Overview

The health care specialist is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.

Job Duties

• Administer emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties
  
• Assist with outpatient and inpatient care and treatment
  
• Prepare blood samples for laboratory analysis
  
• Prepare patients, operating rooms, equipment and supplies for surgery

Training

Job training for a health care specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 16 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in-patient care.

Some of the skills you’ll learn are:

• Patient-care techniques
  
• Emergency medical techniques
  
• Methods of sterilizing surgical equipment
  
• Plaster-casting techniques

Helpful Skills

• Enjoy helping and caring for others
  
• Ability to communicate effectively and work under stressful conditions
  
• Interest in chemistry, biology, psychology, general science and algebra
  
• High attention to detail

Required ASVAB Score(s)

Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.

Compensation

Total compensation includes housing, medical, food, special pay, and vacation time. Learn more about total compensation.

Education Benefits

In the Army, qualified students can earn full-tuition, merit-based scholarships, allowances for books and fees, plus an annual stipend for living expenses. Learn more about education benefits.

Future Civilian Careers

The skills you learn will help prepare you for a career with civilian hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. With a health care specialist background, you may consider a career as an emergency medical technician, medical assistant, a medication aide or physician’s assistant.

With continued study and experience, you may qualify for certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians as a first responder.