As a medic, do you find it difficult to get the opportunity to attend resident military courses, other than field san?

2015-12-11T05:35:48-05:00

Why have I recieved so much push-back to get myself and my medics into schools or classes. For example, a previous unit wanted to get everyone in the company into FBCB2-JCR training, except the medics. I fought to get a slot and was fortunate to get it. But since then, the only classes that medics have been pushed to go to is Field San.

I would love to learn DTMS, ATN, IRT, UMDT, Ammo, Hazmat, Safety, intructor, etc. This is especially true for promotion points for myself and the soldiers whom I am pushing to go to the board.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 5:45 AM

2015-12-11T05:45:04-05:00

Get with your PA. Does he/she give a shit about the medics? If so perfect! Sounds like your unit has a serious case of "doesn't give a shit about its medics, just pull coverage"

So now when ever your unit has training and any of those courses can be even slightly considered: No can do. Medics are not qualified

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 9:52 AM

2015-12-11T09:52:29-05:00

SSG Michael Hathaway , just keep fighting for yourself and your Soldiers. When I was in Germany our unit sent us all to Hazmat/Safety/EO/UPL, etc... but I've been in units where medics had to fight. Sometimes units will say they want people with longevity to go to these classes to be s force multiplier. Just keep fighting, don't give up. All it takes is for one individual to change out.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Dec 11 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-12-11T12:14:23-05:00

I have never had an issue, you gotta bend the ear of someone with their foot on the pedal, try to get training way out and project the training.

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Dec 11 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-12-11T14:02:29-05:00

I too experienced that through out my career. It is very frustrating. The conclusion I realized was many units don't send their medics to those schools because they don't want their medics to be taken off their duties as a medic. Medics are one of the few positions in an Infantry/Armor unit that actually does their job in garrison and in training exercises. So, if medics are tasked to other duties, they are taken off the job.
And, many times, the 1SG/CMD team wants to take care of "their kind". I can tell you many stories about confrontations I've gotten into with leaders and those in the way of getting my Medics into those courses.
Set up an incentive plan, with buy in, from the command. Us APFT, Weapon Qual etc as incentives to get your hard chargers in those courses.

Wally

Response by SGT(P) Crystal Marie Gray-Wallace made Dec 12 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-12-12T20:41:24-05:00

Yes! I have given up!

Response by SSG Bradley Peterson made Dec 15 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-12-15T11:18:17-05:00

I found it's about the unit. I went to more schools in LRSC's, Regiment, and RTBn than I did in my two short tours in MEDDAC. But even there I went to USAMRIC Hospital management OF CBRN casualties, force protection, HAZMAT, Instructor H Identifier. Grab yer sack, call branch, ask for a V slot LRSC, RNGR, or RTBn. Even a V in 82nd ABN Diversion will get lost in the crowd. You will get what want if you have the sack for it. And don't do it just for The points, go to OCS if you wanna be a ticket puncher!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 2:27 AM

2015-12-23T02:27:41-05:00

It's near impossible in a BRIGADE full of them and you are PFC. More often then not they give the slots to a 6 year Specialist, who's been at the unit forever and just now has decided to go and get Sergeant.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 9:19 AM

2016-01-30T09:19:09-05:00

Your command would be more willing to do these things for you if you can convince them that it would be a battle field multiplier. You need to do your research, get your facts, and see if it meets the command training guidance. If you can sell it that way it would be a great way of doing it. I have done it many times that way. The thing is, you are going to have to sell it to your S-3 officer, get him on board. Training funds are hard to get because you are limited. The training dollers are forecasted 12-24 months ahead of time. So what you are asking that commander is to pull some resources off already funded training to do what you are asking to do. That is hard to do, not imposible, but hard to do. Your best bet is to convince your S-3 that this is a command priority, so that it can get funded in the next 12-24 training cycle. Your S-3 has the ear of the commander, he is the key to getting the commanders to sign on. Good Luck, MSG (R) Knoop, 68W, S-3, Brigade Operations NCOIC

Response by SPC Michael Mullins made Apr 22 at 2016 9:13 PM

2016-04-22T21:13:11-04:00

It is a problem I ran into as a TL, the best way that I can put it is the medical platoon in a CA Unit is its own entity, the lower enlisted don't belong to HQ during training and they don't belong to the Companies/Troops in garrison. My best advice is play the two sides if HQ won't send you soldiers try the Command in the Company/Troop they are assigned to as the slots are spit between the Battalion/Squadron's subsidiary units.