PFC Med

68 Whiskey, Health Care Specialist (sounds like you'll work in a hospital, most of us went to a combat unit)

June-October, 2007 (note, they still had Drill Sergeants for my AIT, but now there is just Cadre, I don't know how that changed it, but I doubt it did much other than take away the Drill Sergeant pay and make the NCOs more cranky.)

 

 Bravo Company 2/54

The first 8 weeks consist of Emergency Medical Technician training and certification. Most people who failed out of AIT did so here. Classes started around 8 pm and went until 4:30, with a 10 minute break every hour plus lunch. DON'T FALL ASLEEP, Red Bull is your friend, pray they vending machines are stocked. Take good notes and try to study up on the lessons for at least a half hour before you go to sleep. Once you receive your EMT-Basic certification you go to the "Whiskey side" where you learn the tactical stuff. This includes setting up an aid station, Tactical Casualty Combat Care, battlefield medications, giving IV's (you will practice on each other, don't be a wuss) and so on. It's easy academically, and a lot of it is outside, away from the power point slides.

 

This is capped off by a field training exercise about a week before graduation. The easiest way to get through that is to be motivated beyond stupidity . Have fun, work hard, and be very freaking loud. It's easy as long as you all work together, if you don't, be prepared to carry 200 pound litters all day.

 

We were given phase 5 privileges about 3-4 weeks in. This means you can leave the base during weekends (IF they release you), smoke, drink (can't drink within 8 hours of the next formation, but normally Friday and Saturday nights are open), and wear civilian attire. Get a 70% GPA and pass your PT test to recieve it. Though many of the Cadre didn't give a dang about it by week 8 and let us go even without phase 5, there were 2 or 3 inspections where lockers were searched and clothes were confiscated, it's just easier to do good in class and pass the pt test.

 

Bonuses: a) If you are already nationally certified by the NREMT as an EMT-B you can skip the first 8 weeks (and much of the smokings). Must be nationally certified. b) If you do AIT in the middle of the summer (July- September) it's too hot to do some of the outside tactical stuff late in the afternoon, you go to 'reverse cycle' where you wake up for formation at 2 am but you are done by 2 pm. No PT and more personal time.

 

If you already have an AKO account, you can go to this website to take a look at lesson plans, powerpoints (75% of the course is death by powerpoint), and so forth. NOTE: I did not see any tests or material that can help you cheat. Do not cheat, it could mean someones life. 

https://www.us.army.mil/suite/collaboration/comm_V.do?load=true&ci=4994

It's a toss up, if someone messed up in the previous weekend, cadre are quick to take away your time. The one time my wife came to see me, we only got a few hours together because I was in formation most of the day.

When off duty, all electronics are allowed. Phones, laptops, MP3's, etc. We spoke almost every morning and every night. Also, there is a computer lab available with internet access. It's a life saver.

 

Describe the graduation ceremony.

Snore, I told my wife not to come. All I wanted to do was get out of there. After graduation we were held for much of the day because barracks 'weren't clean enough.' All we could do was look at our families in the parking lot and wait.

Don't expect to have your own room like the Drill Sergeants in basic liked to tell us. I was in a bay with 90 other men... Some other companies only have 30 man bays, but if you are a medic, you won't be getting your own room. Lady medics, I feel sorry for ya, 90 women in one room equals a ton of drama.

Look into the additional skill modifiers for this MOS. You may be able to get a school right after AIT for Nurse (M6), cardiologist tech, kidney dialisis tech, or others. It was rumored that they weren't going to allow soldiers right out of basic into Mike 6 any more but I don't know about the rest. Get it in the original contract, if you don't, you won't have another chance until reenlistment.

Riverwalk in downtown is great, you can get there for $2 by bus or $12 by cab. Excellent resturants, cool mall, great bars, and the people of San An love you. Head on down to Durty Nelleys for a great Irish pub and live music!