First answer: warrant officer. If memory serves me right the
highest-ranking medic is a SWO...... can anyone confirm?
2nd answer: you're right when you say that he hardly shoots. In my
two years as a medic, I've gone for innumerable outfield trainings,
and I dare say that I've fired off less than 1 mag of blanks. The
medic and the PS are the last men, and if they have to shoot,
something is really wrong.
What do you mean by 'excess baggage' though? 'Useless'? I sure hope
that's not what you're thinking about. Sure, he doesn't shoot much,
but that's because he's right at the back of the platoon. When the
casualties start coming in, though, he is anything but 'excess
baggage'.
