Medical Programs

[Bluchip]

Hey guys how are you, I just recently joined CAP and so far I'm loving every minute of it, I can see now what amazing leadership skills and life skills you can gain from being in CAP. In the future I plan on either being a civilian medical doctor, or possibly a doctor through the Air Force. My question is, are there any programs that will expose me to helping other cadets with safety or injuries that I can possible put on my transcripts? Volunteer service and helping others has always been a passion of mine and I would really love to know if I could persue that passion through CAP. Then possibly take my experiences to help get into a a medical program in college. Thank you.

[RiverAux]

I'm sorry to tell you that within CAP opportunities to earn and/or use anything more than a basic first aid class are probably going to be extremely limited, if not non-existent. 

[Bluchip]

Field Medic Program

Just as the Ranger Program was started, a need was apparent for medical training. However, for the first seven years of the Ranger program, all medical support was provided by Air Force personnel.
Beginning in 1960, Dr. William E.B. Hall of Allentown, Pennsylvania began providing for most of the health care needs of Pennsylvania Wing CAP, and consequently HMRS as well. As a CAP Lieutenant Colonel, Dr Hall commanded the PA Wing Hospital Squadron 3102, consisting of professional nurses, doctors, and other qualified medical personnel.
In the early 1970s, Lieutenant Don Kliptein recognized that many of the cadets coming to the school already had extensive medical backgrounds, but no ranger experience. In 1971, Lt Kliptein began training Cadets to assist Sq 3102 in providing medical assistance to other cadets. Cadet medics helping injured cadets quickly improved the overall atmosphere of the cadet program, leading to the introduction of the first dedicated medical course in 1973. This new course was structured to tie in directly with the Ranger program. Medic trainees would accompany Ranger trainees during the Field Training Exercise portion of Summer Schools, combining both Ranger experience with Medical training.[11]

Medic advancement
Field Medics have completed the basic Field Medic course, and hold certification in Adult CPR and Wilderness First Aid.[11]
Field Medic 1st Class is the typical medic assigned to a Ranger team. In addition to CPR and Wilderness First Aid, they have First Responder or Professional Rescuer qualifications. They have also completed the advanced field medic course.[11]
Senior Medics are Operational medical specialists. Although qualified to assist ground teams, Senior Medics typically support base operations or even multi-agency mission bases. Senior Medics must be at least 18 years of age, hold EMT-B qualifications or higher, and be well versed in several areas of advanced medical care. Senior Medics are awarded Red Scarves to wear with their uniform.[11]
Master Medic represent the leadership of the Medic Program, and are similar to Expert Rangers. They typically hold instructor ratings in multiple medical fields. In addition to the Red Scarf, Master Medics are awarded a Red Pistol belt. Only 21 people have become Master Medics since 1972.[11]



This is all I know about the medic programs, just curious if there are anymore?

[Spaceman3750]

Oh boy...

[Eclipse]

The information you are citing is incredibly dated - there are no wings providing medical care to any members, nor are there any nationally recognized "medic" or "ranger" programs.  What you are looking at in PAWG are adventure activities, sanctioned as such, but not part of the National Emergency Services Curriculum of CAP.

As Space River said, anything past "Community Level First Aid" is nice to know, but won't be used in a CAP context.

The Prime Directive of all CAP activities is "dial 9-1-1" any time emergency care is needed.

...are there any programs that will expose me to helping other cadets with safety or injuries that I can possible put on my transcripts?

You could pursue the Safety Officer specialty track, and Mission Safety Officer ES qualification.

[arajca]

1. That is a specific progam that has no real application in CAP in general. Outside of HMRS, we spend an inordinate amount of time correcting the ranger attitude and sense of privilege far too many of the graduates come out with.

2. CAP regs prohibit ANY routine medical treatment. The only treatment permitted under CAP regs is immediate care to save a life.

3. As far as using CAP training on your transcripts, no. The level of any of our medical training does meet any certifying agency's requirements.

[JC004]

Since CAP ONLY allows emergency care and that doesn't pop up every day like being an EMT in a fire department or something, perhaps the best thing you could do is help out in the Health Services program - assist a CAP medical officer/nurse officer/Health Service Officer in administering the limited program that CAP has.  This would mostly focus on preparation/training/member education.  If you want medical things to add, an EMT job or volunteer program like a fire department might help.

[Spaceman3750]

The information you are citing is incredibly dated - there are no wings providing medical care to any members, nor are there any nationally recognized "medic" or "ranger" programs.  What you are looking at in PAWG are adventure activities, sanctioned as such, but not part of the National Emergency Services Curriculum of CAP.

As Space said, anything past "Community Level First Aid" is nice to know, but won't be used in a CAP context.

The Prime Directive of all CAP activities is "dial 9-1-1" any time emergency care is needed.

I don't know where or when I said that, but it is true, mostly... I am a big fan of the ARC WRFA class because it teaches assessment skills that can be used to help you make better decisions and provide better info to EMS at the scene of an emergency.

You can provide EMERGENCY care up to your certification (also known as oh crap scenarios), but we don't have a medic program and pretty much anything more than a basic owie is going to result in a call to 911 or a trip to a medical facility.

Go become a first aid/CPR instructor with whatever org your wing has a provider agreement with then give classes to CAP members on the cheap. That would be really, really useful.

[Bluchip]

Thanks for the advise.

[Eclipse]

I don't know where or when I said that,

Sorry, it was River - you just sat back and waited.

[sarmed1]

1. That is a specific progam that has no real application in CAP in general. Outside of HMRS, we spend an inordinate amount of time correcting the ranger attitude and sense of privilege far too many of the graduates come out with.

