This post is about the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge. This is a badge that Army medical soldiers compete for. Medical and Soldier skills, physical endurance and gut power are all tested. The competition tests intestinal fortitude.
I was competed for the EFMB in September of 1990. Desert Shield had just kicked off. I was a new medic still wet behind the ears. I needed this. The competition was hosted by our sister unit, the 1st bn / 75th Rangers. I was in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ( Airborne).
I was still a teenager when I earned my EFMB. It was a test of fortitude.
The hardest part of the course was the day time land navigation course. I barely passed. I would not trust my compass. It was a learning experience. The last even was the 12 mile road march.
I passed out after the march and needed IV Fluids. It was worth it. I had my EFMB badge punched into my chest.
I wish that soldiers would be allowed to wear both the combat medical badge and the expert field medical badge. The Combat medical badge is awarded because of circumstances. A combat medic with a combat unit engages the enemy. The EFMB is earned by meeting established standards.
www.armycombatmedic.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Transitioning from the military
How can I get my military experience, training, leadership, learned skills to equate to a similar job when I get out of the military. For the enlisted medic no such thing really exists. Yea you are certified as a EMT. So are a bunch of high school kids who take the class as a elective.
What then ? College, Just finding any job ?, Settling or starting over ?
Its a big issue that soldier soon to be veterans are going to face. Do you want to do something similar to what you did in the service ? Do you want to go to college to expand on what you learned while in the military ? What about just finding a job so you can make a decent paying living.
I struggled with this issue myself when I got out of the active army. I had no way to learn how to market my skills, I just looked at the technical skills that I had and what they equated to. That got me nowhere, plus I did not know how to look. I worked at Mcdonalds for several months making 5 pennies above the mininum wage.
My goal was to go to college. I had dreams to become a nurse or a physician assistant. What I did inbetween did not really matter. I went to school to earn my associates degree initially. I stayed out of the service for about a year and then I rejoined the service as a part time traditional National Guardsman. I called it getting my Green back in my book, My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom.
I made my military career more of a hobby and not so much as a second job. I enjoyed my service time as a part time soldier. I met and worked with some pretty awesome people, who are good Americans and people of influence in the local community. I worked with some kids right out of high school who had no idea what they wanted in life, but found the Guard as a means of income and for some guidance.
Many of my fellow enlisted soldiers had college degrees like myself who were satisfied with the job and rank and responsibility with the job that did in the military. Some people in the military have often confused rank with level of intellect. This is sadly incorrect. I knew several soldiers who were enlisted like myself who worked as lawyers in their civilian profession. They enjoyed the soldiering an being a soldier.
After I earned my associate degree, I worked as a registered nurse and then took classes to earn my bachelors degree. It was important to have my bachelors degree. I had desire to become a nurse practitioner , which is a masters to doctorate degree.
It is funny though, that veterans preference does not apply directly when applying for these healthcare type positions. I wonder if any military medics who aspire to work to still take care of their fellow brothers and sisters in a VA hospital are aware of this. They do hire veterans, but that veterans preference does not matter.
Veteran Preference is given to veterans to work for the federal government to give us veterans a fair shake at getting a job. Alot of veterans have been in war, exposed to combat, and are used to things being a certain way. Sometimes civilian employees frown on that when it comes to hiring veterans. Not all the times, I am making generalities of course. Working for the federal government after military service means that you can use your military service for retirment time and time in service. It helps.
Veteran preference does not always apply to every position, even when the veteran goes to school to learn a new skill, degree. This is true with the VA hospital. I can not understand why this preference does not apply.
It is an insult in a way to a veteran who wishes to advance him or herself and still take care of fellow veterans. Veteran preference does apply when you want to be a janitor but not when you want to be a registered nurse. Do they think that we are capable of nothing more than mopping floors ?
After earning my bachelors degree I deployed a year later to Afghanistan for Enduring Freedom. I served a year and change. It was interesting and I survived. I wrote about some of my experiences in my book: My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom. After I came home , I start school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. www.armycombatmedic.com
What then ? College, Just finding any job ?, Settling or starting over ?
Its a big issue that soldier soon to be veterans are going to face. Do you want to do something similar to what you did in the service ? Do you want to go to college to expand on what you learned while in the military ? What about just finding a job so you can make a decent paying living.
I struggled with this issue myself when I got out of the active army. I had no way to learn how to market my skills, I just looked at the technical skills that I had and what they equated to. That got me nowhere, plus I did not know how to look. I worked at Mcdonalds for several months making 5 pennies above the mininum wage.
My goal was to go to college. I had dreams to become a nurse or a physician assistant. What I did inbetween did not really matter. I went to school to earn my associates degree initially. I stayed out of the service for about a year and then I rejoined the service as a part time traditional National Guardsman. I called it getting my Green back in my book, My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom.
