I've been trying to get my questions answered on the army website and I'm having some trouble lol. I am trying to find out, what I would enter as if I enlisted after being a paramedic? And if I enlisted, would there be any opportunity to further my education, such as getting an RN? Would I have to go through basic? Would I have to be retrained as far as the medic side or would my civillian training suffice? Anyone who could answer any of these I would greatly appreciate! Thanks
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3girls2dogs
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Yes, you would have to go to basic. You would still need to learn how to be a soldier, regardless of how you enter. I don't know what you would enter as if being a paramedic. The Marines use Navy Corpsmen, and as far as I know, they have to start at the beginning rank wise. You are going to have to be trained by them. (by them I mean the Army, not the Corpsmen 
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This is confusing to me. Are you willing to be a soldier? It looks to me by the questions, you don't want to have to deal with everything else that comes with being a soldier. You would be able to further your education, but on their schedule.
)This is confusing to me. Are you willing to be a soldier? It looks to me by the questions, you don't want to have to deal with everything else that comes with being a soldier. You would be able to further your education, but on their schedule.
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Waren7
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The closes thing you can enter in the Army as a paramedic is a 68W(whiskey) or combat medic. Also to answer your question about becoming an RN, you'd have to ask someone from AMED or something. But I do know there is a program in the Army that they will pay for your education to become a Nurse, you might want to look into that program before you go and enlist.
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Joshua1a7
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Bottom line up front.....You would enter the Army as whatever your contract says your job will be. If that isnt clear then let me say it this way. The Army doesnt care that you are a Paramedic. Your civilian credentials will not get you out of any training.
Second question.....Furthering your education depends on you. After the duty day you are allowed to take college courses. Notice I said after the duty day. It is few and far between and almost impossible to get time off during the day to take college courses of any kind. If you want to be an RN, do that before joining the Army. Then if you still want to be a soldier. Come into the Army as an officer. Talk to a medical officer recruiter to get better info. I am enlisted so I dont know how it works.
I am a 68W health care speicialist. A medic. Let me clear up some myths you and waren7 might have. There is no such thing as a combat medic or a hospital medic. Meaning.....there is no job in the Army that only works in hospitals or only goes to combat. There are skill identifiers which are additional schools you can attend that might keep you in a hospital but the Army makes no guarantees beyond the training you get. You might never work as a respiratory tech or a cardiac cath tech. Chances are you will but there is no guarantee.
Now back to your questions. Like the other posters have said. YES you must attend basic training. There is no way out of that unless you become an officer and even then there is a basic of sorts. The Army doesnt care about your civilian credentials (at first anyway). Later they care. Even though you are a Paramedic, you must go through 68W school which includes EMT to become a medic. Another skill identifier is M6 (Mike 6). This identifies our Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). But in order to go to that school it has to be on your contract.
As a licensed Paramedic, can you get out of that portion of training? I doubt it. But once you get to a unit you should give them your Paramedic license. The NCOs track this sort of thing. There has been talk that in order to make certain ranks you must have certain credentials but it isnt that way yet.
By the way, I highly recommend you keep your Paramedic license up. Another BTW, you have to do that on your own time in some units. I have had to redo EMT 4 times because I couldnt get the time off to renew my license. That is Army logic for you. I could take a month off to go to EMT school but I couldnt take a day off to challenge the test.
Like I tell everyone who wants to come into the Army. Talk to someone who is currently doing the job you want to do. It isnt always what you think it is by the title. PM me for more information on what a medic does in reality.
Chuck
Second question.....Furthering your education depends on you. After the duty day you are allowed to take college courses. Notice I said after the duty day. It is few and far between and almost impossible to get time off during the day to take college courses of any kind. If you want to be an RN, do that before joining the Army. Then if you still want to be a soldier. Come into the Army as an officer. Talk to a medical officer recruiter to get better info. I am enlisted so I dont know how it works.
I am a 68W health care speicialist. A medic. Let me clear up some myths you and waren7 might have. There is no such thing as a combat medic or a hospital medic. Meaning.....there is no job in the Army that only works in hospitals or only goes to combat. There are skill identifiers which are additional schools you can attend that might keep you in a hospital but the Army makes no guarantees beyond the training you get. You might never work as a respiratory tech or a cardiac cath tech. Chances are you will but there is no guarantee.
