Any current or former combat medics here?

[Nachtadler]

I just had a slot reserved for me as a 68W in the reserves. I ship March eighth and will be back just in the nick of time for the fall 2011 college semester. I'll be attached to an MP company and once I'm done with college I'll be switching to active duty and I'll see if the Army will let me go to SF training and selection. I'm rather badly color-blind, but hopefully a 99 on the ASVAB, a degree in electrical engineering, being in fantastic physical shape, and near-fluency in Arabic will help counteract that problem.

So for any of you who have gone through 68W AIT, how is it? So far all I know about it is that it's rather long and it's at Ft. Sam Houston. What specifically gets taught, and is AIT as strict as basic training?

 

[hankpac]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

I may not be the best person to be the first person to respond. My time was a long time ago. I went though 91 A in 1966.
My son was in one of the last 91B/91C classes to go through under the old format, then it was changed to the Whiskey program. It is supposed to be a total replacement, one size fits all, since medics still cover wards, clinics, and combat roles. Difficult to say if that is the best way to train people for so many roles.
I can speak to to strictness. Sincerely not the same as basic. You will get some weekends, and some evenings, gradually getting looser and looser. When I volunteer at BAMC in the winter, I attend church with some of the Whiskey students on base.
During the later period and just before and during Clinical rotations, is where people start losing their focus. If you are serious about the medical field, avoid getting involved in the "motel room" culture.
Spend time learning, see some cultural history in the area, STAY out of Mexico, get to know the doctors and nurses since they will affect your outcome.
Remember your goal, you are not there to F around, you are there to learn to save lives under difficult circumstances.
Minimal training, minimal resources, in the middle of nowhere, don't let him die. Keep that in mind every single morning, and all day. Don't let him die.
Good luck. Look me up by PM in late january, when I am at BAMC.

 

[Nachtadler]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

Thanks for the response. I'm happy to hear that AIT isn't as strict as basic. It's nice to know I'll have a little bit of freedom while I'm there.

Even now I've been pondering the responsibilities I will have. I will have to do everything I possibly can to keep wounded soldiers alive under any circumstances. It isn't something I'll ever be able to forget while I'm there, or anywhere else for that matter. I will not be able to approach this task with anything less than total focus and effort. My sights are set on being the top graduate, and I intend to do everything I can to make that happen.

If I remember to I'll get in touch with you again in a few months, and thanks again.

 

[USAFDoug]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

Congrats on the choice. I just wanted to say that although being in the Air Force I worked at the hospital in Iraq and I have nothing but the greatest respect for Combat Medics... amazing people that work under extreme conditions.

Good luck in AIT and like already mentioned and as you already seem to know no time to party when you are learning how to or actually saving a life... congrats again and God speed.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

Congrats on your choice!

I made the same choice eons ago to get into a slot doing electronic warfare repair - spent 2 years in AIT alone.


That said, you won't just come out of AIT and go back on active duty - you have a (This may have changed slightly) 6 months to 1 year obligation to stay in the reserves before they will release you back to active duty.

I did this, and it's what kept me from selection for 10th grp - they are the one's that told me this information.

Do the BT/AIT, go to college, do the reserves (Get your GI bill and use it!) and then if/when you are ready go see a recruiter about going back on AD - the process is very similiar to that which you do when yyou initially go in (Except easier as you will be prior service then)

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

One more thing -

I had a GI Bill option from the reserves, I started using it while in the reserves. I had 10 years from that point to get it used up.

I was on AD half of that 10 years and did not have the money when I got out - so I lost my GI bill.

So check that - if the gi bill is 10 years from when you start to use it - think wisely on that.

 

[Nachtadler]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do the BT/AIT, go to college, do the reserves (Get your GI bill and use it!) and then if/when you are ready go see a recruiter about going back on AD - the process is very similiar to that which you do when yyou initially go in (Except easier as you will be prior service then)
</div></div>

That is my exact plan, and I will be using my GI Bill as soon as I can get my hands on it. I don't like having my relatives pay for my college expenses. I appreciate it and I'm very happy they're willing to do it, but I'd rather relieve them of the financial burden.