I made my military career more of a hobby and not so much as a second job. I enjoyed my service time as a part time soldier. I met and worked with some pretty awesome people, who are good Americans and people of influence in the local community. I worked with some kids right out of high school who had no idea what they wanted in life, but found the Guard as a means of income and for some guidance.
Many of my fellow enlisted soldiers had college degrees like myself who were satisfied with the job and rank and responsibility with the job that did in the military. Some people in the military have often confused rank with level of intellect. This is sadly incorrect. I knew several soldiers who were enlisted like myself who worked as lawyers in their civilian profession. They enjoyed the soldiering an being a soldier.
After I earned my associate degree, I worked as a registered nurse and then took classes to earn my bachelors degree. It was important to have my bachelors degree. I had desire to become a nurse practitioner , which is a masters to doctorate degree.
It is funny though, that veterans preference does not apply directly when applying for these healthcare type positions. I wonder if any military medics who aspire to work to still take care of their fellow brothers and sisters in a VA hospital are aware of this. They do hire veterans, but that veterans preference does not matter.
Veteran Preference is given to veterans to work for the federal government to give us veterans a fair shake at getting a job. Alot of veterans have been in war, exposed to combat, and are used to things being a certain way. Sometimes civilian employees frown on that when it comes to hiring veterans. Not all the times, I am making generalities of course. Working for the federal government after military service means that you can use your military service for retirment time and time in service. It helps.
Veteran preference does not always apply to every position, even when the veteran goes to school to learn a new skill, degree. This is true with the VA hospital. I can not understand why this preference does not apply.
It is an insult in a way to a veteran who wishes to advance him or herself and still take care of fellow veterans. Veteran preference does apply when you want to be a janitor but not when you want to be a registered nurse. Do they think that we are capable of nothing more than mopping floors ?
After earning my bachelors degree I deployed a year later to Afghanistan for Enduring Freedom. I served a year and change. It was interesting and I survived. I wrote about some of my experiences in my book: My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom. After I came home , I start school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. www.armycombatmedic.com
Monday, May 28, 2012
Remember Memorial Day.
Today is Memorial Day.
It not about going to a race, the start of summer, the opening of the swimming pools, or the end of the school year. The traditions are important, but mostly is it to honor the men and women who have died fighting for what they believe was right and just.
In your day today, remember someone who has fallen. Honor that memory with honor in a way you see fit. For soldiers at home, it might mean hanging outside the barracks drinking to fallen comrades, to civilians, it might mean hanging your flag out and going to the race.
I have some special soldiers in my thoughts and prayers this Memorial Day.
To me it is important to honor our fallen and to celebrate their memory and being, but it is also a sad day for me. http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
It not about going to a race, the start of summer, the opening of the swimming pools, or the end of the school year. The traditions are important, but mostly is it to honor the men and women who have died fighting for what they believe was right and just.
In your day today, remember someone who has fallen. Honor that memory with honor in a way you see fit. For soldiers at home, it might mean hanging outside the barracks drinking to fallen comrades, to civilians, it might mean hanging your flag out and going to the race.
I have some special soldiers in my thoughts and prayers this Memorial Day.
To me it is important to honor our fallen and to celebrate their memory and being, but it is also a sad day for me. http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
Thursday, May 24, 2012
My Favorite Organ... I dream of Kidney
Which organ is your favorite organ in the human body ?
I like the Kidneys. They have so much control. Blood pressure, fluid retention, angiotensin..
We always have to know what the kidney function is when we prescribe certain medications.
Blood pressure control is controlled in part by the beautifull delicate organs. http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
I like the Kidneys. They have so much control. Blood pressure, fluid retention, angiotensin..
We always have to know what the kidney function is when we prescribe certain medications.
Blood pressure control is controlled in part by the beautifull delicate organs. http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
The miracle worker.
We have two arms, two legs, two eyes, alot of things that come in pairs. Why do we have only 1 heart, 1 liver, 1 spleen ? I dont know, just think of the human body. The human body is so precious. It is the state of cooperation. All the systems have to work in unison in order for life to exist. Life is a miracle.
The combat medic must love the human body and for that matter life. Without either, the combat medic would be out of a job. In my book, I wrote a chapter called Dear New Medic. It is almost everything that I would want to tell a brand new medic who is just starting out. Because life is a miracle, then the combat medic is a miracle worker.
http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
The combat medic must love the human body and for that matter life. Without either, the combat medic would be out of a job. In my book, I wrote a chapter called Dear New Medic. It is almost everything that I would want to tell a brand new medic who is just starting out. Because life is a miracle, then the combat medic is a miracle worker.
http://www.armycombatmedic.com/
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom
I served in Desert Shield/Storm and later in Afghanistan as a medic.
