68W

68W (often pronounced as Sixty-Eight Whiskey using the phonetic alphabet) is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for the United States Army's healthcare specialist, also known as the combat medic or "Doc".

Description

The primary role of the 68W in the United States Army is to provide medical treatment to wounded soldiers. These medics are sometimes considered the staple of Army combat functionality, as every squad is required to have a whiskey in attendance during any hazardous mission. They are found in every stage of medical treatment in a combat zone. Whiskeys initiate medical treatment at the accident or injury location, maintain medical treatment during evacuation to healthcare facilities, and provide medical treatment in the medical facilities. 68W10s are trained to perform medical duties in hazardous and challenging environments.

68Ws work alongside Army physician assistants, Army Nurses or doctors, under their respective jurisdiction and licensure. The work ranges from the administration of immunizations and collection of fluid samples, to obtaining vitals and initial information from patients and treating trauma, to surgical assistance and suturing. The 68W, oftentimes, must work in the absence of other medical professionals in Basic Life Support (BLS) monitoring and maintenance.

The 68W health care specialist can also work as the senior enlisted person in a clinical setting, as well as the Platoon Sergeant of a field unit medical platoon. As senior personnel, the 68W will have various collateral assignments, such as conducting periodic training and counseling sessions.

Skill Levels

• 1 is the basic entry level medic (e.g. 68W10)
• 2 is a medic with the rank of Sergeant (E-5)
• 3 is a medic with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• 4 is a medic with the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• 5 is a medic with the rank of Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) or Sergeant Major (E-9)

Skill Identifiers

• F6 is an Army Flight Medic
• M6 is the Army's Licensed Practical Nurse
• P6 is an orthopedics specialist (clinical)
• Y8 is an immunization-allergy specialist (clinical, lab)
• N3 is the Army's Occupational Therapy Assistant (clinical)
• N9 is a physical therapy technician (clinical)
• Y2 is the code used to identify those who have not finished the upgrade classes.
• W1 is a special operations combat medic (SOCM)
• P3 is an optometry specialist (clinical)
• Y6 is a cardiovascular specialist (Cardiac Catheterization Technologist and Echocardiographer)
• P2 is an Ear Nose and Throat specialist (ENT)

History

Recently known as 91W, the MOS was changed effective October 1, 2006. Formerly known by the MOS codes 91B (9 1 Bravo) and 91A (91 Alpha).

The Department of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel issued a notice for future change for the MOS 91B&C in September 1999. This notice established the transition to 91W to begin on 1 October 2001 and end on 30 September 2007. During this period all 91B&C will be given the identifier of Y2 until they complete the transition to 68W. To complete their transition to 68W many 91B&C must complete EMT-B which was offered but never required for any medic until now. Failure to conform to these standards has resulted in some medics having to reclassify into another MOS.

Training

Upon the completion of their basic training, future 68W10s are shipped to Fort Sam Houston where they undergo Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for 16 to 68 weeks, depending on their identifier training time. During these weeks, soldiers will attend many courses that teach them the various medical tasks that they require in their military career. To maintain their MOS they must also obtain and maintain an EMT, and CPR certification. To provide the necessary hours for their re-certification many medics go through extensive ongoing training for the rest of their military career. As with any medical career or profession, the medical personnel must be willing to be educated throughout their career.

In addition to skills taught at the AIT level, 68Ws may, at the request of their unit's Physician Assistant (PA), attend any number of advanced topics. These topics are generally prescribed per each unit's functional role. For example a front-line combat medic (aka "line medic") may learn about advanced trauma treatments including venous cutdowns, placement of chest tubes, or use of specialty hemorrhage control methods such as Chitosan patches or "Quikclot". In the case of those attached to medical units, they may learn to administer medications which result in more definitive treatment than their civilian counterparts are allowed to. Unlike civilian hospitals, field hospital units usually do not have a large number of 68WM6 (LPN), and instead use the combat medic who is readily available and partially trained.

To take their training to the next level, medics opt for EMT-I or EMT-P certification. The Army also has an Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) oriented toward helping medics become PAs through a two year school program.

And yet fewer medics choose to become 18D which is the Special Forces Medical Sergeant, these medics are required to become EMT-P certified. Some medics choose to enter special operations through the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course and are awarded additional skill identifier "W1". SOCM-qualified 68W personnel serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment (Ranger Medic), 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR Flight Medic), 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (CA-Med SGT), Special Operations Support Command, and in support positions of the special forces groups. Future W1 Candidates must pass the intensive 8 month Special Operations Combat Medic Course/18D located at Ft.Bragg,NC to be awarded the W1 identifier. The SOCM 68W is currently the most independent-duty enlisted medical personnel in the CMF 68 field. SOCM medics work independently within specific protocols; the scope of practice may be expanded during the absence of a medical officer. SOCM medics assigned to special operations units regularly attend advanced medical and military training after the SOCM course to maintain interoperability with special operations forces.

SOCM (W1's) Credentials include:

• EMT Basic
• EMT Paramedic
• ATLS
• BTLS/PHTLS
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• SOCOM ATP (Advanced Tactical Practitioner)

Responsibilities

The Health Care Specialist is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment, limited primary care and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness. Some of the duties as a Health Care Specialist may include:

• Administering emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties
• Assisting with outpatient and inpatient care and treatment
• Interviewing patients and recording their medical histories
• Taking patients' temperature, pulse and blood pressure
• Preparing blood samples for laboratory analysis
• Keeping health records and clinical files up-to-date
• Giving shots and medicines to patients
• Preparing patients, operating rooms, equipment and supplies for surgery

• Initial stabilizing treatment and triage
• Plan and conduct Evacuation from the field of battle and en route life support
• Preventive medicine
• Field sanitation
• Clinical medicine
• Supportive Care in the event of delayed transport
• Plan and Provide instructions for unit Combat Lifesaver programs

Plan and conduct Combat Lifesaver training

A Combat Lifesaver (CLS) is non-medic soldier with moderate emergency medical training to provide care at the point of wounding. Combat Lifesaver skills are intended for use in combat; however, the skills may be applied to soldiers in non-combat situations. The Combat Lifesaver is instructed in various techniques to treat and stabilize injuries related to combat. To include, but not limited to, blast injury, amputation, severe bleeding, penetrating chest injuries, simple airway management, and evacuation techniques. The Combat Lifesaver doctrine was developed as an effort to increase survivability in combat environments where the combat medic may not be readily available. The Combat Lifesaver is a bridge between self aid or buddy aid, and the Combat Medic (68W). The Combat Lifesaver can augment the Combat Medic, as needed. The 68W trains the Combat Lifesaver.

Skills of the Combat Lifesaver

• Basic casualty evaluation
• Airway management
• Chest injury and tension pneumothorax management
• Controlling Bleeding
• Requesting medical evacuation

See also

• List of United States Army MOS
• Army Medical Department (United States)
• Military medicine
• Battlefield medicine

References

STP 8-91W15-SM-TG SOLDIER'S MANUAL AND TRAINER'S GUIDE, MOS 91W, HEALTH CARE SPECIALIST, SKILL LEVELS 1/2/3/4/5

U.S. Army AIPD Course Curriculum ISO0873

U.S. Army Regulation 350-1

External links

• Official US Army Home of the Health Care Specialist (68W)
• Corpsman.com, A Site run by Doc's for Doc's, of all US Military Services.
• Experience Life as a Medic in America's Army game download on GoArmy.com

This military article is regarding a United States Army Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) designation. All articles in this category can be viewed at Category:United States Army Military Occupational Specialty