Posted on Sep 7, 2019
Kyle Adams
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Hi first post here. I am looking into the possibility of joining the ARNG. I am located in San Diego, CA and researching units close to me. Are there any flight medics out there willing to answer a few questions?

1)Should I wait and attempt to get it written into my contract or will I have to get stationed at a unit and compete for a spot?

2 I also have seen units referred to as a AA (Air ambulance) and Medevac; do the missions vary between the two?

3) So far the "closest" units to me include: (Mather, CA) C Company 1-168th Medevac, D Company 3-140th Det.2 AA, and F Company 2-135th Det.1. (Phoenix, AZ) C company 5-159 det.1. Am i missing any? and is anyone on here a part of those units that I could talk with?

Thanks everyone for your time and I look forward to talking to you.

Kyle
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SPC Combat Medic
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I’m not a flight medic but I do know some info for you. I’m active army and will be starting the process to become a flight medic soon. I don’t believe you can enlist for flight medic on your initial contract. You can re enlist but I pretty sure you can’t get it from the start. Go to the 68w course and then when you get back you can start the packet to become a flight medic. Also be mindful that the ARNG does not have as many slots in things as active duty so you may want to be a flight medic but that may not need to you be one. If that’s the case they won’t send you to the schooling you need because it will waste there money. As far as units around your area I don’t know anything about them. I would say though to consider going active because the class that you want is in a higher demand and you can have that chance to go and be a flight medic.
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SPC Combat Medic
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Kyle Adams I think that would give you a good base before you jump into being a flight medic. Calculating drip rates and understanding medications and how they effect the body on top of how elevation effects different portions of things can become very confusing very quickly without those solid basics down packed. Whiskey school gives you a very strong base to start at. Good luck on everything
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Kyle Adams
Kyle Adams
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Thanks again. I have been told that since I am EMT certified already I could test out of some of the training. However I have told it's a great refresher with lots of army related information, so I'll probably just attend everything.
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SPC Combat Medic
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You actually don’t have to test. They just confirm that you have the NREMT B and accelerate you to the whiskey phase of your training. It cuts your time in half but I would make sure you study before you go just Incase you have forgotten the basics.
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SGT Flight Medic
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SPC (Join to see) Little bit different on the NG side of the house. You can typically secure a slot of a flight medic assuming you can pass a flight physical. I know multiple people who have done it. It also helps of you are already a paramedic instead of a basic.

Kyle Adams also consider the reserves they also have medevac detachments. Which I beleive may have been the detachment referred to in Los Alamitos. Pretty sure a guy I went through with is in that unit.
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SPC Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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I'm a medic in the reserves, which works generally the same as the NG with some exception. I don't believe I have ever seen anyone NG/R get this written into their contract to begin with. I know I was offered a slot last year but turned it down because of work/college stuff being in the way at the time. As far as I know, it's about a year long training process where you pass your medical stuff and then go to jump school (If it was explained to me correctly). Getting a slot would have required me to change units to one in mid-Texas. I live in Missouri, so it wasn't a financially safe option for me since I own a home in Missouri and couldn't' just uproot and go without a huge hassle. I know they are more likely to take someone and train them for these slots if they have a lot of time left on their contract. I believe you can see what slots are available for each if you can get a retention NCO to cooperate with you to see if they're completely full on their slots often, or if they're short most of the time. This will give you an idea of how hard it will be to get a slot. :) Hope this helps.
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WO1 Ierw Student
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Is there not a med detachment in Los Alamitos, Ca?
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Kyle Adams
Kyle Adams
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The recruiter I talked to said no, but there is the 1st Assault Battalion, 140th Avn there. I dont believe they have a helicopter assigned to medical, although they have an the medical cross in some of their pictures. That was an option presented to me as a 68w however I am confused if they do air medical or if I would be just doing check ups.
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SPC Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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Kyle Adams - I believe those units are just 68W slots and then you go to jump school. Like.. you would be a "flight medic" but not the actual MOS slot of one, if that makes sense.. as in.. a medic who can fly. You wouldn't get the Paramedic schooling, and would only have EMT. If you're interested in just being medical and flying, this could totally be an option, but I would 100% check to make sure what you'd be getting into.

Another thing to consider is, most units (reservist side) like this allow you to RST (which means drill with another unit closer to you) on non-essential drills. The unit I was looking into would allow me to RST to all but 4 drills I believe. You would just have to find a unit that would allow you to RST with them and submit your RST days to your company. (I'm assuming this all works the same in the NG as the Reserves, but I could be mistaken since it's payed by the state technically?)
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SGT Flight Medic
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SPC (Join to see) no need for jump school as there is no requirement for a flight medic to be jump qualified. Also to be able to perform the duties of a flight medic they have to be paramedic. So they cant just be an EMT or a "medic that flys".
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MSG Platoon Sergeant
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There is in fact a medical detachment, and an area support medical company. Both are up North, and neither have the mission for Air Ambulance.
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