Posted on Jun 24, 2016
What should the physical requirements for 68 W be?
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68 CMF physical requirements just came out for 2017. The 68W has 12 task to complete from skill level 1-4 while skill level 5 has 11 task. Each task involves the medic wearing 98 lbs of gear and typically carrying, dragging or picking up weight around 54 lbs-200 lbs for some distance around 300 feet. Additionally they should be able to travel up to 12 miles with 98 lbs worth of gear
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
Health
Fitness
Readiness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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24 years I served as a medic. Never, even when I served with the Infantry, did I need to carry 98 lbs worth of gear. EFMB, EIB, Best Warrior, and several other badges and qualifications I can't think of right now, have road march requirements. I know the EFMB is a 12 mile march in under 3 or 4 hours(it's been awhile), but the pack is no where near 98 lbs.
If I had to guess, these new MOS specific physical requirements are nothing more than an other tool to kick good soldiers to the curb.
If I had to guess, these new MOS specific physical requirements are nothing more than an other tool to kick good soldiers to the curb.
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1SG (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - they all have the same physical requirements. No such thing as a MEDAC Medic. That is a 68C. Nurse, not a medic.
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SGT Amy Tribou
as a prior 68W, if you have on all the typical gear IOTV, etc., and a fully stocked aidbag, which in my unit included 4 IV kits, and your ruck,(MOLLE) you have more than your 98 lbs right there.
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SGT Edward Wilcox
I served, as a medic, with the infantry(mech), the military police, the engineers, a medical center, a CSH, and an ambulance company. Never, in all that time, in all those units, did I need to carry 98 lbs worth of gear on my person. Even when the infantry performed dismounted maneuvers, and that was often, I did not carry that much gear.
The argument can be made that the light infantry would need to carry that much, and I would not disagree(mostly because I have no experience there), but I cannot understand how an Army wide standard can be set based on such a small section of the overall strength of the Army.
The argument can be made that the light infantry would need to carry that much, and I would not disagree(mostly because I have no experience there), but I cannot understand how an Army wide standard can be set based on such a small section of the overall strength of the Army.
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SGT Chester Dodd
This 98 pounds is possibly coming for the new body armor...that alone is like 25-30lbs...
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador but there is(should be) no difference between the two. A whiskey should have the knowledge and physical ability to flip back and forth at the drop of a hat.
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1SG (Join to see)
Why would you choose to test the weaker requirement, when they can be sent forward and expected to perform the harder task? It is called "readiness."
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As a Line Medic, we owe it to our platoon to be able to perform physically no matter the challenge. As someone above noted, a MEDCOM medic is a whole different job and that's why I'd like to see there be two different MOSs developed. Make hospital personnel accountable to the tasks they need to be able to do best, and leave the Doc's in the platoon to conduct POI medicine.
Short answer? No it's not unfairly diffucult. Every medic should be prepared to find themselves in a line platoon; however the reality is not everyone who holds the MOS 68W is cut out to be a line Doc.
Short answer? No it's not unfairly diffucult. Every medic should be prepared to find themselves in a line platoon; however the reality is not everyone who holds the MOS 68W is cut out to be a line Doc.
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SPC (Join to see)
SFC Matthew Norman - I can understand that. I was never planning to find myself in the shoes of a senior NCO, so honestly I'd never thought of it that way before.
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