Now back to your questions. Like the other posters have said. YES you must attend basic training. There is no way out of that unless you become an officer and even then there is a basic of sorts. The Army doesnt care about your civilian credentials (at first anyway). Later they care. Even though you are a Paramedic, you must go through 68W school which includes EMT to become a medic. Another skill identifier is M6 (Mike 6). This identifies our Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). But in order to go to that school it has to be on your contract.
As a licensed Paramedic, can you get out of that portion of training? I doubt it. But once you get to a unit you should give them your Paramedic license. The NCOs track this sort of thing. There has been talk that in order to make certain ranks you must have certain credentials but it isnt that way yet.
By the way, I highly recommend you keep your Paramedic license up. Another BTW, you have to do that on your own time in some units. I have had to redo EMT 4 times because I couldnt get the time off to renew my license. That is Army logic for you. I could take a month off to go to EMT school but I couldnt take a day off to challenge the test.
Like I tell everyone who wants to come into the Army. Talk to someone who is currently doing the job you want to do. It isnt always what you think it is by the title. PM me for more information on what a medic does in reality.
Chuck
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BAFRIEND
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If I were you, I would join the Airforce instead.
I know a buddy who was a medic in the Army and was told when his enlistment ended his training would allow him a paramedic job as a civilian.
Turns out that was a lie and if he had joined the airforce he would have gotten the training he needed.
Also, the airforce has its bases well away from the shooting.
One other thing, I was reading in another fourm from vets that if you get into the medical side of the military- be prepared to be called back up for active duty even if you are in your 60's. A person who was in Vietnam from that forum was impelled back into the military for Iraq. If you plan on going in just for a few years- remember the term "stop loss". Even though you enlisted for 4 or less years- they can keep you or recall you at a whim.
As for nursing- my sister is in her last year and the shortage is so great that already prosective employers are offering deals to pay off the cost of her student loans in addition to salary.
I know a buddy who was a medic in the Army and was told when his enlistment ended his training would allow him a paramedic job as a civilian.
Turns out that was a lie and if he had joined the airforce he would have gotten the training he needed.
Also, the airforce has its bases well away from the shooting.
One other thing, I was reading in another fourm from vets that if you get into the medical side of the military- be prepared to be called back up for active duty even if you are in your 60's. A person who was in Vietnam from that forum was impelled back into the military for Iraq. If you plan on going in just for a few years- remember the term "stop loss". Even though you enlisted for 4 or less years- they can keep you or recall you at a whim.
As for nursing- my sister is in her last year and the shortage is so great that already prosective employers are offering deals to pay off the cost of her student loans in addition to salary.
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Joshua1a7
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BAfriend you are right nursing is the way to go right now. And you are partially right about them calling up a lot of soldiers including medics. I wont argue with you because as soon as I make a statement the military changes the way they do things and I end up just looking foolish.
This goes to anyone wanting to join the military. It is a tough life. They have a tremendous amount of control over you. It isnt like any other job in the world. Research what you are wanting. The military will take from you what it wants/needs in order to accomplish its mission. Talk to people who are doing the job you want before you sign the contract. We live in the information age, seek out that information and use it to your advantage. Dont misunderstand me. I have 23 years in the Army and love it. I wouldnt be the Christian man I am today without the Army and the people God has put into my life. However, it is a rough life. I have been away from home a lot over the years. I have missed birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, graduations, etc. It has cost me more relationships than I care to think about. But I will miss it when I retire next year. As much as I dislike the discipline, structure and control it is one of the things I will miss the most.
This goes to anyone wanting to join the military. It is a tough life. They have a tremendous amount of control over you. It isnt like any other job in the world. Research what you are wanting. The military will take from you what it wants/needs in order to accomplish its mission. Talk to people who are doing the job you want before you sign the contract. We live in the information age, seek out that information and use it to your advantage. Dont misunderstand me. I have 23 years in the Army and love it. I wouldnt be the Christian man I am today without the Army and the people God has put into my life. However, it is a rough life. I have been away from home a lot over the years. I have missed birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, graduations, etc. It has cost me more relationships than I care to think about. But I will miss it when I retire next year. As much as I dislike the discipline, structure and control it is one of the things I will miss the most.
