What are railway tracks?!Originally posted by kuekj:All medics will bear the trademark "railway tracks" on their arms due to IVs :p
and every year there's this AMPT. Mine's coming soon... :s
Intraveneous infusion marks on the arms.Originally posted by boariggy:What are railway tracks?!![]()
Whoa so medics poke IVs into each other as training?Originally posted by fudgester:Intraveneous infusion marks on the arms.
We medics shoot infusion lines into each other's arms so many times that you can practically plot a line through the marks.
Collectively, these needle marks are known as 'track marks'.
So if you see a guy with track marks, then most likely he's either a medic or a drug addict - but hopefully not both.
Medics' loads are heavy... but they are by far not the heaviest. GPMG, 84mmRR and ATGM people have even heavier loads.Originally posted by boariggy:Whoa so medics poke IVs into each other as training?
I'm interested in becoming a Medic but I heard it's actually quite tough considering you have to carry the stretcher as well? meaning you've got the heaviest load?
Thanks.![]()
combat load for me now is....Originally posted by fudgester:Medics' loads are heavy... but they are by far not the heaviest. GPMG, 84mmRR and ATGM people have even heavier loads.
However, carrying both the medical orderly pouch (MOP) and the stretcher while in full battle order can be really cumbersome and unwieldy. The handbag-like MOP can be a real hindrance when you're running or crawling.
The full combat load for a medic (FBO + MOP + stretcher) is about 28kg, give or take a couple of kilos.
the hardest thing abt being a medic..is...responsibility...Originally posted by boariggy:Whoa so medics poke IVs into each other as training?
I'm interested in becoming a Medic but I heard it's actually quite tough considering you have to carry the stretcher as well? meaning you've got the heaviest load?
Thanks.![]()
i think the load carrying is one thing. the more important (which i am not sure got practiced) is being able to carry out your duties as a medic on bleeding and screaming comrades calmly and swiftly after being exhausted by the walk and climb.Originally posted by krisgage:I used to be a platoon medic. Now the company I attached to now stepped down I return to HQ. The shiong part while being a platoon medic was going for exercises and standby. During exercises, platoon medic had to stick with the platoon sergent and walking behind the platoon. I had to carry the MOP and stretcher over my shoulder with SBO and rifle. The walking seem endless. Especially at oversea exercise like Crescendo. At Crescendo, I had to climb the Eagle Hill with the platoon. I strapped the MOP and stretcher securely to the man board and carried it like the fieldpack with SBO and rifle. You have to climb with both your hands and legs. The weight of combined MOP which has two fulled water bottles and stretcher tends to pull you back. Talking about standby. I have to carry the FBO, rifle , stretcher and MOP with 2 full water bottles. When the siren sounded, I have to run down from level 5 to the parade square. Haiz ... those were the days![]()
yeah well the system kinda changed...includes OJTs and things like that to acclimatise a new medic spec to his duties...i took over mine without much trouble at all...Originally posted by eugtay:honestly, i prefer the old system, where the specs are chosen by the senior medic from the medics in the unit to go for spec course. the guys taking the course would already know more or less the duties and responsibilities of a spec in the BCS or coy line. (in those days you had to be a LCP and spend 6 mths as a medic in unit before you can be considered for Spec II.)
it will change slowlyOriginally posted by seancannot:Pple still perceive medic as a relax vocation even dun have a carry rifle when go to field unless u r on medical cover... medic s are overworked but under-rated
I wouldn't blame them coz during BMT range i ever saw medic sleep on the strecher after lunch. Those medics don't give a shit about what's happening around them.Originally posted by seancannot:Pple still perceive medic as a relax vocation even dun have a carry rifle when go to field unless u r on medical cover... medic s are overworked but under-rated
yeah....there are diff kinds of medics...there are pros...and there are the couldnt be bothered......Originally posted by willgoh:I wouldn't blame them coz during BMT range i ever saw medic sleep on the strecher after lunch. Those medics don't give a shit about what's happening around them.
But at the same time, they should go easy with the brush and tar. Not all medics are slackers who sleep on stretchers and message their girlfriends while everyone else is sweating it out.Originally posted by willgoh:I wouldn't blame them coz during BMT range i ever saw medic sleep on the strecher after lunch. Those medics don't give a shit about what's happening around them.
You're changing the perception of combat medics here, and that's a good thing.Most people get their negative perception of medics in BMTC, that's why.Originally posted by Rockhound:the hardest thing abt being a medic..is...responsibility...
for example...if u sign on to be a medic spec...u'd start ure first tour as either a coy medic...or a med ctr 2ic...which i really think is a tough ass job....damn siong as u are considered in the BCS(Battalion Casualty Station) team
lets take me...
i'm a coy medic...
generally...i got 3 plt medics under me and i'm supposed to take care of their welfare...and medical training...plus i got my alexandria hospital attachment and 1 duty medic duty each month...
day by day..i am not bothered much...i take part in the company's physical activity....combat training..yet go to the medical ctr to see if i can help out with anything.....now training for the CSB badge too
i help out my senior medic with first aid lessons to the battalion...
basically its Coy OC--->2ic-->CSM-->Coy Medic....so my appointment wise is pretty high...and nobody else bothers me too much
i do medical covers of exercises...and watnots...yet i am like a 'doctor' to the unit where men look for to get advice...iits pretty meaningful to see them smile and say thanks after that....
its a difficult job but theres alot of satisfaction....
commitment and the ability to always want to know more and proactiveness is wat makes a good medic...
a medic spec is truly a specialist of his field...
now to be a medic spec...
u gotta go bmtc....sispec to do bslc...and smm in neesoon to do the newly started specII course for bslc grads...
Whats AMPT btw?Originally posted by boariggy:If I don't sign on, and just go into NS as is, and I want to be posted as a Medic, any ways to do that? It seems like a very fulfilling vocation. Anyone can comment on how they like/dislike what medics have to do? Thanks![]()
You can't choose to be a medic - or any other vocation, for that matter.Originally posted by boariggy:If I don't sign on, and just go into NS as is, and I want to be posted as a Medic, any ways to do that? It seems like a very fulfilling vocation. Anyone can comment on how they like/dislike what medics have to do? Thanks![]()
ThanksOriginally posted by fudgester:You can't choose to be a medic - or any other vocation, for that matter.
You just have to sit down and pray hard that you get the vocation you want after you pass out from BMT. I myself didn't expect to be a medic.
my unit uses Force21....LBVs...and the so-called assault pack....Originally posted by Hellraiza:rockhound by assault pack, do you mean the Blackhawk pack some units are using now?