Question about joining as a Medic

[Eye In The Sky]

Airborne troops need medics too.........

Maybe one of the PAs on here can confirm but I believe there is specialty trng avail for Med Techs on the dive side, as I know there is a PA at FDU (A) and would assume he/she has some dive qual due the nature of dive ops/medicine.

 

[Future Prodigy]

I was wondering what the typical (i say typical, solely because there are obvious exceptions) career progression for a med-tech was? I remember reading on here that various fields promote slower/faster than others - one that comes to mind is the artillery officer.

*Brain Fart* As a extension of the above question... is the QL progression really as slow as the members on here make it seem? I am interested in the field of EMS (always have been drawn to the 9-1-1 and EMS related fields) but after reading many threads on here i have become a bit weary. One such example: No med-tech is allowed on a foreign tour of duty, in the capacity of being a medic, until they are QL 5. The problem is some say this can take 6-7 years to get, which is a extremely long time to wait till you get to utilize your training in a tour of duty. I remember reading along the lines of one has to serve for 3 yrs past your QL 3 then you are placed on your 10 week QL 5?

To quote, a disgruntled member here (concerning the down sides of the med tech profession): "I think one of the major downs is doing your time as a QL3 in the cage (Fd Amb) and waiting to get on your QL5 course.  After just under 3 years as a medic (not including time for basic and my medical training in Borden) I was still not slated for mine.  When you start out (most likely in a Fd Amb) there is a whole lot of vehicle maintenance and slinging canvas.  This was of course during my period (2000-2003) and I can't state truefully what things are like now.  My only saving grace while in the cage was the field exercises.  It is in the field that you get a good chance to challenge yourself and put your skills to use. 

The amount of pain that you endure is totally up to you.  If you work hard and keep on your studies (and have a little luck on your side) you will be presented with more appealing opportunities.  After your time in the cage you could get lucky enough to be moved to an ambulance company (AMB COY) were you will have ample opportunities for taskings.  You get paired with a QL5 and finally get to do what you were trained to do.  You can also be placed in a BMS (clinic) to further your skills.

Eventually you will be sent on your QL5 course and come back fully deployable.  My advice to you is to have patience and work hard and you will eventually get what you want."

 

[Future Prodigy]

If you are joining just to be a paramedic....Don't.

We do far more then that.  If you come to Fd Amb in Petawawa, you'll be too busy to take the courses.

I keep reading this over and over again but I still can not figure out what it means. Could you elaborate?

 

[medicineman]

Medics can do Airevac and  Med Supply (if it's still available) as medic specialist courses - you can also do Basic Para (and other advanced parachutist training as well), Ship's Diver, Mountain Ops/Instructor, Rappel Master, that sort of stuff (if in the right place at right time and or brown nosing the right person  :).  They used to be able to do Basic Dive Medicine, but getting people on it below the rank of Sgt is like pulling hens' teeth (even Sgt's now, due to the cheesy 2 week 6A course).  PA's can do Basic and (I believe) Advanced Dive Medicine and Basic Aviation Medicine (mini-Flight Surgeon), as well as the above.

I'm sure I might have missed some, but you get the idea.

MM

 

[PMedMoe]

even Sgt's now, due to the cheesy 2 week 6A course

Didn't that change yet?  IIRC, the new one is going to be 2-3 months.

 

[PMedMoe]

I keep reading this over and over again but I still can not figure out what it means. Could you elaborate?

While I won't claim to speak for Prairie Dog, I believe he meant that at the Fd Amb you are far too busy to take civilian courses, if you joined the military just to get a boost your paramedic qualification.  Read the post just above the one you quoted and you'll get the context of what he meant.

I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong. 

 

[Future Prodigy]

you're probably right. I tend to view multiple threads and can mix up things. Either way, it has been mentioned numerous times, in the context of comparing civie paramedics with military med-techs, that they are so different and can not be compaired. Yet, no one seems to have elaborated on this. I read an entire thread about it, but not much was flushed out.

 

[Civvymedic]

I guess Im doing things backwards Ive been a Paramedic for 10 years, done alot and realize theres more to do in the CF...If only my PLAR could be worked out....well see.

 

[Future Prodigy]

Yes it is possible.

AFIK, Loyalist in Bancroft does not accept the JIBC programs, so you have to do the majority of their part time program.

You need 400 hrs ridealong, plus clinical rotations plus doing the exams. It is allot of time and money when you do not have a whole bunch of either. We just don't get the volume of calls the make it worthwhile, and there is not a whole bunch of spots avail here either.

I only know of one person who has done that here in Pet, and it took her 4 yrs to complete the partial course she needed to complete. We are just too busy here to do that.

Prairie Dog - could you explain this comment to a ignorant outsider. I am confused, for you say you do get the amount of calls needed for certification but yet you are always busy. I am discerning joining as a med tech but I continually read this sort of rhetoric and do not know what it means. What sort of other work are you busy doing, if not medic calls (yes, i am that clueless).

 

[Armymedic]

could you be an ignorant outsider with a quote more recent? I am not sure if that statement is current anymore as  many things have changed in the last 2-3 yrs.

 

[Pea]

I'm on a current PCP program at the JI in BC, so I'll share what little info I have.