 

[stefan73]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nachtadler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just had a slot reserved for me as a 68W in the reserves. I ship March eighth and will be back just in the nick of time for the fall 2011 college semester. I'll be attached to an MP company and once I'm done with college I'll be switching to active duty and I'll see if the Army will let me go to SF training and selection. I'm rather badly color-blind, but hopefully a 99 on the ASVAB, a degree in electrical engineering, being in fantastic physical shape, and near-fluency in Arabic will help counteract that problem.

So for any of you who have gone through 68W AIT, how is it? So far all I know about it is that it's rather long and it's at Ft. Sam Houston. What specifically gets taught, and is AIT as strict as basic training? </div></div>

Here is my advice. There is a lot to do in San Antonio. Do what you can to stay out of trouble!
There are a lot of decent looking females there. The Hacienda is not the place to "get some". The MP's patrol there, and yes they check the upstairs music rooms.
Focus on learning since a soldiers life will be in your hands!!!! Screw that up and your life will suck.
You will have to try and get a waiver for SF for your color vision! That could be a problem depending on how bad it is.
I'm guessing red/green?
Your SF physical is basically a flight physical if I'm correct.
BTW, SERE is an awesome course!

 

[Nachtadler]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is my advice. There is a lot to do in San Antonio. Do what you can to stay out of trouble!
There are a lot of decent looking females there. The Hacienda is not the place to "get some". The MP's patrol there, and yes they check the upstairs music rooms.
Focus on learning since a soldiers life will be in your hands!!!! Screw that up and your life will suck.
You will have to try and get a waiver for SF for your color vision! That could be a problem depending on how bad it is.
I'm guessing red/green?
Your SF physical is basically a flight physical if I'm correct.
BTW, SERE is an awesome course! </div></div>

I don't think I'll have anything to worry about trouble-wise. I have to actually try to even get close to getting in any sort of trouble. I will be there to learn and not much else.

I am hoping that after I get on active duty for a while I can get a waiver for my color-blindness.Yes, it is red/green color-blindness. I can tell plain red and plain green apart and I can easily pass a vivid red/vivid green color vision test. I cannot pass the FALANT test or the Ishihara color dot test at all. If my interpretation of AR 40-501 is correct, as long as I can pass a vivid red/vivid green color blindness test, I am qualified for SF and airborne.

SERE does sound like an awesome time.

 

[stefan73]

Re: Any current or former combat medics here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nachtadler</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is my advice. There is a lot to do in San Antonio. Do what you can to stay out of trouble!
There are a lot of decent looking females there. The Hacienda is not the place to "get some". The MP's patrol there, and yes they check the upstairs music rooms.
Focus on learning since a soldiers life will be in your hands!!!! Screw that up and your life will suck.
You will have to try and get a waiver for SF for your color vision! That could be a problem depending on how bad it is.
I'm guessing red/green?
Your SF physical is basically a flight physical if I'm correct.
BTW, SERE is an awesome course! </div></div>

I don't think I'll have anything to worry about trouble-wise. I have to actually try to even get close to getting in any sort of trouble. I will be there to learn and not much else.

I am hoping that after I get on active duty for a while I can get a waiver for my color-blindness.Yes, it is red/green color-blindness. I can tell plain red and plain green apart and I can easily pass a vivid red/vivid green color vision test. I cannot pass the FALANT test or the Ishihara color dot test at all. If my interpretation of AR 40-501 is correct, as long as I can pass a vivid red/vivid green color blindness test, I am qualified for SF and airborne.

SERE does sound like an awesome time. </div></div>

If the reg says that then you are good!
You should probably be able to locate an SF recruiter at Fort Sam (I think they have one but I'm not sure). I would also consider Ranger Regiment. There are gates to get into regiment like anything else but it is a great organization!!!

SERE is a great time but then I'm slightly sadistic so its all good!