Medics FAQ
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Seeing how we got so many people getting posted to be a medic, therefore will like to dedicate this FAQ thread to all questions regarding this vocation.
hopefully all the lao jiao medic alumni will pops in every now and to answer inquires of new medics.
below are some helpful info from past threads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAF_Medical_Training_Institute -
Originally posted by augustkyle:Yo Hi All.
Reading what has been written here just brings me back to my time in SMM.
Ya, anyway, SMM is now known as IMT if i remembered correctly.
Hope the below explain how a life as a medic is;-
Life as a trainee in SMM.
Basically, first week will be quite weird as no one knows each other, but by 2nd week to the last day of ur trainee life, it will be heaven.
Throughout the medic course, you will book in @ 10pm sharp on sunday night and book out @ 5pm sharp (it wont be later than that! never! haha).
Specs there are usually very friendly and nice except for the minority which is so obsessed with the Sergeant authority to pump us, fresh pop privates.
Basically u wake up @ 5.15 every morning, do some light 5BX (which in my course was 20push up, 20jumping jack and 20 situp). Go for breakfast, come back to bunk to do area cleaning till 7.15.
7.30am -> First Parade with our beloved medic song.
Medics all are we, the medics of the field, we serve the wounded and the sick~
kk, enough.. =\ You'll learn the pledge and song soon.
By 8am you will be sitted in the audit for lectures. 9.30-10am usually is admin time and getting back to audit, lectures again till 11.30 than go for lunch. Back to bunch till 1.15pm, pack abit, fall in for practical lessons held in training shed @ 1.30pm. 3pm-3.30pm again usually are admin time than back to study at training shed till dinner which is @ 5pm.
Usually after dinner, you will just wait for last parade or not, it will to computer lab for some revision on medic stuff.
Anyway, the tricky one in the course in the exams, but somehow rather, mug for a lil bit and you will get your way out =D
--Anyway, i just graduated out.. less than a year--
Life as a medic really start when you're posted to units.
Let me elaborate abit from here on, (Splitted into different groups).
Combat Medic;
HQ Medic- do basic covering of activties and building on the BCS in ATEC. BCS would be deployed with your HQ Medical Platoon with MOs and so usually kind of shiong. The good part here is that you stayed in the Medical Center 90% of your time and will be task, given roles. (Eg, treatment i/c, dispen i/c, MOPA).
When coy medic do live I/V outfield, under the hot sun, you shoot I/V in sickbay.
Coy Medic- Which is what i am now. Commonly known as Platoon Medic. To be frank, it's very shiong to be a coy medic as you're tasked with combat duties adding onto ur medical duties. For eg, people chiong with SBO rifle helmet, you add on ur MOP, Strecher and follow the Platoon Sergeant. You dont frequent the medical center that often but you'll always take chance to go there and slack. keke. Most of the time, in a combat active unit, you're just like normal MAN. Doing sai kang most of the time, and if not, training with them under the hot sun. A coy usually has 4 medic so it rotate. 1 will be doing cover whereas the other 3 will be chionging as well, which is quite shiong and shag for medics. So all coy medic, please take care of yourself and train up. IMO, it's very important.
Service Medic;
Well, Basically stay in the medical center. 8-5 job. Just wait for ORD.
I hope the above give you guys the understanding of being a medic and what it go through. Of course, small detail stuff i've left out but these is wat roughly it is.
Last and for most,
Be proud as a medic as what you learn is a life-long skill.
80% of my course mate doesnt want to be a medic but till we pass out of course, we pass out with honor and pride.
Drill this in ur brain and spread it around,
" Medics are not weakling. You think medics are sissy than help your platoon medic carry his strecher in exercise and stop whinning. Stop shouting for medic when you only need them "
Seek Save Serve, MEDIC! -
Originally posted by fudgester:During my time, the 12-week combat medic course (CMC) was split into two parts: Paramedic Phase (6 weeks) and Combat Medic Phase (6 weeks).