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![[serious]](/data/avatars/m/160/160873.jpg?1431539545){kind=avatar}
There are substantial differences between civilian and military medics. You would still need to go through basic and combat medic training. After that, you could probably do some distance learning classes but you won't have time to go to a brick and mortar school while in.
As far as skills, if you work under a good doc you can learn a lot even if you aren't getting a piece of paper to prove it.
As far as skills, if you work under a good doc you can learn a lot even if you aren't getting a piece of paper to prove it.
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There are substantial differences between civilian and military medics. You would still need to go through basic and combat medic training. After that, you could probably do some distance learning classes but you won't have time to go to a brick and mortar school while in.
As far as skills, if you work under a good doc you can learn a lot even if you aren't getting a piece of paper to prove it.
As far as skills, if you work under a good doc you can learn a lot even if you aren't getting a piece of paper to prove it.
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pureredwhiteblu
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To someone who said that there is no such thing as a Combat Medic... You are simply wrong. I was a Combat Medic 91A / 91B from 1990-1998, then a Combat Engineer for the last year of my re-enlistment.
But, I do agree with what he said afterwords.
The Army will put you where they need you. Being a EMT doesn't help you at all as far as having a higher rank or getting out of schooling.
Having 4 year College degree can make you eligible to be an Officer (ROTC), but other then that... you'll have to work for/earn everything while in the Service.
You can still be an Officer if you're not a College Grad. Join up for Officer Cadat School (OCS)
One poster made a judgemental call by assuming that someone was joining for College only, and not willing to go through the rest of the Army requirements.
Don't be so quick to judge. You don't know the new soldiers heart or intentions, and whats wrong with joining for the College benefits?
What I can tell the new soldier is that you shouldn't join up if you don't want to take the risk of being called up.
It's common sense, you join up... you have a good change of going to War.
Any other belief is just ignorant.
If you do join up, take advantage of ALL of your opportunities, don't just go through the motions. I am speaking from experience here. I was a great soldier, did well in all my PT test and schooling, but I let some opportunities pass me by, ie Combat Field Medical Badge, Airborne, Air Assalt, Sniper School, and OCS.
I don't regret signing up though. I miss it and the great commeraderie.
Good times and good memories.
God Bless, and Good luck to you.
But, I do agree with what he said afterwords.
The Army will put you where they need you. Being a EMT doesn't help you at all as far as having a higher rank or getting out of schooling.
Having 4 year College degree can make you eligible to be an Officer (ROTC), but other then that... you'll have to work for/earn everything while in the Service.
You can still be an Officer if you're not a College Grad. Join up for Officer Cadat School (OCS)
One poster made a judgemental call by assuming that someone was joining for College only, and not willing to go through the rest of the Army requirements.
Don't be so quick to judge. You don't know the new soldiers heart or intentions, and whats wrong with joining for the College benefits?
What I can tell the new soldier is that you shouldn't join up if you don't want to take the risk of being called up.
It's common sense, you join up... you have a good change of going to War.
Any other belief is just ignorant.
If you do join up, take advantage of ALL of your opportunities, don't just go through the motions. I am speaking from experience here. I was a great soldier, did well in all my PT test and schooling, but I let some opportunities pass me by, ie Combat Field Medical Badge, Airborne, Air Assalt, Sniper School, and OCS.
I don't regret signing up though. I miss it and the great commeraderie.
Good times and good memories.
God Bless, and Good luck to you.
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The Army use to have LPN enlisted nurses. You could sign up for that job. My experience with the combat medic stuff was when I was certified as a combat lifesaver. We bled all over the place learning to start IV's on each other.
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seremela06
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i don't know who told you this, but they're full of it. when you enlist in the military, if you sign up for 4 years, your contract says that you're on active duty for 4 years and inactive reserves for 4 years after that. which means that you may be recalled for duty within those 4 years, though it's very unlikely. after that, you're a civilian.
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jcook922
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Yes, you would need to go through Basic and medical school. I've seen folks in the service with medical training challenge a board and get their RN via the schooling taught to them in the military. You would need to be fully retrained, but if you had the equivalent of a bachelors you could become an officer without too much effort. If you enlisted odds are good you would be some sort of medical troop, but make sure you get it in your contract from the recruiter when you enlist. Hope that helps.
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