Were you ever a medic in the military? Share your experiences.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2014

I was a Navy HM (8404) assigned to the Marines while I was in the reserves. After seeing how Army medics are treated I would go back to the Navy if I was enlisted again. The Marines give you so way more respect then what you would get in the Army. But this respect is earned and you have to know your stuff.

jonnphoenix, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2014

First off, I agree with jeckrn. Respect is earned. I am currently a 68C (Army Practical Nurse). Best kept secret in the Army. I left the 12 month school with a license from the State of Texas that can transfer to other states. I worked at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD after graduation. Now, back in civilian employment, I can honestly say Army LPNs are given way more responsiblity than their civilan counterparts. On an average day on a telemetry ward, I had 3-4 medium to high accuity patients. Yes, I worked under the supervision of an RN but once they see that you know what you're doing, the only thing I went to them for was procedures outside my scope of practice (IVP meds, central line dressing changes, etc.) and to sign off on my shift assessments. Now I work at the VA and I pass meds. Definitely an eye opener. Any questions about the school or anything, please feel free to message me or send me a direct email. [email protected]. Good luck!

RunBabyRN · May 3, 2014

I was an HM (0000) stationed in a clinic back east. Once I earned that respect and trust, the providers let me do pretty much anything I wanted. I learned SOOOO much from them, and I was able to do things I will never do with "just" my BSN. Like jonnphoenix said, there were a couple of things only RNs were allowed to do like IVP, and they always had to check off on surgical procedures I performed, but that was basically looking at the order, that I had the right patient, right procedure, right location, etc and they were on their way.

The reservist providers that rotated through on the weekends were always surprised at how much SOME of us corpsmen did (it's a matter of initiative, but the level of respect is directly proportionate). I had a toenail removal I was in the midst of doing, and the MD walked in, saw me in sterile gloves with the MSS kit opened up and the pt all numbed and ready to go, and he was like, "Oh, cool, okay," and closed the door. :)

I applied to go 8404 like jeckrn, but I was medically discharged prior to any PCS.

504 medic · May 4, 2014

As a 68W, you'll have access to excellent training...some medical, some Army HOOAH stuff too...but only if you pick what your want to do, go out of your way to prove yourself to your commanders, and make it happen. If you sit back and wait, let others do hard work around you, you will get nothing. (In particular, fight to represent your unit in the Best Warrior Competition or volunteer for Additional Duties that involve additional training, etc.) Also, the type of unit you are a part of makes a huge difference in what skills you will come away with at the end of the day. If you are attached to a high drag, lo speed unit, like a quartermaster, you won't learn or do much at all. If you get into a FST, or CSH, or Civil Affairs unit, you'll get all kinds of high speed training. You're Scope of Practice in the military is much bigger than in the civilian world. As a Flight Medic I was trained and authorized to do just about anything I needed to, to keep my patient alive...including tube thoracotomies, pericardial centesis, EJ IV sticks, surgical crics, RSI patients, etc. All of which are usually performed in the ED here, but I was able to do unsupervised, in rather cramped, austere conditions. You can't get that sort of experience any other way. Period.

And if you are lucky enough to get deployed, you might get the chance to "pitch in" at the FST, where you'll get to do sutures, X-Fixes, trouble shoot ventilators and IV pumps while they are still in use, pretty much what ever the PA or Doc in charge of the team want to let you try. If you enjoy medicine, you won't be able to pass up that kind of crack. You'll be hooked. Most of our future (baring the reformation of the USSR) will be centered around AFRICOM, so there are all kinds of cool humanitarian operations that treat indigenous personnel, especially with Civil Affairs.

I think the pitch for the Army is that it's so big, you have lots of lateral movement, and a pretty wide range. (If you are in the AF, and you want to be a Flight Medic, there are waaaaay fewer PJ units, than Medevac units...though AF accommodations are 10 times better than Army housing. And not every Navy Corpsman get attached to Fleet Marine Force, so you have a much greater chance of working in a clinic setting...if that's where your interest is...remember the phrase GO NAVY.)

When you go to a recruiter, know what you want, where it exists, what regulations allow you to get it, and what you'll settle for if that isn't available. In medicine, and in life, ALWAYS have a plan B.

Good Luck.