In the Paramedic Phase, you will be learning the exact same syllabus as the SCDF Level I Paramedics. It focuses more on civillian paramedic procedures. There will still be PT lessons, of course... you can never escape PT in the Army. At the end of this phase, you will get your Paramedic Level I certificate.
In the Combat Medic Phase, you will be learning first aid procedures similar to the paramedic phase, but this time in a military context. For example, you'll learn stuff like setting up a BCS, casualty evacuation through obstacles, etc.
Generally I'd say the course was pretty slack during my time. The tough part comes after you pass out from the course - you'll be expected to carry a stretcher and MOP on top of your SBO during missions. Your SBO attire will pretty much be like other people's FBO. -
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oooo lol abit different from meOriginally posted by Gordonator:
for 1st week my company book out around 8.30 pm not 5.30 leh..i different cause i kana guard duty on 1st weekend
not all morns are lect, soemtimes its practices all the way
i find the things to learn abit too demanding n too diffcult
i find the pace too fase..we learn so much things at a go n before we have time to undertsand its test 
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I've seen a fellow trainee puke at the sight of blood.Originally posted by borntolive:oooo lol abit different from me
for 1st week my company book out around 8.30 pm not 5.30 leh..i different cause i kana guard duty on 1st weekend
not all morns are lect, soemtimes its practices all the way
i find the things to learn abit too demanding n too diffcult i find the pace too fase..we learn so much things at a go n before we have time to undertsand its test
OOC of coz .
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lol out of course? during my 1st IV my hand was shivering all the way..the instructor have to do it cause my hand was shivering too badly..Originally posted by NotFromVenus:I've seen a fellow trainee puke at the sight of blood.
OOC of coz .
i was wondering who will still wana be my IV partner in future
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1st time doing IV will always shiver one; its perfectly normal.
Once you reach the 4th, 5th then it'll be a breeze.
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The air will be thick with iron smell of blood when the noon Sun is hot and 20 trainees spilling and changing needles.
Mosquitoes will be too lazy in the hot noon. Yet we will all feel nauseous coz of the smell of blood.
Thats the old SMM Hill's training shed next to the Dog Unit. -
Hi, fellow medics. Live IV in SMTI seems to leave a mark in my mind. There was once I forgot to press down my hand on the vein when I took out the needle after dislodging, the blood flows out like water and after the whole IV, the blood coagulated like a jelly.
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MRF..
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damn i got posted as a combat medic at nee soon. Should i be worried? lol
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No, you shouldn't.Originally posted by nullifi3d:damn i got posted as a combat medic at nee soon. Should i be worried? lol
Just go in with an open mind.
And believe me, it's even more welfare now than during my time in 2002... which was already pretty welfare.
And we all felt that the physical training was pretty slack. So much so that we took the initiative to change to PT attire and run around Nee Soon Camp at night... with permission from our instructors, of course.
Now I see trainees going out for nights off even in their very first week of training. Even when I took Spec II, I didn't have nights off in the first week. -
i understand i have to go for a 2mth course at Nee soon and then be posted out to a new unit?Originally posted by fudgester:No, you shouldn't.
Just go in with an open mind.
And believe me, it's even more welfare now than during my time in 2002... which was already pretty welfare.
And we all felt that the physical training was pretty slack. So much so that we took the initiative to change to PT attire and run around Nee Soon Camp at night... with permission from our instructors, of course.
Now I see trainees going out for nights off even in their very first week of training. Even when I took Spec II, I didn't have nights off in the first week.
Honestly i'm not physically fit and i failed my IPPT(pull ups and 2.4km didnt make it); POP from the 6 month obese company in tekong. How am i going supposed to survive being in a combat unit? -
Well don't worry by the time you passed out you may be fitOriginally posted by nullifi3d:i understand i have to go for a 2mth course at Nee soon and then be posted out to a new unit?
Honestly i'm not physically fit and i failed my IPPT(pull ups and 2.4km didnt make it); POP from the 6 month obese company in tekong. How am i going supposed to survive being in a combat unit?
