ton @ 40mph). Then we had a "cardiac arrest" who walked out of the BAS in fustration for waiting 40 minutes to be seen and screened. It even shows that my PA is refusing to teach anyone anything above BLS because he doesn't trust our skills as a unit and I'm getting fustrated because I'm not getting the opportunity to demonstrate that I can do a lot more than put on a CAT.

Hope it gets better or that I get picked up for Flight Medic.