EMT to Corpsman - Questions...

I've been looking into becoming an EMT once I turn 18...as an "inbetween" career.
(Basically, between high school and enlisting or going to college).

Wasn't planning on doing anything with the military until I'm at least 20.

1) What I'm wondering...is would EMT training/field-experience qualify me for excellerated corpsman training/advancement if I were to enlist?
2) Would I be considered a "higher value" individual because I have prior training in the field, thus more likely to get the job I want (navy corpsman)?
3) What careers are there in the private sector for corpsmen after their service is done? (Civilian, PMC, or international)

Thank youz!

I looked on the Black Water jobs thing and im sure they are always looking for a Corpmen.

Spl. Durkee wrote:

1) What I'm wondering...is would EMT training/field-experience qualify me for excellerated corpsman training/advancement if I were to enlist?
2) Would I be considered a "higher value" individual because I have prior training in the field, thus more likely to get the job I want (navy corpsman)?

A girl in my self defense class at college was talking about this Wednesday. From what i heard her say the military didn't care if she had prior EMT training. Their standards are higher then in the civilian job market so basically she was told she'd have to start from square one if she joined up to be a medic. Not sure which branch she wants to go into (Army i think), so it could be different for another branch or even recruiter for that matter since they seem to vary from what they tell people.

HEY!!! Why don't you ask a couple recruiters!!

Insane Mercc wrote:

HEY!!! Why don't you ask a couple recruiters!!

Ya...a recruiter will just tell me:
"Oh ya! You'll totally be a corpsman right away...and you'll advance in rank like crazy! Oh and did I mention you'll "see the world"? Sign these papers!"
Honestly now, recruiters have been nothing but pests for me. I've been lied to on so many occasion by them...and we all know how much I hate liars

I've tried to bypass recruiters as much as possible. Seem to get more/better info from forums and people who actually served.
(Don't mean to sound bitter, but I don't see "recruiting" as honorable service...but that's just me. My experiences with em have been bad.)

Ok...then don't.

No, I agree with Durkee, recruiters do nothing but attempt to impress you. See, they have a certain amount of people they have to recruit each month, and if they don't fill that amount, they will be reprimanded. Trust me, my cousin did a half year of recruiting after his fourth tour in Iraq. He hated it more than his combat tour...

Go to the go army website and talk to a recuiter there, generaly thier fair. If a recruiter lies, report them. It is illegal and most have standards. Most likly it wont make a difference if you have previous training, your ASVAB will detirmine wich of your MOS pics you get..also the need. And since theres a war im confident theres a need.

You also need to realize EMT is a shitty under paid job with very long hours....don't think ive met one who loved thier job.

don't be a idiot, go to college. If one day you want a family you wont regret it, look at it this way. a 1st LT with 2 years of service will make more money then a CSM with 40 years. ( If you do go make sure any promises they made are in your contract...and in todays economy they don't have to worry about filling thier quota)

and finnaly, don't fall of the trap of the "break" between HS...a large percentage of those who take this break never get into college and end up in some dead end job for the rest of thier life....till the economy crashes when thier 40 and suddenly they (and everyone else like them) end up going to college.

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don't be a idiot, go to college. If one day you want a family you wont regret it, look at it this way. a 1st LT with 2 years of service will make more money then a CSM with 40 years. ( If you do go make sure any promises they made are in your contract...and in todays economy they don't have to worry about filling thier quota)

Why would it make him an Idiot if he wants to learn to be an EMT/EMR?? Yes the job is hard, yes there can be long hours involved, yes it can be quite unrewarding, unrecognized and under rated, Yes there are unlimited hardships that have to be dealt with not always on a daily basis, but enough that you may end up questioning your career choice, Hmmmm wait a minute, this also sounds like a job description for, Doctor, Police, Fireman, Teacher, Nurse, Oh Oh Oh and Heaven help me if I forget SOLDIER !!!! All Honorable jobs !!!!


Just to set the record straight, an O-1 or O-2 would never in a hundred years make as much as an E-9, you have to be an O-5 with over 22 years of service before you make more than the CSM, So if you make it to LTC with out getting passed over, or hitting your officer retention control point, then you can start bragging about your take home pay, which by the way, not one swinging richard cares about.

How dare you even suggest that he may be lacking in the Brains department just because he want´s to persue a dream ??

BTT

Having some medical training prior to service is a Plus, but it won´t help until you have your ASVAB scores, all MOS´s have their required minimum, if you meet the standard and there is an opening, after basic your first few weeks of AIT will be a breeze, but you have to stay on your toes, before you know it you will find yourself behind, as a side note, any service member with Med training is a Plus, regardless if it is First Responder, Life Guard, EMT/EMS and so on.

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Why would it make him an Idiot if he wants to learn to be an EMT/EMR?? , How dare you even suggest that he may be lacking in the Brains department just because he want´s to persue a dream ??

BTT

Have you seen some of his earlier posts?(Regarindg college in HS) . From what hes said he appears to quite brilliant and I can't fanthom why he would do somthing like that. If he wants to go medical field he can easily becoume a Doc or any other simular career. But if he wants to do it..go for it, just doesnt make sense to me.

Quote :

Just to set the record straight, an O-1 or O-2 would never in a hundred years make as much as an E-9, you have to be an O-5 with over 22 years of service before you make more than the CSM, So if you make it to LTC with out getting passed over, or hitting your officer retention control point, then you can start bragging about your take home pay, which by the way, not one swinging richard cares about.

While I was slightly wrong there (what i was told by a recruiter) I went ahead and looked it up.According to the 2010 pay scale chart a E-9 with over 40 years years exp makes 7000 a month, A brand new O-1 makes 3400, from what ive heard within 4 years you make O-3 which brings you to 4800, while your right it isn't more. Typicly (this is based on assumtion) Within 20? years you should make Lt Col if you stay this brings it to 8000. (Agian this is just based from the people ive met...but I assume this is typical)

And while you are right pay doesnt mean "Watch your language", the way college prices are going...I would love a bit more money to pay for my kids college.

