Do combat medics learn to fight?

Medics are known for their selfless courage, often charging into dangerous situations to stabilize and evacuate their fallen comrades. Their initial training is comprehensive, but combined with their predeployment training and practical experience; combat medics are indispensable battlefield assets.

Are combat medics trained in combat?

The CMSTP is the 16-week initial entry training program that trains Soldiers to become Army Combat Medic Specialists. Students who attend the program graduate with an emergency medical technician, or EMT, certification and are trained at a tier III qualification in tactical combat casualty care.

Does a combat medic fight?

While under attack, medics must fight alongside their fellow soldiers. Because of this double-duty role, combat medics often face stressors that other military specialties do not.

Do combat medics engage the enemy?

The Role of an Army Combat Medic

In combat they're often performing their duties under fire. The Geneva Convention protects the medic as long as they do not engage the enemy in combat. But they are still in a combat zone, so this makes the medic's duties even harder, and they are in as much danger as any other soldier.

How well trained are combat medics?

The combat medic has grown from a soldier trained in very basic skills (and hopefully sustained through whatever system his or her individual unit devised), to soldiers trained as experts in prehospital trauma care and in everything required to save a life in the initial hour after a combat injury.

Here’s what it takes to be a combat medic in the military

How smart do you have to be to be a combat medic?

Undergo testing for entry into the U.S. Army

The military uses this test to determine which position you are most suited for. To become a combat medic, you will need a score of 101 or higher on the skilled technical portion of the ASVAB and 107 or higher on the general technical portion.

How often do combat medics see combat?

Combat Medic's deploy just as much as any other combat field MOS, in which they can deploy once to twice within the span of 3 years. It depends on the unit you're in. You may never deploy.

Can you hurt medics in war?

Geneva Convention protection

According to the Geneva Convention, knowingly firing at a medic wearing clear insignia is a war crime. In modern times, most combat medics carry a personal weapon, to be used to protect themselves and the wounded or sick in their care.

What do combat medics do during peacetime?

Combat medics are often called upon during peacetime to provide humanitarian aid during natural or other disasters or during wartime to provide medical care to foreign nationals. They must therefore maintain their primary care knowledge and skills as well as emergency medical skills.

What do combat medics do when not deployed?

Medical Treatment Facilities

If you are not deployed, you may serve at a medical treatment facility, such as an installation hospital or clinic, where you will care for service members and their families. Or, if you have a background in primary care, you may become a general medical officer attached to a specific unit.

Do enemies shoot at medics?

In Real Life war, medics are supposed to be special: The Laws and Customs of War, specifically the Geneva Convention, dictate that medical personnel are non-combatants and shooting one is a serious war crime. So is impersonating one so that the enemy won't shoot you.

Do combat medics carry pistols?

While many historical medics were unarmed and marked, most modern medics are unmarked, and armed with smallarms. Chaplains can also carry weapons to defend themselves.

What skills does a combat medic have?

This training program provides enlisted Army personnel with a foundational knowledge of Basic Life Support, Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) skills, battlefield medicine principles, airway management, patient assessment, limited primary care, medical emergencies, trauma, ambulance operations, and Tactical ...

Is there a difference between a medic and a combat medic?

A paramedic is a healthcare professional who provides emergency medical care. They may work in a hospital, clinic, or ambulance service. A combat medical technician is a specialist in providing immediate and advanced medical care to wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

What rank is a combat medic?

1 – these are medics at the entry level and may be of ranks Private through Corporal (E-1 to E-4). 2 – this is a medic who has the rank of a Sergeant (E-5). 3 – this is a medic who has a rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). 4 – this is a medic who has a rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7).

What rank do combat medics carry?

The Senior Medic

With time, accomplishment and ability, medics can rise up through the ranks to E-4 (specialist/corporal), E-5 (sergeant), E-6 (staff sergeant) and E-7 (sergeant first class). Another big -- and quite rare -- step up is to E-8 (master sergeant). The highest pay grade is E-9 (sergeant major).

How long do combat medics serve?

Most active-duty programs have first-term enlistments of 4 years. Some programs have first-term enlistments of 2, 3, and 6 years.

How many hours does a combat medic work?

Essentially, it's a "best case scenario" day in the job. Keep in mind that being placed into a clinical setting, things would be different. However, you'll be working on a shift schedule of 12 hours per day, though much less demanding.

Did German soldiers shoot medics?

“The Germans were pretty good about not shooting at medics,” he said. “There were several times they could have shot me, and they didn't.” At times, the battle raged so close that the building shook violently, blowing out the windows.

Is it a war crime to target a medic?

The act of intentionally directing attacks against medical services in the context of an armed conflict, whether international or internal, is considered a war crime under humanitarian law. It also falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (Arts. 8.2.

Is it a war crime to shoot an ejected pilot?

According to the convention of Geneva an ejected pilot in the air is not a combatant and therefore attacking him is a war crime.

Do combat medics treat enemy Soldiers?

The job of medics and doctors is to render assistance to any and all wounded. This includes your own, the enemy”s wounded, and civilians.

Where do most combat medics get stationed?

Field/combat medics usually work in hospitals and clinics on land or aboard ships. Medical emergency technicians may give emergency medical treatment in the field.

Do combat medics make a lot of money?

How much does a Combat Medic make at U.S. Army in the United States? Average U.S. Army Combat Medic yearly pay in the United States is approximately $51,371, which is 25% above the national average.

What is the fail rate for 68W AIT?

"One of the things that is going to be an issue is attrition." When the study was conducted, the failure rate (attrition) for first-time students going through the 68W program was 17 to 20 percent and rose to 50 percent for those attempting the program a second time.