68W AIT at Fort Sam?

Question

I was just wondering what the ait is like for 'health care specialist'

Is the schooling pretty intense, and how hard do you really need to study? Also, how strict is it? Do they still give you weekend passes, and let you spend nights off post? I have a friend in San Antonio who I'd like to see while I'm down there.

Answer 1

I loved AIT at Ft Sam. When I went through we still got smoked quite a bit, but we also had more privileges.

You will go through an EMT-B course. In the civilian side this course is around 6 months long, but the Army has crammed it into about 2 months. After that, you will do more field training. The field training is very good. You will learn how to do IVs, patient carries, and the whole "Combat" side of Combat Medicine. Additionally, you will get some time at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC, pronounce BAM-C). The better you do during the EMT portion AIT, the better assignment you get at BAMC. Some people got lame assignments, but others got to help in the ER, the ICU, and some got to sit in on surgeries.

Outside of training AIT is still very good. There a place called the Hacienda not far from the barracks. All day it plays movies in a little theater that you can watch for free. On Fridays and Saturdays they serve beer, and there is also an arcade and pool tables there. San Antonio is a $15 cab ride away from Ft Sam. You can see the Alamo and eat very goot Mexican food on the Riverwalk.

There's also lots of little things to like about Ft Sam. The food was better than at Ft Leonard Wood. There's Pecan trees around the Fort, and fresh Pecans are so good! It is nice and dry (it rained 3 times during all my time there). It has a good PX. All in all, Ft Sam is one of my favorite bases.

Answer 2

The school is pretty intense if you have trouble retaining a lot of info in a short amount of time.  16 weeks is not very long to learn what they are teaching.  I made it through without studying at all outside of class, but some people are different.  As for the off-duty fun, it is awesome.  After the first few weeks they will allow you to stay out on the weekends unless you have to pull fireguard that weekend.  Even then, you only have to be there during your shift.  You can go back out again.  But, you have to pass the diagnostic PT test to be allowed this privilege.  After a few more weeks  you will be able to leave post after duty hours even during the week.  I think they have a 2100 recall during the week.