Zane wrote:

Have you seen some of his earlier posts?(Regarindg college in HS) . From what hes said he appears to quite brilliant and I can't fanthom why he would do somthing like that. If he wants to go medical field he can easily becoume a Doc or any other simular career. But if he wants to do it..go for it, just doesnt make sense to me..

Many people don't realize this but becoming an EMT/Paramedic takes as much brains as a Nurse/Doctor. Just because its not "med" school doesn't mean they do not learn allot of similar things. EMT/Paramedic takes allot of memorization, critical thinking, and communication skills that everyone doesn't have. Same with allot of jobs in the Military. You would be surprised at the amount of schooling EMT's/Paramedics need.

^Coming from a guy whose grandpa was a leading innovator in the PT field(had a PhD in PT medicine), both grandma and mother are nurses, and has several friends going through the EMT programs. They all agree that EMT/Paramedic schooling is one of the toughest that someone can take in college. Talk to a Paramedic yourself about diagnosing a patient on a call. I'm sure you will be amazed at some of the procedure they have to go through. If they don't think you have a basic understanding of medical terms its going to be very deluded though...

Also what makes you think smart people NEED to fill roles that would normally be considered "smart" in today's society. My cousin has a IQ in the 130's (runs in the family), maintained a 3.8 in a catholic high school, got 2 year scholarship to the Naval Academy(among others) and is currently sitting in a HMMWV on an highway in Iraq as an 11B. He didn't like what he was doing in college, so he dropped out and enlisted in the FL ARNG. Made it through pre airborn(needs 2 more jumps to get his wings), pre ranger(has 1 more month of ranger school left), and was told by a recruiter that he should also do something "smarter". Upon completing his tour(if he does) he plans on becoming active duty and finishing the schools. Once he does that he will become an airborne Ranger. One of the most coveted titles in the entire US military. By far one of the smartest people (I also know the champion of China's National Mathematics Competition) I know is currently guarding a bunch of Iraqi truck drivers along Iraq's main highways, which is a "stupid persons job". Maybe you should rethink your idea of "jobs for smart people".

sticks

Honestly? I think it's a waste of talent if someone that has the capability to somthing great with thier llife and end up in some dead end place. Sure, you will be happy, "Watch your language" I don't care what anyone does, it just seems a waste of a good mind.

And while I have no doubt in the capibilitys of EMT's what they can do is limited to, as you said, first response. If that is what you want to do the only thing close to being as rewarding to it I can think of is helping out in some third world village. But agian, you are limited to the first response, you can't do research, you can't realy do anything to improve technologys and medicines.

And secondaly? IQ doesnt mean "Watch your language". You can have a 170 and end up working in McDonalds becouse your to lazy to work at somthing, the capibility to do somthing has nothing to do with IQ, instead it has to do with drive and motivation. sure, every once in a while someone will come along who doesnt have to work at anything to be great in School and College. But guess what? when they get to the real world they fail becouse they have no work ethic.

When someone calls someone "smart" I laugh...unless you have a mental handicap there is nothing holding anyone back but themseleves.

Add I stand by my point, anyone can do what they want...it just seems a waste when someone that looks capable of doing so much more ends up flipping patties or as you said guarding trucks.

Cool guys, thanks for all the info.

I get what you're saying, Zane.
wasn't really serious about enlisting (or EMT for that matter), I'd much rather do my time in school and get commissioned.

So if I'm going that route (officer commission, that is, which I likely am), from what I understand, my best option would be to:
Go straight from high school to a college (w/ROTC) and take primary medical courses, correct?

What medical focuses are there, really?
Gah, to tell ya the truth I'm not even sure on which branch yet...

I'm looking at the Navy...but Idunno really.
Wana get this all planned out soon so I can dove into it ASAP.

"Prospective medical students can apply to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, which offers a salary and free tuition in a program leading to a doctor-of-medicine (M.D.) degree. In return, graduates must serve for 7 years in either the military or the Public Health Service."
-Job Opportunities in the Armed Forces (the "officer training" section)

How does that work?

I'm honestly seriously confused.
I probable sound really uninformed here, but I need info and I'm still learning the whole military organization deal.

With ROTC or any path to officer commission, you'd "automatically" enter the service as an O-1.
From there would I enter Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences, or is that prior to commissioning? No idea. I don't speak Bureau of Labor Statistics.
After graduating from USUHS with an M.D, I'd serve a minimum of 7 years as an officer in a given branch?

Talk to meh people, I'm ignorant.
I want to serve human-kind through medicine...I want to serve my nation through military service...and I want a career that will allow me to stretch my cranial muscles big time...
Thats all I know at this point. Info helps, recruiters don't. At least not around here. The second I even speak of commissioning, they shut down on me and all of a sudden don't have information except for the little pamphlets(spl) that I can barely understand.

Ok heres the deal if you want to to med route.

Apply to any college of your choice, major in biology and mior in chem, or dual maj. (Some schools have a "pre-med" focus, you maj in biol but all your classes are geared towards med school and the MCAT) During this phase you can do ROTC or not..wont realy matter since you wont sign for commision here

Next you need to maintain 3.5 GPA or higher and do well on the MCAT...apply for med school or the armed forces school, and get accepted. Both ways you can get a full ride, if you go to a civi school I believe it's called the AMEDD scholarship or some such..pays for everything ad you owe X amount of time to the branch of your choice. And the other option is the school you talked about.

Ahh here it is its the HPSP scholarship...heres a link http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/hpsp.jsp
at bot of page therse a PDF with more info.