68W

Overview
68W (often pronounced as 6 8 Whiskey using the phonetic alphabet) is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for the United States Army's healthcare specialist, also known as the combat medic.

Description
The main role of the 68W in the United States Army is to provide medical treatment to wounded soldiers. Whiskeys are staples in the functionality of the US Army, as every squad is required to have a whiskey in attendance when going on any hazardous mission. They are found in every stage of medical treatment in a combat zone. Whiskeys initiate medical treatment at the accident or injury location, maintain medical treatment during evacuation to healthcare facilities, and provide medical tratment in the medical facilities themselves. 68W10s are highly trained to perform medical duties in hazardous and challenging atmospheres.

68Ws work alongside Army PAs, or doctors under their respective jurisdiction and licensure. Their work can range from the administration of immunizations and collection of fluid samples to obtaining vitals and initial information from patients/casualties and treating trauma to surgical assistance and suturing. The 68W, oft times, must work in the absence of medical professionals or healthcare providers through BLS (Basic Life Support) monitoring and maintenance.

The 68W health care specialist will and can also work as the senior enlisted person in a clinical setting, as well as the Platoon Sergeant of a medical platoon in field units. As senior personnel, the 68W will have various collateral assignments that must be performed, such as daily, monthly, annual training and counseling sessions for soldiers to better help them in assisting with the treatment and education of patients who visit the clinic along with self improvement. There are constant expansions initiated to the 68W MOS in order to improve the capabilities of the healthcare specialist.

Currently, the only civilian equivalent for 68Ws is Emergency Medical Technician - Basic, or upon completion of courses prescribed through MSU (Mountain State University), they may receive an Associate's Degree in medical assisting. There are educational programs at some universities which offer a technical degree in the Emergency Medical Sciences, and allow the 68W to grow in the medical field. Many 68Ws go on to become Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Doctors, and Healthcare Administrators with extra training through continuing their education.

Skill Levels

 * 1 is the basic entry level Combat medic (e.g. 68W10)
 * 2 is a combat medic with the rank of Sergeant (E-5)
 * 3 is a combat medic with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6)
 * 4 is a combat medic with the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7)
 * 5 is a combat medic with the rank of Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) or Sergeant Major (E-9)

Skill Identifiers

 * F6 is an Army Flight Medic
 * M6 is the Army's Licensed Practical Nurse
 * P6 is an orthopedics specialist (clinical)
 * Y8 is an immunization-allergy specialist (clinical, lab)
 * N3 is the Army's Occupational Therapy Assistant (clinical)
 * N9 is a physical therapy technician (clinical)
 * Y2 is the code used to identify those who have not finished the upgrade classes.
 * W1 is a special operations combat medic (SOCM)
 * P3 is an optometry specialist (clinical)
 * Y6 is a cardiovascular specialist (Cardiac Catheterization Technologist and Echocardiographer)

History
Recently known as 91W, the MOS was changed effective October 1, 2006. Formerly known by the MOS codes 91B (9 1 Bravo) and 91A (91 Alpha). The Department of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel issued a notice for future change for the MOS 91B&C in September 1999. This notice established the transition to 91W to begin on 1 October 2001 and end on 30 September 2007. During this period all 91B&C will be given the identifier of Y2 until they complete the transition to 68W. To complete their transition to 68W many 91B&C must complete EMT-B which was offered but never required for any medic until now. Failure to conform to these standards has resulted in some medics having to reclassify into another MOS.

Training
Upon the completion of their basic training, future 68W10s are shipped to Fort Sam Houston where they undergo Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for 16 to 68 weeks, depending on their identifier training time. During these weeks, soldiers will attend many courses that teach them the various medical tasks that they require in their military career. To maintain their MOS they must also obtain and maintain an EMT, and CPR certification. To provide the necessary hours for their re-certification many medics go through extensive ongoing training for the rest of their military career. As with any medical career or profession, the medical personnel must be willing to be educated throughout their career which may consist of many hours of research.

In addition to skills taught at the AIT level, 68W's may, at the request of their unit's Physician's Assistant (PA), attend any number of requested advanced topics. These topic are generally prescribed per each units functional role. For example a front line combat medic (aka "line medic") may learn about advanced trauma treatments including venous cutdowns, placement of chest tubes, or use of specialty hemorrhage control methods such as Chitosan patches or "Quikclot". In the case of those attached to medical units, they may learn and administer medications which result in more definitive treatment than their civilian counterparts are allowed to. Unknown to most, field hospital units don't usually have a large amount if any 68WM6 (LPN) so they use the combat medic who is readily available and partially trained. Hopefully the future will allow for an independent duty medical team or personnel to conduct operations in the absence of qualified health care providers. In order to take their training to the next level many medics opt to become EMT-I or EMT-P certified. The Army also has a IPAP which is oriented toward helping medics become PAs through a two year school program. And yet fewer medics choose to become 18D which is the Special Forces Medical Sergeant, these medics are required to become EMT-P. Some medics choose to enter special operations through the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course and are awarded additional skill identifier "W1". SOCM-qualified 68W personnel serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment (Ranger Medic), 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR Flight Medic), 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (CA-Med SGT), Special Operations Support Command, and in support positions of the special forces groups. The SOCM 68W is currently the most independent-duty enlisted medical personnel in the CMF 68 field. SOCM medics work relatively independent through specific protocols in a limited scope of practice that may be enhanced during the complete absence of a medical officer. SOCM medics assigned to special operations units attend unique advanced medical and military training to enhance their interoperability with other special operations soldiers.
 * EMT Basic
 * ATLS
 * BTLS/PHTLS
 * Trauma-AIMS

Responsibilities

 * Provide cover fire to incapacitate an enemy
 * Accompany every patrol to provide immediate medical coverage for all soldiers in combat
 * Initial stabilizing treatment and triage
 * Plan and conduct Evacuation from the field of battle and en route life support
 * Preventive medicine
 * Field sanitation
 * Clinical medicine
 * Supportive Care in the event of delayed transport
 * Plan and Provide instructions for unit Combat Lifesaver programs

Plan and conduct Combat Lifesaver training
CLS (combat lifesaver) trained soldiers are non medic soldiers in their unit (such as infantrymen or engineers) who receive moderate amounts of extra emergency medical training in order to provide point of wounding care and to act as a link between "buddy aid" and the standard Combat Medic. The 68W trains the Combat Lifesaver.

Combat lifesaver skills are exactly that, for use in combat conditions. However, skills may be applied in non-combat conditions where soldiers are concerned. The combat lifesaver is instructed in various techniques to treat and stabilize injuries related to combat. To include, but not limited to, blast injury, amputation, severe bleeding, penetrating chest injuries, simple airway management, and evacuation techniques. The combat lifesaver doctrine was developed as an effort to increase survivability in combat environments where the combat medic may not be readily available. The combat lifesaver is a bridge between self aid or buddy aid and the combat medic. The combat lifesaver can augment the combat medic as the situation necessitates.

Skills of the Combat Lifesaver

 * Basic casualty evaluation
 * Airway management
 * Chest injury and tension pneumothorax management
 * Controlling Bleeding
 * Intravenous Drip therapy
 * Requesting medical evacuation