News & Information - The Mercury - October 2009 Mercury

by Jerry Harben

	CPT Charles Day (left), battalion surgeon of the 2nd-87th Infantry, supervises as medics treat a simulated injury during emergency medical technician recertification training in Afghanistan. (Photo by SGT Rob Frazier)

Army combat medics marked a significant accomplishment September 30, as the transition to 68W Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was completed.

The 68W Healthcare Specialist MOS grew out of the previous 91A, 91B and 91C MOSs. During a transition period that began in 2001 these medics received advanced training that includes emergency medical technician qualification. Active duty medics were qualified by 2007 and Reserve Component medics now have completed the transition as well.

A 68W is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment, limited primary-care and health protection, and evacuation from a point of injury or illness. The 68W serves with combat units on the battlefield and practices health care in hospitals or clinics.

Former Army Surgeon General LTG James B. Peake (now retired) began transformation of the MOS when lessons learned from Operation Desert Storm showed a need for more skilled medics at the point of injury on the battlefield.

The Combat Medical Advanced Skills Training course concentrating on TC 8-800 Medical Education and Demonstration of Individual Competence (MEDIC), and development of Medical Simulation Training Centers have helped Soldiers make the transition and are the driving force for sustainment of perishable and critical battlefield skills, according to James Aplin, chief of Army emergency medical services program management at the AMEDD Center and School.

“Predeployment training that is conducted at the various power projection platforms in conjunction with support to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom has been a key sustainment multiplier for USAR and ARNG units,” Aplin added. “This training has served as a validation measure of the Soldiers entering theater and as a by-product has substantially increased overall transition and sustainment numbers since the program was implemented.”

Additional skills the 68W Soldiers learn include vastly improved trauma and pre-hospital care skills, emergency medical care, force health protection, limited primary care, evacuation, warrior skills and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) training, Aplin said.

The fully trained 68W completes the same testing and certification as civilian EMTs.

Almost all active duty combat medics have completed the transition, along with more than 91 percent of those in the Army Reserve and National Guard. The few medics who have not completed transition face loss of their MOS qualification and may be reclassified or separated, Aplin said.

With transition complete, leaders now emphasize annual sustainment of skills and recertification every two years to maintain MOS qualification.

“We’re going to move full press to sustainment,” Aplin said.

To sustain perishable skills such as airway control, hemorrhage and multiple trauma, combat medics must earn 72 hours of continuing education credits during the two years. To help them meet this requirement, Aplin cited, “unit level training, formal EMT-B refresher courses at 68W transition/sustainment training sites, online distance learning via Swank Healthcare (AC and USAR) and EMSED (ARNG), video teletraining via AMEDD C&S, and the establishment of Medical Simulation Training Centers at locations throughout the world that are available to all components through ATRRS.”

(Ann Bermudez contributed to this article.)

From the October 2009 Mercury, an Army Medical Department publication.