Becoming a combat medic in the Army is something that is widely misunderstood. Many people visualize something like an EMT or nurse stationed at some hospital somewhere around the world. While certainly there are those types of positions, your chances of landing those are slim during a time of war. Also, those positions often go to the soldiers who have been serving for quite some time. New soldiers rarely are put in hospitals during war time. Becoming a combat medic or 91Bravo in today’s military is relatively easy if you qualify for the Army and you are an intelligent person.
The first step to becoming a combat medic is to sign up for the Army. Any number of sign up stations are located in most cities, and talking at length with your recruiter can help you to understand what will happen to you. Be sure you understand the opportunity before signing up as there is no turning back.
When you sign up, you will have to pass certain rigorous tests physically and mentally. The physical side is to show you can handle the rigors of war, and the mental side is to see what jobs you might be good at. Doing well on the mental test will give you many more options. If you qualify high enough, then being a medic will be an option for you.
The next step you will go through is boot camp. Needless to say you will need to pass all of the stages of boot camp, and do so with flying colors. The medical field in the Army is considered a bit of an honor, and if you do not perform you will quickly be moved from the program. Combat medics are absolutely vital to the safety and protection of a Unit, and they want the best out there.
After boot camp, you will be sent to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas for medical training. The vast majority of 91B’s are sent here, and the training is serious. Not only is it hard, it is taxing both mentally and physically. You will be pushed to the absolute edge of your abilities, and the vast majority will not make the cut. At least 40 percent will flunk out before finishing.
If you graduate at Ft. Sam Houston, you will be assigned somewhere in the world to be a combat medic. Once you reach your duty station, you will be given a medically related job. Sometimes this will be out in the field with the soldiers, and sometimes it will not. It will depend upon the needs of your unit, and likely how good you are at your job. Some other jobs that you might end up with include:
- Sick Call
- X-ray
- Lab work
- Drawing blood
- Equipment Detail
- Pharmacy Tech
These are only a few of the positions you could end up doing. Often a unit will rotate you through various positions until they find the right one for you. Becoming a combat medic is not a cut and dried position. You do what is needed, and constantly work through schooling to advance your value and knowledge to the Unit.
