Jan

14

Becoming An Air Force Medic

Filed Under AFMS Careers 

There are two primary means of becoming an Air Force Medic: the first way is to enlist in the Air Force and be selected to train as an AF medic in one of dozens of medical career fields, such as lab tech, pharmacy tech, medical services tech, physical therapy tech, and so on.

Generally, people who enlist in the Air Force have not completed a college degree, and work as technicians. These people are often referred to as the “backbone” of the Air Force, because they make up the majority of people in service and accomplish the majority of the work. Basic training for enlisted AF medics is seven weeks at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, followed by specialty training at either Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, or Brooks Air Force Base (also in San Antonio). The length of the specialty training depends on the specialty: for example, a healthcare administration technician spends only six weeks in specialty training, whereas more advanced training for radiology technicians can take more than six months. Once an Airman has completed basic and specialty training, he/she is then transferred to their first “real” Air Force base to begin serving as an Air Force Medic. In civilian terms, the enlisted medics are the EMTs, LPNs, pharmacy techs, business office staff, and other para-professionals.

The other way to become an Air Force medic is as a commissioned officer. To become a commissioned officer in the Air Force Medical Service, you must have completed at least a bachelor’s degree and usually a graduate (professional) degree. Commissioned officers in the AFMS are the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, psychologists, and such. In civilian terms, the officers of the AFMS are just what they are in civilian life.

I’ll have more information soon about the how/what/where of basic (enlisted) training and officer training for Air Force medics.



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