Alot has changed in those years. A lot from the perspective as a medic.
The item that comes to mind is the field dressing. The old green field dressing
that tells you which end to apply to the wound. I honestly never found the field dressing to be a sturdy dressing and it would slip off easily. But I still packed them in my good old M5 medic bag. In reality they were just taking up space. Why, becasue I was told to. I started packing less and less of these dressings. I always kept a few in my bag though. Just in case. www.armycombatmedic.com
Alot has changed in those years. A lot from the perspective as a medic.
The item that comes to mind is the field dressing. The old green field dressing
that tells you which end to apply to the wound. I honestly never found the field dressing to be a sturdy dressing and it would slip off easily. But I still packed them in my good old M5 medic bag. In reality they were just taking up space. Why, becasue I was told to. I started packing less and less of these dressings. I always kept a few in my bag though. Just in case. www.armycombatmedic.com
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Warrior Healer
The Combat Medic is the ultimate Warrior Healer.
A soldier joins the army to become a warrior. That man or woman learn the skills that it takes to survive and acheive success ( live and kill the enemy, shoot, move and communicate) on the field of battle. This training is paramount to being a Warrior. This skill is further harnessed by training: going out to the field, training on specific soldier skills, staying in good physical condition and being all you can be.
The Healer part is the part I like more. That Warrior called the Combat Medic is also a healer. He or she knows how to unjam a machine gun, how to stay awake during guard duty and how to get on a secure radio channel like other soldiers, but they know how to heal.. To mend the wounds of his or her fellow warriors, to save the lives of those wounded in battle ( both friend and foe alike). That is is healer.
If it were up to me and I was President or Commander of Joint Chiefs of Staff, I would change change of the name of the MOS ( military occupational specialty) in the army from "Healthcare Specialist" to
"Warrior Healer". you must admit that is does have a nice ring to it !www.armycombatmedic.com
A soldier joins the army to become a warrior. That man or woman learn the skills that it takes to survive and acheive success ( live and kill the enemy, shoot, move and communicate) on the field of battle. This training is paramount to being a Warrior. This skill is further harnessed by training: going out to the field, training on specific soldier skills, staying in good physical condition and being all you can be.
The Healer part is the part I like more. That Warrior called the Combat Medic is also a healer. He or she knows how to unjam a machine gun, how to stay awake during guard duty and how to get on a secure radio channel like other soldiers, but they know how to heal.. To mend the wounds of his or her fellow warriors, to save the lives of those wounded in battle ( both friend and foe alike). That is is healer.
If it were up to me and I was President or Commander of Joint Chiefs of Staff, I would change change of the name of the MOS ( military occupational specialty) in the army from "Healthcare Specialist" to
"Warrior Healer". you must admit that is does have a nice ring to it !www.armycombatmedic.com
Doing radio interviews
I enjoy doing radio interviews and talking about what the combat medic is. It sheds some light on what the combat medic is, what the combat medic is not and brings exposure and some clarity. Plus I get a chance to plug my book: My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom.
Some people equate the combat medic to that of a nurse. In some ways, they are correct, in other ways, they are two totally different jobs. The job description of the combat medic and the job description of the nurse have some overlay but both go in a different direction. I can say that because I was both a combat medic and a nurse . I served in the combat zone as a combat medic, but worked as a nurse in my civilian job.
Lets talk about some of the differences. The combat medic can perform emergency lifesaving skills that a typical RN could not perform. Let me quantify the RN role. I am comparing an RN here in the United States to that of the combat medic in a war zone. An RN does not insert emergency trach tube, perform emergent needle decompression or stick in ET tube or Chest tubes. A combat medic does. The education and training of the RN is more intense and of much longer duration than the combat medic. The combat medics experience in emergency trauma stablization surpasses the typical RN. I know that this will make both RNs and combat medics mad when I say this, but it is my own opinion. I know that nurse practitioners and nurse anethetists can perform these roles, but I am not comparing advanced nursing practice to that of the combat medic. I can also say that become I am a nurse practitioner.
The initial training of the combat medic is several months, very intense and the training continues once the medic goes to his or her unit.
The similarities.. Both take care of the sick and wounded, Both must be compassionate in the care of others. I used to dislike the word compassionate in the past, but as I grew as a nurse, I learned that was compassionate about caring for my patients. The nurse, even a military nurse can not fully perform the function of a combat medic, because the combat medic is typically assigned a combat unit, the military nurse would typically have a hard time grasping some of the things that the combat medic has to do besides working on injured patients. The medic has other duties to include basic sick call, guard duty, health and welfare, The eyes and the ears of the moral , mental health, and stablity of the members of the fighting unit. Both professions could be trained to do each other jobs, a medic can go to college to become a nurse ( I did) and a nurse can go through AIT to learn how to become a medic.
