Special OPS Medical Sergeant

[Robo]

Anybody out there who was in ARMY special ops know about this MOS and what it's like. Good or bad experiences etc.

[Bob1234]

Since nobody else responded, let me tell you what I know...

First off, you have to be at least corporal before you can apply for special forces training. You then have to go through an assesment and selection phase before proceding on to the special forces qualification course. There you will be selcted for an MOS (weapons sergeant, med sergeant, etc.) based on your interests and abillities. If you are selected for 18D (med sgt.), you go through through a long an intensive training which covers everything from first aid to dentistry to veterinary medicine.
Then you go through a probationary period on an operational special forces A-team.


Go here and ask about being a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.
They can tell you what it's really like...
http://www.socnetcentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.pl?action=topics&forum=Special+Forces&number=2&DaysPrune=60&LastLogin=

Hope I helped,
Bob

[dmclark]

SF Med Course used to be approx 1 year and most training was at Ft. Sam in San Antonio. You'll do classroom and ward work on everything from simple contusions to minor surgery. You get involved in more "interesting" med stuff back at Bragg. Back in the old days, Meds at Bragg used to shoot goats and to practice and train on treating gunshot wounds, etc. I don't know if that's PC these days. There's probably some Save the Goats Group now.

Actually, I regret not having gone the Med route. Three years ago, ran into a B Team Detachment in the Chapare, Bolivia. Med Sgt was treating kids with worms, delivering babies and being the local Doc. Must be incredibly rewarding.

Good luck!

[zz25]

You guys are mostly right. I got off active duty last year (2 yrs ranger, 4 yrs as 18D). Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) is the best and hardest (yes, I'm biased but most will agree) MOS in the Army. The training is now conducted at Ft. Bragg, NC (since '96). The med training alone is 1 yr, plus the rest of the SFQC plus language school, brings it to 2 yrs of training before you go to a team. You have to be an E-4 with 2 yrs active duty to apply with high ASVAB scores and they like guys with some college since the academics are incredibly tough (I had a bachelors when I went in and it blew away college).

FYI, I don't know where you're looking, but Special Operations medic could also refer to the Ranger Battalion medics (you can do this right off the street, best way to get into SF) and the Special Operations Aviation Medics (160th) who go through half of the SF medic course but none of the other training. My medic class started with 89 students and graduated 12.....and that was after SFAS (selection 50% attrition) and Phase 1 of the SF course (50%attrition). It's a great job though. Good luck. Hope this helped.