Ranger Medic Recruiting

Caring for the warriors: How medics contribute to mission accomplishment.
Locked
RngrDoc75
Ranger
Posts: 61
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 6:57 am

Ranger Medic Recruiting

Post by RngrDoc75 »

Just because I have seen queries on here in the past, I will post the official response.

Ranger Medics are MOS 68W personnel with the ASI “W1” and SQI of “P” or “V”, so a medic in the Regiment holds either MOS 68W1PW1 or 68W1VW1 (the 4th digit number designated by rank/skill level). (68W is the Army MOS formerly known as 91B)

Ranger Medics are recruited from 68W AIT and the Army abroad. Generally, skill level 1 (E1-E4) are recruited at Ft Sam Houston and E5 and above from the Army abroad. Both require Ranger Medic Application Packets. Application packets can be downloaded from the official Regt website at: https://www.infantry.army.mil/75thrange ... /index.htm (at the bottom of the website). The vast majority of Ranger Medics are recruited at AIT as privates and grow to be NCOs in the unit. On the other hand, there have many Big Army recruited medics that have been very successful in the Regiment.

Ranger Medics attend the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program either through the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) or the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP) depending on their rank level. SGT and below attend RIP and SGT(P) and above attend ROP.
Upon completion of RIP, a skill level 1 medic attends the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC) at Fort Bragg, NC. Incoming NCO Medics attend RIP or ROP, then Pre-Ranger, Ranger School and then the SOCM course. No medic is assigned to the Regiment without completing the SOCM course. SOCM is a 6-month course taught at Paramedic level with a heavy focus on trauma and military medicine. SOCM is the first half of the 18D SFMS course and is required for all medics assigned to USASOC units. Currently, SOCM graduates are certified as a USSOCOM State Advanced Tactical Practitioner (ATP). There are initiatives in the works to change the certification back to NREMT-Paramedic and/or a State certified Paramedic. Regardless, SOCM medics are trained at and above the DOT Paramedic standard. Ranger Medics owe the Regiment 2 years after SOCM graduation (unless otherwise decided by the Regt - i.e. the good old RFS).

Ranger Medics are Rangers just like every other Ranger and undergo all of the training inherent to the mission of Ranger units. Medics are organic to Ranger companies and platoons and go with and do everything that the platoon does (training and combat). The Ranger Medic is on virtually every mission a Ranger unit undertakes as an assault force asset until he needs to perform his duties as a medic. Medics attend Ranger school just like everybody else based off of order of merit in the unit. Most medics have the opportunity to attend Ranger school within their first 12 months in the unit (just like everybody else). If a medic does not go to Ranger school in those first 12 months, then it is probably because of himself not being ready to go physically and mentally.

Ranger Medic sustainment training is encompassed in a unit-regulated requirements-based training plan. Prior to every deployment, a medic must complete Ranger Medic Assessment & Validation (RMAV) which is divided into 4 components: Written Test on pharmacology and protocols, skill stations on key procedures, scenario/simulator-based objective evaluation and finally an oral board with the unit medical director (Battalion Surgeon). Medics attend the Special Operations Combat Medic Skills Sustainment Course (SOCMSSC) every 2 years to maintain ATP certifications as well as PHTLS, ACLS, TCCC, and PALS/PEPP. Medics attend a Combat Trauma Management (CTM) training block annually to enhance specific skills and joint interoperability with other SOF units. Every 2-3 years, Ranger Medics attend a trauma center rotation for a month at a major metropolitan trauma center (Currently, Grady Hospital in Atlanta). Monthly, medics attend classes instructed by unit medical officers on trauma management, tactical medical emergency protocols, and sick call management.

Ranger Medics conduct sick call for their Rangers as Rangers do not go to an Army TMC unless coordinated by the unit for specific requirements such as labs or xrays. Part of being a Ranger Medic is taking care of our Rangers every single day and knowing the pertinent medical history of every Ranger in the platoon. This also covers the medical readiness of assigned Rangers through the SRP program (immunizations, etc…). The most important weapon system in the unit is the Ranger and he must be maintained better than any piece of equipment. The basic methodology of support is to have a healthy Ranger to assault a target, keep him healthy while on target, and bring a healthy Ranger home.

Ranger Medics are also the primary instructors for medical training within the Regiment. The primary course for every Ranger in the Regt is the Ranger First Responder (RFR) course. This is the Ranger version of Combat Lifesaver (which, by the way, is based on RFR). Rangers receive RFR refresher training annually and the Ranger Medic teaches all of those classes.

There are also a handful of enlisted medical support positions in the Regt for MOS 68J (Med Logistics), 68S (Preventive Medicine), and 68X (Mental Health Spec).

Each unit in the Regiment is authorized a variety of medical officers. Medical officer specialties include physicians (61N, 62B, 61H, and 62H), physician assistants (65D), physical therapists (65A), and medical service corps (70B and 70H). Medical officers may apply for assignment at the same website above. Medical officers attend the ROP course and are eligible to attend Ranger school just like everybody else.

Most Ranger Medics leave the unit to be bigger and better individuals. In the last 15 years, 24 medics have become physicians, 49 physician assistants, and many are working as licensed medical professionals in or out of the Army. Very few go to special forces or to the Big Army.

For those interested in the Ranger Medic Handbook, it can be purchased from North American Rescue Products at the following website: http://www.narescue.com/Ranger-Medic-Ha ... 3C144.aspx. All proceeds are donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundations. The cost is $30 but keep in mind we are supporting our wounded brothers and families through this cause. The Regiment purchases issued handbooks from the same vendor as it is actually cheaper than using the installation publications center. Any electronic versions out there should be considered bootleg pirated copies and are not the official handbook. These electronic copies are also not the finished product as it was a draft version that got out on the internet before the handbook was finished. The Handbook was copyrighted by a civilian publisher as it was a 50/50 military and civilian authored publication.

The basic tenant of medical care in the Regiment is based on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). The Regiment was the first military organization to tailor unit medical training on TCCC over 10 years ago. The Regiment has also maintained voting membership on the DOD Committee for Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) since its inception.

Application packets for all medical positions can be downloaded from the Ranger Medic AKO page: https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/136399
This page also includes the recruiting brief, current TCCC information, RFR Course files, as well as significant trauma medical literature.

Dominatus Comminus Rememdium
“Mastery in Close Combat Medicine”
RngrDoc75
Ranger Medic, 75th RGR Regt
1990-1995 at 1/75
1995 to 2012 at RHQ
2012 to 2015 at USSOCOM
2015 to Present CoTCCC/Joint Trauma System

if you can do the math and have been in the Regt medical team in those years, then you probably know who I am...

Dominatus Comminus Rememdium
"Mastery in Close Combat Medicine"
Locked

Return to “Medical Issues”