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I know of a couple of medics in my unit who were obese BMT and ended up getting gold for their IPPT while in unit.Originally posted by nullifi3d:i understand i have to go for a 2mth course at Nee soon and then be posted out to a new unit?
Honestly i'm not physically fit and i failed my IPPT(pull ups and 2.4km didnt make it); POP from the 6 month obese company in tekong. How am i going supposed to survive being in a combat unit?
No joke. -
I can say, medics are often being looked down upon in units as most tend to think they are slack and do nothing, that is true for medical centre medics, i hate them myself. I was a medic spec, and i was a company medic, was in one of the SIRs, that time my SIR got the best combat unit for the work year, so even if you cannot make it they'll also push you until you make it.
As medics, i think it's up to us to prove to everyone that we are as good as anyone, show your mental strength and skills in those long exercises, gradually, people will come to respect you. I mean, if i can take it with one of the heaviest loads all the way in brunei, and still stay alert enough to treat the injured guys, who is to say medics cannot make it? By the time we were fighting atec, i was treated like one of the commanders and invited to join commanders' briefing, even though it didn't really concern me, since my encik was supposed to take care of things, but they respected me enough.
So, medics, remember we are one of the most important, don't groan at your vocation, be proud of it! -
lol just passed out not too long ago, when i was like u, i was quite worried, been 2 mths n time pass so fast...Originally posted by nullifi3d:damn i got posted as a combat medic at nee soon. Should i be worried? lol
actually its a good place for 1st 2 mths la, u make good friends, instructors are also relatively ok, book out on fri nites zzzz...
the only think u need to worry is to use yr brain lol..quite alot of pract test n theory exams..n not forgeting IV
comparing to the vocation i m in now, life as BMC trainee is heaven...treasure yr time there.. -
Whats the 5BX routines in the mornings? They do have 5BX ritE?Originally posted by borntolive:lol just passed out not too long ago, when i was like u, i was quite worried, been 2 mths n time pass so fast...
actually its a good place for 1st 2 mths la, u make good friends, instructors are also relatively ok, book out on fri nites zzzz...
the only think u need to worry is to use yr brain lol..quite alot of pract test n theory exams..n not forgeting IV
comparing to the vocation i m in now, life as BMC trainee is heaven...treasure yr time there.. -
i wont say medical centre medics slack...
they handle the brunt of work that rifle coy medics wont wanna do..
such as....administration of the med ctr...
making sure everything runs smoothly....
the frequent IQA...commercial stocktakes sms audits...ohsas..and other audits...
i tasted coy medic life and now as a 2ic...and riflee coy is nothing compared to med ctr...
rifle coys chiong..after that equipment maintenance then slack...
med ctr medics undergo lots of paperwork...and harrasment by the higher ups of neesoon...
i miss rifle coy life cos i can basically slack my day away after activities may it be PT....outfield exercise...and what nots..
rifle coy ppl would say otherwise...but it takes more training hrs to train a med ctr medic than a rifle coy medic
med ctr medics do the saikang that no other ppl can or want to do.... -
u hav 2 play needles by poking each other wif ur buddy..
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P030 just came in today...
And they're the most SOFTEST bunch of pussies I've ever encountered...
Pardon the language..just fell extremely infuriated right now...
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lol wat are they like? complain cover need to carry many thing?Originally posted by RvnRooRon84:P030 just came in today...
And they're the most SOFTEST bunch of pussies I've ever encountered...
Pardon the language..just fell extremely infuriated right now... -
They're still undergoing course, have yet to pass out. Just came in on Monday.Originally posted by snk86:lol wat are they like? complain cover need to carry many thing? -
then? first IV 3/4 fall out due to all kind of reason?Originally posted by RvnRooRon84:They're still undergoing course, have yet to pass out. Just came in on Monday.
and btw ur a BTW instructor at SMM?
sispec crossover or old school type?