Back to radio inteviews. Each time I interview, the radio host brings up a good point about My Journey as a Combat Medic. I love when a host extrapolates and gets me into the interview. I enjoy this because it brings exposure to the combat medic, makes people want to read My Journey as a Combat Medic and educated the public about the men and women who work as I like to call "Warrior Healers".
www.armycombatmedic.com
Some people equate the combat medic to that of a nurse. In some ways, they are correct, in other ways, they are two totally different jobs. The job description of the combat medic and the job description of the nurse have some overlay but both go in a different direction. I can say that because I was both a combat medic and a nurse . I served in the combat zone as a combat medic, but worked as a nurse in my civilian job.
Lets talk about some of the differences. The combat medic can perform emergency lifesaving skills that a typical RN could not perform. Let me quantify the RN role. I am comparing an RN here in the United States to that of the combat medic in a war zone. An RN does not insert emergency trach tube, perform emergent needle decompression or stick in ET tube or Chest tubes. A combat medic does. The education and training of the RN is more intense and of much longer duration than the combat medic. The combat medics experience in emergency trauma stablization surpasses the typical RN. I know that this will make both RNs and combat medics mad when I say this, but it is my own opinion. I know that nurse practitioners and nurse anethetists can perform these roles, but I am not comparing advanced nursing practice to that of the combat medic. I can also say that become I am a nurse practitioner.
The initial training of the combat medic is several months, very intense and the training continues once the medic goes to his or her unit.
The similarities.. Both take care of the sick and wounded, Both must be compassionate in the care of others. I used to dislike the word compassionate in the past, but as I grew as a nurse, I learned that was compassionate about caring for my patients. The nurse, even a military nurse can not fully perform the function of a combat medic, because the combat medic is typically assigned a combat unit, the military nurse would typically have a hard time grasping some of the things that the combat medic has to do besides working on injured patients. The medic has other duties to include basic sick call, guard duty, health and welfare, The eyes and the ears of the moral , mental health, and stablity of the members of the fighting unit. Both professions could be trained to do each other jobs, a medic can go to college to become a nurse ( I did) and a nurse can go through AIT to learn how to become a medic.
Back to radio inteviews. Each time I interview, the radio host brings up a good point about My Journey as a Combat Medic. I love when a host extrapolates and gets me into the interview. I enjoy this because it brings exposure to the combat medic, makes people want to read My Journey as a Combat Medic and educated the public about the men and women who work as I like to call "Warrior Healers".
www.armycombatmedic.com
Songs remind me of the combat days
Songs, they touch us, they inspire us, they make us think about a certain time. A good song can stay in my head for a while. Right now the song that is stuck in my head is Starship.. of course it helps when I am a trekkie at heart.
Songs can also bring back memories that are bittersweet or remind us of a time in combat. You dont pick the song that brings back a memory, that song jars a memory of a certain place, in the desert, on patrol or at a base camp.
A few songs remind me of Desert Storm. From a Distance is one song that reminds me of that war. Good song, good memories. The theme song to the movie Team America reminds me of my tour in Afghanistan.
When I was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, I used to go to a club /bar called Malones in Savanaha, Ga. I have sadly learned that the club was closed down. Another club/bar that I used to go to was called Congress Street Station. We would go into the bar, they would stamp us as being underage, but I would bring some alcohol pads with me and wipe off the stamp and quickly have someone of age make a copy of their stamp so I could drink. It was so easy to do !
www.armycombatmedic.com
Songs can also bring back memories that are bittersweet or remind us of a time in combat. You dont pick the song that brings back a memory, that song jars a memory of a certain place, in the desert, on patrol or at a base camp.
A few songs remind me of Desert Storm. From a Distance is one song that reminds me of that war. Good song, good memories. The theme song to the movie Team America reminds me of my tour in Afghanistan.
When I was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, I used to go to a club /bar called Malones in Savanaha, Ga. I have sadly learned that the club was closed down. Another club/bar that I used to go to was called Congress Street Station. We would go into the bar, they would stamp us as being underage, but I would bring some alcohol pads with me and wipe off the stamp and quickly have someone of age make a copy of their stamp so I could drink. It was so easy to do !
www.armycombatmedic.com
My book giveaway
I had a book giveaway on from facebook and the turnout was good. I am glad that people are interested in reading the story of a combat medic. The story of the combat medic is one that is not told about too much and I am glad to share that story in my book, My Journey as a Combat Medic: From Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom www.armycombatmedic.com
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