Say I wanted to join either the Marines or Army as a medic...?

Question

Does anyone have the slightest idea or estimation on what battlefield medic mortality rates are? I mean, not for the patients, but the medics themselves? I've always wanted a career in medicine, and lately im obsessed with the marines... :3

Answer 1

First: My information is dated. I was Navy from 1960-1985.

Second: For women the chances of seeing action are slim. Combat units, at least to my understanding, do not take women... in any capacity. I've heard that women get assigned to rescue and extraction helicopters. Admittedly, sometimes those missions can be a little.... shall I say, "exciting"?

Third: A corpsman on the ground (with a combat unit) was a prime target in Vietnam. A corpsman can keep a unit fighting. Also, at least at the start, Corpsmen wore helmets with a red cross painted on it. And they only carried a side arm. The only person carrying only a side arm in a unit was the officer in charge and the Corpsman. Both are prime targets. First thing cogent Corpsmen did when they hit the ground was to get rid of that cross and acquire a rifle. Casualties were high.

Fourth: The Navy (at least back when) didn't have sub-specialties. The Corpsman did it all. From sponge baths and bedpans to battle-field surgery. In some smaller commands the Corpsman was the only medical expertise within shouting distance. Usually, in the latter instance, he'd be an E-6 or E-7... that position wouldn't go to one fresh out of Corps School.

Don't join anything on an obsession. This is a major decision. In the Navy you get awesome training. Almost certainly you can challenge any exam for EMT or nursing... except perhaps those questions relating to rules and regulations. EMT's and Nurses aren't allowed to operate to prescribe medication. Corpsmen can... and do.

Answer 2

The Marines use Navy Corpsmen, Navy personnel assigned to the Marines and it used to be an option when you went into the Navy. I do not know now but in Korea, Vietnam and in the Pacific theater in World War 2 the rate was higher for Corpsman-the Germans played better by the rules the toe opponents in those cases. I am guessing in Iraq it is about the same since most of the causalities are IED type. The others made a regular practice of taking out the medical people, targeting them, though this is against the Geneva Convention. You would find the Marines are very protective of "their" doc's so that is a good side of it-the corpsman and medics both put themselves at risk for the wounded they are supposed to watch out for so it is hazardous when the other side doesn't play by the rules. Twenty years in the Marines and have the highest regard for the Navy Corpsmen who serve as Corpsman with the Marines-they are among some of the bravest and most dedicated Marines I ever met.

Answer 3

First Point of Contention:

In the Army they are called medics, in the navy and marines they are usually called Corpsmen (or Corpswomen?). The US Marines draw their medical care needs from the Navy Hospital Corp (hence, they are technically not Marine medics).

I am not sure if WIA/KIA mortality statistics are sorted by the Department of Defense. The number on Wikipedia of enlisted US Navy medical personeel KIA since 1861 is about 2000. Being wiki I'd have to advise you take it with a grain of salt.

You'd need some kind of MOS reference first though. There are a slew of different ratings from pharmacist's mate to surgeons and even specialists like plastic surgeons.

Answer 4

I am in the army and have a lot of medics for friends.
They all have different stories about the battle Field some good some horrible.
If you can handle knowing that a soldier is alive today because you were the medic that was their to save his life.Then go for it and if we all worried about the odds we would not have been soldier enough to raise our hand and sign on the dotted line

Good luck on your decision and maybe you might be the medic I thank one day.

An Old Guard Soldier

Answer 5

Marines do NOT have medics. They use Navy Corpsmen.

Navy Corpsmen have the highest percentage of CMH holders in the Navy..and possibly the military across the board.

Answer 6

This training circular (TC) focuses on validation of skills and continuing education (CE). It provides the commander guidelines for the Medical Education and Demonstration of Individual Competence (MEDIC). The goal of this endeavor is the knowledgeable precise administration of mission oriented critical tasks on which the tactical combat casualty care (TC-3) of injured soldiers depends. The philosophy of TC 8-800, dated June 2002 was largely based on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians – Basic (NREMT-B) skill set. This version is based on TC-3 principles as explained in chapter 16 of the Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Manual, 5th edition.

To ensure utmost proficiency and preparedness, the Surgeon General has directed that soldiers with military occupational specialty (MOS) 68W (Health Care Specialist), regardless of additional skill identifier (ASI), demonstrate their medical skills ANNUALLY. This TC explains how commanders use the selected individual tasks and skill sheets addressed in this publication to develop, implement, and validate a training program to enhance and demonstrate the critical skills proficiency of these Soldier Medics. The tasks selected for training and testing address the three leading causes of preventable death on the battlefield: hemorrhage, pneumothorax and airway problems. These are the critical life-saving skills indispensable at the point of
wounding.

http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/68w/

http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/

US Army 15 years
OIF 2003

Answer 7

My hat goes off to anyone in the medical field. I joined at 17 to be on tanks in a combat unit. We trained with medical all the time. It's a great job, but not for me. The training you go through, to be in the line of fire and not wanting or being able to fire back, that takes guts. It's easy for me to be in a fire fight and being engaged. But to save lives? Wow!

I never came across a female medic in our training. I know they were out there, but during Desert Storm, we only had male medics with us.
When I was injured, I did see a lot of female medical personal back at the rear hospitals (tents).

These guys put their lives on the line for others, but we also leave our lives in their hands.

Answer 8

Let's put it this way.

They are out doing missions on the front lines getting shot at etc.

Most medical personnel are going to be back at base tending to the wounded with "EMT" like soldiers at or near the frontlines to provide immediate medical care.

Depending on where you're placed. No risk-slight risk.

Answer 9

I served 13 years in the Navy and did 3 Gulf tours of duty.
If you are asking that question then you really shouldn't join.
If you are going to join the military then you have to expect to go to war and face alot of risks. This is nothing to join if you are looking for college benefits. AKA GI BILL

Answer 10

it all depends on what youre doing, there are medics who just work in the treatment facilitys on bases even in iraq they get to where they are gonna work and never leave the base again..then again there are medics who roll out with the troops everyday, the thing you have to think about in this one is the medic might be the most valuable part of that team so they are gonna protect him/her til the death...

JUST A SIDE NOTE: your question shouldnt be what are the chances of me getting killed, they should be how many troops are out there getting killed and what are the chances i can help them. once you join the military it stops being about you and it starts being about "US" the people standing next to you