Hoping to join the Army National Guard and become a flight medic / looking for unit contacts. Can anyone help me out?

2019-09-07T01:25:43-04:00

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

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2019 9:13 AM

2019-09-07T09:13:24-04:00

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.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2019 9:23 AM

2019-09-07T09:23:24-04:00

Is there not a med detachment in Los Alamitos, Ca?

Response by Kyle Adams made Sep 7 at 2019 6:30 PM

2019-09-07T18:30:36-04:00

Another question to add to all this... what would the day to day be like for a 68W attached to a air assault batt?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2019 2:51 PM

2019-09-14T14:51:00-04:00

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.