Posting: SMM, Combat Medic Course

last SG · 2005-09-20T22:32:53+00:00

Even if you tio Medic, maybe you can request to be in the service side? Then you won't have to carry all those load and chiong.

Luc85 SG

I'm posted to the above-mentioned vocation.

Any seniors or people who can give more info/advices on the Combat Medic course? (I've surfed the SMM website already.)

Should I just go through the course or should I make an request (appeal) for a change in vocation? I've called the CPC regarding the appeal and they advised me to speak to my S1 or the officer-in-charge when I report to Nee Soon Camp on Monday.

My case is, I'm considered small sized (1.65m) and my back already aches very badly when I carried my FBO as I have mild spine curvature. I knew combat medic has additional load (e.g. stretcher, medical packs...etc.) when there are outfield trainings and unit exercises.

I was actually rather shocked when the posting page loaded on miw.com.sg. By the way, I'm in the PTP/BMT Enhanced Batch POP-ed on 6th Sep 2005.

LazerLordz SG

Well, this vocation gives you whatever you described.It’s a vocation in a support sense, has a chance for you to be a 3SG, combat pay too.

wuming78 SG

hm.. so are you unhappy that they posted to as a combat medic when you are suffering from back problems, or that they didnt post you to advance schools for commanders?

well, with your back problem, i think you shouldnt be going for either of them.

CKtalon SG

On the 1st day, you will be asked to fill up a medical questionaire..Highlight your back problem and a Medical FFI will be held for you shortly after u fill up the form..Tell the MO there..(hopefully you get Dr Yeo S C, try not to get a fit looking Dr Lai.. Very Happy ..Dr Lim W Y is quite OK)

Bring any specialist letters/MO memos there to show to the MO..He may allow u to revocate to service medic or a total new vocation will be given to you..He may even put u on KIV for next course..and you will be a TSS for the next 3 months..From there see how Wink

the Bear SG

to me, this is one of the few vocations which skills you can actually use in civilian life Laughing

by the way, i'm STILL a combat medic...

2 slipped discs and 1 pinched nerve later, and "promises to downgrade me to C9L9" i'm still one

go.. it's about one of the most honourable vocations you can have in the military Wink

dk999 SG

You can try appeal to CPC, but I doubt it helps... if genuine medical problem, see a specialist, then the MO.... and pray.

But in any case, as pointed out, you shouldn't even hope to go commander school if you think you have any medical problem because those are the places that will most likely aggravate your problems.

As for being a combat medic.... only a portion of combat medics actually get platoon medic, which is the one with the heavy load....

My suggestion is to go thru the course, and pray for a nice cosy medical centre job.

3SG for medics is currently..... in a state of chaos.... so don't put too much hope into it.

See you monday

LazerLordz SG

Stay as a medic.It’s a great vocation that leaves you with a lifelong knowledge of basic first aid.

Gordonator SG

see u on monday. Laughing

kuekj SG

well, i was one batch earlier in the medic course but I am a service medic. yeah the sergeants are quite good and I learnt a lot of good knowledge.

just report on monday, indicate on the forms and they will send you for FFI. Nevertheless, hope you can stay on as a medic, be it combat or service.

Seek, Save, Serve, Medic! Very Happy

NathanG5 SG

when i book in everytime..always wonder which of the RP is u.. Mr. Green

ezrafear SG

hi, anyone going to report to nee soon at 8am ? they didn’t really say what to bring for the stay-in items , so i guess just bring along FBO (pack 1~7) ?

willgoh SG

I would like to clarify this statement

"As for being a combat medic.... only a portion of combat medics actually get platoon medic, which is the one with the heavy load...."

Whether you are platoon medic depends on
1. What is your medical status?
2. Which unit you go to? Infantry, Armor,Arty etc.
3. Where MO and senior medic post you?

You are in COMBAT medic course. You are trained for combat. I.E. you are expected to go to field!

Often as a rule of thumb in army, a fresh out medic need to orientate from platoon to company to battelion. AND even if you are a battelion level medic, you need to go field in FBO and BCS bags! and the weight is no less than a platton medic.

In infantry context, 1 platoon need 1 medic, 1 company 3 platoon + 1 medic 3SG. 1 battlelion 3 rifle company + 1 support + 1 HQ. So what is the chance of a battlelion medic????

From my experience, Never leave your posting to fate and prayer! Fate often deals a nasty hand to you!!!!!

fudgester SG

Well, I was a combat medic. Truth be told, I didn't want a siong posting, and my heart sank when it was revealed that I was posted to 3 SIR after my combat medic course.

