Military career decision as an officer or enlisted as emergency medicine.?

Question

I am deciding on weather or not to join the USAF or Navy as either enlisted or go OCS after college. I want to get into a career of emergency medicine as either a paramedic or flight nurse after all my education, so my question is what is my best path? In the military I am looking for some kind of training where I will leave the service with EMT-P Paramedic certification or higher. Any Ideas?

Answer 1

Well first, to be a flight nurse, you must have a BSN , BS in Nursing.

There are no military jobs, that train you to the paramedic level.

You can be trained to the EMT-l or EMT-ll level.

But you would have to get your EMT-P certification in your off duty time

By taking class's locally.

Answer 2

Since you are looking at the EMT-P Paramedic field, I would recommend that you seriously consider enlisting as Navy Corpsman (USAF/Army "medic").  I do not believe that you would find that the USAF would provide you anywhere near the medical experience you can get serving as a Navy Corpsman.  Corpsmen also serve the US Marine Corps, and some get combat field experience -- which could provide valuable experience were you to pursue an EMT career.  

I cannot think of any areas that would provide direct medical experience following the OCS route, unless you get a degree in nursing and wish to become a USN nurse.  

Answer 3

First of all I think the Airforce is a good branch to join if you are married, have a family and like shorter deployments and safer ones at that.

However, my husband joined and went in as enlisted and we do not like it what so ever. He did not get the job he originally wanted and is stuck now in some dead end job that he can hardly benefit from once he gets out, and his shop treats him like c**p. He is the only one of his rank that has had to go on two 120 day deployments while all the other guys sneak their way around it and get lucky with a 60 or 70 day deployment. They make him go through so many obstacles just to take a week of leave, and then are rude about it. By the way, he hasn't taken a day of leave in a long time..he has over 30 days saved up, and they are still making a fuss about it. All the guys do is complain and whine at work, and act like know it alls and boss everyone else around.

So, I know Im doing a lot of whining myself, but what I am trying to say it...Go OFFICER! You will hopefully get treated with a lot more respect!

Good luck!

Answer 4

This is very complicated actually!

In the Air Force, Nurses are Officers but the Paramedics and what they call IDMTs which are essentially EMT-P are enlisted.  If what you want is to be a paramedic, it seems like the fastest way to get there is to go enlisted right away and get started on training.  If you think that having the nursing degree would help, then perhaps finishing up school first would behoove you.

I am not sure how confident that you can be of getting medical career fields on enlistment, but I do know that if you start into your OCS in a nursing slot, if you graduate you will be in the nursing career field.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Well getting into the medical field in the Air Force will be difficult right now but four years from now it might not be as hard. Navy however could take you now. The choice is really up to you, either path would work great. Officer=better pay, more respect. Although enlisted will earn you what you need quick you get straight to the point of learning your MOS in AIT. Really it's just up to you when you want to join if you wanna join now and get started with a carrer go enlisted. If you wanna take your time go to college then join when you are more sure.

Answer 6

Officer if you can get the commission to go into emergency medicine. If you stay in for 20 years after commissioning, then you will get retirement pay, and possibly double pay if you play your cards right as a civilian. As far as enlisted, you would need to see what benefits you may get if you stay in long enough. If you are not going to get out as soon as you get educated, then just enlist. And it's whether, not weather.