Upon completion of the PCP program, it is now mandatory for us to take the licensing examination in BC. (the military is paying the licensing fee) When you pass these exams, you are now a licensed PCP in B.C. Our program coordinator has been looking into how this PCP license transfers to other provinces. She's in contact with the various licensing organizations in the other provinces. From what she has told us, the JI's PCP program is becoming very widely recognized across Canada, especially once you've obtained your license in B.C. It still varies by province what demands must be made to obtain one's license, however she has said that it's looking really good for it to be a straight transfer throughout most of the provinces, in the near future. As of when she last spoke to us, she said that the B.C. license pretty much straight transfers over to an Alberta license without much work needed. (you have to pay the licensing fee of course) As for Ontario, she has said that we need to do the licensing practical exams, but that the written exams & 400 on-car hours will be waived if you have the B.C. license. (I am not sure if it is at this point yet, but she said if it isn't, it will be there soon) I am not sure where the licensing transition stands in the other provinces, as she was still looking into this for us. (AB & ON were the main ones we were asking about)

Please do not take any of the above as gospel, as it is only what we have been told, and I haven't verified it personally.  However, I do believe that the Civilian recognition of Med Tech training is definitely approving, especially since we are now obtaining PCP licenses in B.C. (I don't know anything about the Franco program in Montreal, or where it stands licensing wise)

Feel free to ask any questions you have about any of the QL3 training, as it is all pretty fresh in my mind.

 

[Future Prodigy]

could you be an ignorant outsider with a quote more recent? I am not sure if that statement is current anymore as  many things have changed in the last 2-3 yrs.

I tend to lurk in the crypts quite a bit. However, it does seem repeated over and over again that those who are in the military side of things are constantly busy but not necessarily with calls. So, I am curious as to what this is... I have heard grumbling about warehouse work, and what not, is this the type of work you mean? Basically, I am making a comparison chart between the civie and military side but I am having a hard time finding information - It's the impression from my readings that military med-techs get less actual field time than their civie counterparts on the streets, is this so? I keep reading comment's like you need to be able to put up with the BS, in relation to waiting for QL courses, and the monotony of warehouse work in order to survive the trade.

 

[Armymedic]

Basically, I am making a comparison chart between the civie and military side but I am having a hard time finding information

I have said it before and I will say it again:

There is no real comparison between what civilian paramedics do and what military medics do. There is a reason why we send our very jr medics to learn prehospital care. That is because it is the basics of trained medical care. Its protocol based, and mostly what to before and during moving the patient to someone else who knows what to do for them. Every medic has to have a base in emergency prehospital medicine because, in addition to everything else we need to know, because it is every medic needs to take care of the ABC, regardless of the element, enviroment or setting.

Further, you are fully employable as a Med Tech until you are complete your QL 5 course.

Being a Med Tech in the military is SO much more than running around in an amb.

 

[ModlrMike]

Allow me to answer some of your questions, and perhaps clear up some misconceptions.

Progression in the MedTech trade is similar to all other CSS trades. QL3, then QL5 at/before 4 yrs service, QL6A at about 7-8 years service, PA trg at about 10-12 years service. I can absoluty refute the notion that QL3 MedTechs don't go on tour. I have several of them over here now, and they're doing great work. Garrison life is no comparison to field life, and any routine can become boring and life draining.

Progression comes down to one word: excellence. Excellence in you medical skills, your military skills, and your leadership potential. Some move faster than others, some don't.

 

[Pea]

Another point to add is about the above quote saying it takes 6-7 years to get one's QL5 qualification. You need to realize that a lot of the info you are reading is outdated. Some of the info you are reading is from 2004-2006. You don't things have changed in 3+ years?

This past winter when I was in Borden on my Clinical QL3's, there were two QL5 courses at the school as well. MANY of these members were "hooked" privates (approx 3 yrs in), as well as a fair amount of "no-hook" privates (less than 3 yrs in). (and of course a variety of Cpl's as well) A fair amount of them had only done their QL3's 18-24 months previous. That right there tells me that the "wait time" is nothing like it was before.

Our Career manager met with us just a few months ago, and he also stated that most of us will be back for our QL5's within a 2 yr time frame. Of course none of that is a guarantee, but it does tell you that things are changing/have changed.

 

[Future Prodigy]

Being a Med Tech in the military is SO much more than running around in an amb.

This is what i was hoping someone would dive into, and explain more fully.

 

[medicineman]

This is what i was hoping someone would dive into, and explain more fully.

What he's trying to say is that you aren't doing gazillions of ambulance calls unless you're in an operational setting that requires it, on a base that regularly handles ambulance calls or on maintenance of competency.  In a clinic or field ambulance or UMS, you do primary care stuff (sick parade), maintenance of equipment, other sundry activities such as looking after your vehicles, field equipment, radios, weapons (if you're in such a unit), refresher environmental training, being on course for some such thing somewhere out of area, etc, etc, ad nauseum.  It's not all running around scooping up the sick and broken - quite the opposite unless you're in a scary place.

Hope that helps.

MM

 

[medicineman]

Last I heard they were looking at it - have yet to see it though.

Don't care - just finished my orals yesterday and passed.  CAPA on Monday.  Grad Tuesday.

MM

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Last I heard they were looking at it - have yet to see it though.

Don't care - just finished my orals yesterday and passed.  CAPA on Monday.  Grad Tuesday.

MM

And intoxicated shortly there after  ;D

 

[medicineman]

Better than even odds - mess dinner that night.

MM