Originally posted by Rockhound:
How far can a combat medic go if he is a regular?...
is he really excess baggage to a platoon carrying a rifle he hardly shoots?
First answer: warrant officer. If memory serves me right the highest-ranking medic is a SWO...... can anyone confirm?
2nd answer: you're right when you say that he hardly shoots. In my two years as a medic, I've gone for innumerable outfield trainings, and I dare say that I've fired off less than 1 mag of blanks. The medic and the PS are the last men, and if they have to shoot, something is really wrong.
What do you mean by 'excess baggage' though? 'Useless'? I sure hope that's not what you're thinking about. Sure, he doesn't shoot much, but that's because he's right at the back of the platoon. When the casualties start coming in, though, he is anything but 'excess baggage'.