Even then, I really hoped that I would become a BCS (battalion level) medic, and my hopes went up when my MO told me that he wanted me to stay on as a BCS medic. Still, I got posted to one of the rifle companies - as a platoon medic.

I won't lie to you. The course itself will be easy. It was already pretty welfare during my time, and it's even more welfare now (guaranteed nights off every week... even during the first week!).

But being a platoon medic is going to be one of the toughest things ever. I didn't get any respect or whatsoever from the men - medics are supposed to be one of the most honourable vocations in the Army, but they are also one of the most derided. I got picked on by them a lot - it didn't help that I was more highly educated than them and they have a suspicion of all those who are more highly-educated. I swear to God, I didn't treat them any differently from my friends, but they still picked on me anyway.

People keep having the mentality that all medics are slackers, and there's not a thing you can do about it to correct that misperception. When I tell others that I'm a medic, they exclaim that I'm a slacker, even though I'm a chiong sua warrior and they get to do admin jobs. Mad

But I kept my hopes up, and did my best, and eventually I became a company medic and got my three stripes. Things got much better after that, and the men who used to pick on me somehow no longer had the balls to do so any more. Bloody cowards. Confused

Anyway, the bottom line is, don't be too surprised that there are people who will look down on you for your vocation. At the same time, though, remember that for every one of those people who looks down on you, there are many others who look to you with respect.

As a final note, be proud of who you are, and who you will be - the person who saves lives. The man who reduces suffering and hardship of others.

Good luck. Smile

LazerLordz SG

Certain BNs only have one medic. Laughing

willgoh SG

Seems like you don't have a good time with your unit...

True enough. Medics are the touted to be the slackers of army. That is becoz most pple get their ideas from medical centre medics (BMTC?). But actually, after you go through one or two mission wif them, they will know how tough we are!!! Really!!!

tarutaru SG

come back to this qns a medic only have 2 IV pack assuming platoon have 3 medics so we have 6 IV pack but in time of war most of the injuries need IV pack so who are u going to give since they are bout 30 pax in a platoon…..

lwflee SG

Look, some medics, probably the service medics, are indeed incredibly slack. It is hard not to feel distaste for people who, whilst you are running your arse out, ride around on bicycles humming in a oh so carefree manner. And then they tell you to run faster. AND, they are pretty helpless most of the time anyway.

That said, i think being a medic is great is terms of transferable skills. I do not know what civilian accredition SAF medics get (i suspect only CPR), but trust me, when you are in further studies and are looking for a part time job, your experience as a medic can only be a boon.

fudgester SG

Well, we medics get accredition for CPR. After the dunking case, we all had to be accredited to use the AED (automated external defibrillator). You know, that device where you get to place paddles on the guy's chest and yell 'CLEAR!'.... Only the AED is slightly different in the sense that it's automated instead of being manually activated.

Well, what we learn is parallel to what the SCDF paramedics learn. The combat medic course is essentially two courses in one: a paramedic phase where you get to learn exactly the same things as SCDF Level I paramedics, and a combat phase where you learn lifesaving skills on the battlefield. At the end of the course you get two certs: one for Paramedic Level I, and another for Combat Medic.

If you do make it to the Spec II course, you'll be learning Paramedic Level II procedures, as well as more advanced Combat Medic training. Once again, you get another to certs to reflect this.

And yeah, I admit to using the certs to make my resume a little more impressive when I was applying for vacation jobs and scholarships. Nothing wrong with telling employers that I can do some first-aid, I hope. Embarassed

fudgester SG

Erm.... No. Each platoon has only one medic. There are a total of only four medics in the entire infantry Coy.

So for the entire company, there are only 4 x 2 = 8 IV packs.

So infusion is only for the most serious cases where a lot of blood has been lost. I don't like it either that there are enough IV packs for only 8 casualties in a company of 100++ people. However, there has to be a balance between the number of packs a medic can carry and the number of lives he can save.

Mind you, every extra IV pack he carries is an additional 1kg of weight. It doesn't sound like a lot, but out in the field, every single ounce of weight counts.

My MO tried to mitigate this by assigning one box of dressings and one box of IV packs to the store tonner of every rifle company. Even then, it's not always that the store tonner can come down to the Company Casualty Collection Point.

I'm not trying to be cavalier about this.... but that's the way it has to be.

seancannot SG

Quite surprise so many Medic here

As a reservist Medic myself, I must say the standard and quality of training has improved since my active time.

The instructor I had in the past never serve their time in unit , no expereince , infusion skill also sucks big time.

I was thinking then they should have got those season old bird in the unit to go back to SMM as instructor

Yes and I agree what we learn are quite useful but limited application in our life.