Can medics go to sniper school or pathfinder school?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:29:48 -0400

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Jun 25 at 2018 6:51 AM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:51:31 -0400

Pathfinder yes, with an MOS waiver... sniper... most likely not

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2018 7:49 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 07:49:46 -0400

Being a sniper would interfere with your duties as a medic and would violate the Geneva Conventions

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2018 9:37 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 09:37:51 -0400

Most units will not send someone to a school that will provide no value to the unit. What I mean is, they probably won't send you somewhere like sniper school for you to come back to the unit and be a medic. They want someone who comes back from that school to be a sniper.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 25 at 2018 9:55 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 09:55:32 -0400

I'm sure that there isn't exactly something that says that thy can't but why would the army waste money sending a doc to such schools? Medics are not going to function as designated marksmen or pathfinders???

Response by MAJ Milan George made Jun 25 at 2018 12:15 PM

MAJ Milan George — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 12:15:05 -0400

It’s all dependent on what paragraph and Line number you’re sitting in. I don’t see how a medic would be in one though, unless you were in a pathfinder unit.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 25 at 2018 2:49 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:49:19 -0400

Why not work your way into the SF field? They need Medics too!

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Jun 25 at 2018 4:24 PM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 16:24:32 -0400

Pathfinder? YES. You will need to do some research on the request. There is a small MEDEVAC portion in the course, this could be your way in with a waiver. You must show to your chain of CMD, that you going to the school will benefit the unit as well as helping you out. It will also allow you to take on other duties like setting up PZ/LZs for various types of aircraft. This will also help with the MEDEVAC portion. It just may help out if you are an NCO or at least a SPC(p).

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 25 at 2018 5:12 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 17:12:02 -0400

Not normally, not in the medical MOS. They fix folks, not kill them, except in self-defense of them/patients,

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2018 6:10 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 18:10:08 -0400

They are not going to send a medic to sniper school. Medic's are highly respected. Is there a problem with being a medic?

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Jun 25 at 2018 10:38 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 22:38:35 -0400

I was trained to sling out my Q4 radar and did a number of times. I rigged it and slung it. We rigged are own tower and slung it. Now you have to be pre-qualified. Wow and I thought it was weird having to be qualified to use a lawn mower. Where is my pathfinder patch?

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2018 5:40 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 17:40:07 -0400

Sounds like you’d be happier as an 11B.

Response by SPC Herb Jorgensen made Jul 20 at 2018 7:15 PM

SPC Herb Jorgensen — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 19:15:32 -0400

Well the one question is why would one who takes the medical oath want the sniper MOS.One it is unethical,and prohibited under Geneva.Now as a PFC consider the after service element of medical services in the civilian sector.So you have a choice to consider your MOS change as combat medic.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 7:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 19:59:40 -0400

Pathfinder yes, sniper no. Must be Infantry or Cav scout for sniper school.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Dec 13 at 2018 7:28 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 19:28:36 -0500

Would suggest you consider switching MOS’s there young man! I believe one individual posed a very good suggestion - SF! Your eyes might open quite a bit and might get the best of both worlds, depending on what you so seek!

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Sep 6 at 2019 6:26 PM

SPC Phil Norton — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 18:26:55 -0400

No a medical mos can't be cross qualified in a mos that is a combat mos or sniper Pathfinder it goes against your Hippocratic oath you took as a medic however you can go specops to see more action

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2024 9:57 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:57:22 -0500

As a medic assigned to an SRT, my unit submitted my name for counter sniper school; however, they snagged me on the Geneva Conventions thing. What was confusing was, when they assigned me to that position, they took away my “Red Cross” ID. With that being said, we had a flight doc that was cross trained as a “sensor operator” and flying Reaper missions after clinic hours. That was a deal struck to get him to take the less than choice assignment into the middle of nowhere installation in the sand.