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Old 12-08-2004, 19:48   #16
SP5IC
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SF as PAs, MDs & Rns

Lads, I was a 91B2P when I went to SFTG. Since I had my time in San Antonio, I asked for weapons and got engineer/demo. In case you haven't noticed, 91BXSs have a very poor bedside manner. When I requested my file from St. Louis, I learned that I am a 91B3S and an expert with the M-16. Musta been the KD range in the rice paddies.
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Old 12-15-2004, 16:54   #17
DrJay
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18B becomes MD

I went to med school at the tender age of 35 (nine years ago). Let me tell ya, it was one long fucking haul....averaged 28 credits per quarter. Had to compete with those young bucks that had zero real world experience at anything, and could memorize pages of textbooks. Those first two years were hell. Now, third year, when we began to deal with living patients instead of case studies and pathology specimens, got a lot more fun (the poindexters were scared to go up and ask the patients questions). Finished in four years but some of the old farts in my class took an extra year (or two). I was surprised that I got a lot of attention from medical schools, until you consider the front of my application was filled in (all the job/ achievement crap) whereas the 4.0 crowd had, well, a 4.0 to brag about and very lilttle else. At Minnesota we had a lot of "nontraditional" students, ie folks in 30's/40's embarking on second careers.
It is a definite commitment to become a physician. One med school asked me my backup plan in case I didn't get in. I answered honestly; "go to PA school." Less time for the trainup, almost as good pay and it all boils down to helping sick folks get better. I've worked with some great PA's so it's nothing to sneeze at.
Gotta agree with the other guys though; this is thinking a decade or two down the road for you....
Doc K
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Old 12-23-2004, 01:37   #18
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Last edited by DoctorDoom; 07-29-2013 at 09:38.
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Old 12-23-2004, 09:48   #19
Doc
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanM
I had just read the post about retired medical sargeants that couldn't translate what they learned in SF to the real world.

SeanM
Can you show me that post?
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Old 12-24-2004, 22:13   #20
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Originally Posted by Doc
Can you show me that post?

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ead.php?t=1483

I was referring to Eagle5's post about the pizza joint.
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Old 12-24-2004, 22:23   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanM
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ead.php?t=1483

I was referring to Eagle5's post about the pizza joint.
Now, what we got here, is a failure to communicate!

TR
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Old 12-25-2004, 08:29   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanM
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ead.php?t=1483

I was referring to Eagle5's post about the pizza joint.
Thanks for the link.

I would have to disagree with that assessment because to me it's a little short sighted. The 18D course past and present was not designed to be a stepping stone into a civilian job. The people that created the curriculum don't want men to go through two years of training, spend one year on a Team and go elsewhere, leaving a Team with no Medic. No Medic means that the Team is non-deployable.

The EMT-P certification was approved to give 18D's the certification necessary to allow us to work in non-military Hospitals BTW. It was not set up strictly to provide an 18D with a job later on.

There are jobs in the medical field out there, and an 18D would make a great candidate for a lot of them, but you'll have to go through some form of training to get one for a variety of reasons. I was told that even with the NREMT-P certification, some states may still want you to get state certified, do a train up, etc. Kinda the same situation in reverse with some 18D students wanting to challenge the 18D course based on past qualifications.

Would a FP Physician tired of his job make a good 18D? On the FP side, he would be the go to guy for questions, but he might not be able to land navigate. If he can't find a point and get to an area on time, what' the point in having him? That's just one example and there are thousands more on both sides of this discussion.

I heard that there is talk in the Medical Head Shed at Bragg to get the 18D students through some type of PA certification within the existing course curriculum. They would not get nationally certified as a PA until right before they retired. Theoretically they would then enter the civilian world ready to go. I don't know the accuracy of that rumor and would not bet the house on it. I think it would be a long term solution to an age old problem we have in the community with keeping the best and the brightest. Some old school and new school heads will collide if this idea matures into fruition I'm sure.

The 18D training helped me and wally, no doubt about it, but we still had to go through some form of training to get our current jobs. We're both doing OK thank the good Lord.

Follow your heart. Don't do something you're not ready to go all the way with. The guys on the Team's deserve 100% of you and more.

Good luck.
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