68W
68W (often pronounced as 6 8 Whiskey using the phonetic alphabet) is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for the United States Army's healthcare medical specialist, also known as the combat medic. 68Ws perform countless roles alongside every soldier in the military. Whether they were marching with the infantry, riding with convoys, or working in a field hospital, they are trained to perform their job in any situation. Most health care specialists can and will work in home station hospitals in the emergency rooms and on wards, as well as unit clinics along with, or in the absence of CNAs' LPNs, and RMA/CMAs. The 68W health care specialist will and can also work as the senior enlisted person in a clinical setting, as well as the Platoon Sergeant of a medical platoon in field units. As senior personnel, the 68W will have various collateral assignments that must be performed, such as daily, monthly, annual training and counseling sessions for soldiers to better help them in assisting with the treatment and education of patients who visit the clinic along with self improvement. As of current the only civilian equivalent for 68Ws is Emergency Medical Technician, or upon completion of courses prescribed through MSU (Mountain State University) they may receive an Associate's Degree in medical assisting. There are educational programs at some universities which offer a technical degree in the Emergency Medical Sciences, and allow the 68W to grow in the medical field. Many 68Ws have gone on to become Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Doctors, and Healthcare Administrators with extra training through continuing their education. Below are some colleges that offer an Associates of Applied Sciences technical degree in the Emergency Medical Sciences
Sand Hills Community College-Raeford, North Carolina Fayetteville Technical Community College-Fayetteville, North Carolina Pennsylvania College of Technology-Williamsport, Pennsylvania Clark State Community College-Springfield, Ohio Concord Community College-Concord, Hew Hempshire Northern Virginia Community College Tidewater Community College-www.so.cc.va.us/vccsasr/proguide.html Florida Community College at Jacksonville - Jacksonville, Florida
Responsibilities
- 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
Skill Levels
- 10 is the basic entry level Combat medic (e.g. 68W10)
- 20 is a combat medic with the rank of Sergeant (E-5)
- 30 is a combat medic with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- 40 is a combat medic with the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- 50 is a combat medic with the rank of Master Sergeant/First Sergeant or Sergeant Major/Command Sergeant Major (E-8 or E-9)
Skill Identifiers
- F5 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)
- 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)
68W was formerly known as 91W and before that 91B
History
Recently known as 91W, the MOS was changed effective October 1st 2006. Formerly known as 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, these soldiers are shipped to Fort Sam Houston where they undergo Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for 16 weeks. During these long weeks, soldiers will attend many courses that teach them the various medical tasks that they need for years to come. To maintain their MOS they must also maintain an EMT 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 which may consist of tons of research at time and critical thinking.
In addition to skills taught at the AIT level, 68W's may, at the request of their unit's Physcian's Assistant (PA), attend any number of requested advanced topics. These topic are generally prescribed per each units functional role. For example a front line combat medic (aka "line medic") may learn about advanced trauma treatments including veinous cutdowns, placement of chest tubes, or use of specialty hemorrhage control methods such as Chitosan patches or "Quikclot" (tm). In the case of those attached to medical units, they may learn and administer medications which result in more definitive treatment than their civilian counterparts are allowed to. Unknown to most, field hospital units don't usually have a large amount if any 68WM6s (LPN) so they use the combat medic who is readily available and partially trained. Hopefully the future will allow for an independent duty medical team or personnel to conduct operations in the absence of qualified health care providers.
In order to take their training to the next level many medics opt to become EMT-I or EMT-P certified. The Army also has a IPAP which is 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 combat medic, these medics are required to become EMT-P. 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.
ABLS Advanced Burn Life Support
See also
Related Sites
 | 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 |