.....

Couldnt resist could you?

The OP asked about medical training/medic programs and experience available thru CAP,  There were plenty of posts already detailing that CAP as a whole does not provide much of an oppurtunity more than Emergency First Aid. There was never any question or need to go down the ranger'tude path.
Basic medical training is what the HMRS program actually provides.....CPR & Wilderness Advanced First Aid, with First Responder as a follow on.  Not to mention a decent exposure to other aspects of the world of medical carrers including face to face interaction with proffesionals from every variation of specialty in the field. If you have questions about career options/paths and the what I need to do to "get in" type of advice; there is likely someone there who has that information.    The networking potential and the number of doors that may open up is in itself a huge advantage (even if its for outside of CAP Benefit).  There have been a rather large number of former cadets that are now, MD's, RN's Paramedics and EMT's, both military and civilian that got their start in HMRS's Medic Program.

mk

[JayT]

Hey guys how are you, I just recently joined CAP and so far I'm loving every minute of it, I can see now what amazing leadership skills and life skills you can gain from being in CAP. In the future I plan on either being a civilian medical doctor, or possibly a doctor through the Air Force. My question is, are there any programs that will expose me to helping other cadets with safety or injuries that I can possible put on my transcripts? Volunteer service and helping others has always been a passion of mine and I would really love to know if I could persue that passion through CAP. Then possibly take my experiences to help get into a a medical program in college. Thank you.

Join your local VFD or VAC and become an CFR-D or EMT-B.

[DakRadz]

Hey guys how are you, I just recently joined CAP and so far I'm loving every minute of it, I can see now what amazing leadership skills and life skills you can gain from being in CAP. In the future I plan on either being a civilian medical doctor, or possibly a doctor through the Air Force. My question is, are there any programs that will expose me to helping other cadets with safety or injuries that I can possible put on my transcripts? Volunteer service and helping others has always been a passion of mine and I would really love to know if I could persue that passion through CAP. Then possibly take my experiences to help get into a a medical program in college. Thank you.

Join your local VFD or VAC and become an CFR-D or EMT-B.

This.

Depending on your state CFR-D is called different things, but means First Responder. Research it a bit. (I only say that because here in Ohio it's EMR. Many states simply label them First Responders.)

Regardless, it's a good start. Many nurses and even a doctor that I know all either started with these training levels or even had to get them as part of their job (CareFlight requires that the medical personnel be both EMT-P and a nurse). And that's just people I know personally, there are many out there who started as FR or EMTs.

[Bluchip]

Do you think I would be able to do this as a 15 year old in 10th grade, or is there a higher age requirement usually?

[Eclipse]

Do you think I would be able to do this as a 15 year old in 10th grade, or is there a higher age requirement usually?

NESA is open to you at 15, as is HMRS, whether you can participate in the other programs, and what, if any, state certifications
you can attain will depend on the organization and state.

[John Bryan]

They are correct CAP has nothing really.....try the Sea Cadets....they offer MEDICAL TRAINING (GENERAL, FIELD, SURGICAL & DENTAL TECH)


http://www.seacadets.org/public/programs/nscc/
http://compass.seacadets.org/training/summer11/newtraining.htm

Also the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine
http://www.nylf.org/med/


Good Luck!!!

[JayT]

Do you think I would be able to do this as a 15 year old in 10th grade, or is there a higher age requirement usually?

Some states may let you qualify as a first responder at 16 (average is about 40-60 hours of training.) You have to be 18 to be an EMT. Whether you'll be able to find an agency who'll let you function as a 16 year old first responder is a different story.  CAP simply is not the proper enviroment if you want to get into medicine.

Honestly through, you never know where it ends up. I took my original EMT class because of CAP, and five years later I'm a dangerously new paramedic making a decent living. So you never know how things work out.

[sarmed1]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

[Spaceman3750]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

When I was a kid Disney Channel ran a fictional series about teenagers in a smallish town who ran an ambulance because the town was short on personnel... Or something like that. Any truth to that idea?

[PHall]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

When I was a kid Disney Channel ran a fictional series about teenagers in a smallish town who ran an ambulance because the town was short on personnel... Or something like that. Any truth to that idea?

You answered your own question.  Disney Channel...

[EMT-83]

http://www.post53.info/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_EMS_%E2%80%93_Post_53

[sarmed1]

Thats pretty darn cool......

[JayT]

http://www.post53.info/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_EMS_%E2%80%93_Post_53

Yeah, when I was rotating up in Greenwich, I heard about that. They have a few medics who operate as AEMT's as supervisors, but other then that it's kids who ride as EMT's or MFRs.

[JC004]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

Do you know the statute for this?  I was JUST looking for this info for someone.

[Bluchip]

That looks really cool, anyone know of something like this in the NYC area?

[JayT]

That looks really cool, anyone know of something like this in the NYC area?

No. EMS in NYC is provided by FDNY EMS Command, voluntary hospitals, and private companies contracted to the voluntary hospitals. There are volunteer ambulance corps in the NYC area, but there not part of the 911 system, they just buff jobs as they can, and there few and far between.

Contact me if you're interested in EMS in the City.

[sarmed1]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

Do you know the statute for this?  I was JUST looking for this info for someone.

Which parts:
The EMS certification parts should be in PA Act 37; thats the new EMS Act  (its still in phase in.... the previous act as Act 45)
The restrictions and allowable work parts is in the child labor law section 7.3

mk

[JC004]

You have to check not just your state law regarding certification but check the local volunterr agencies.....

For Example,  in Pensylvania:  State certification as First Responder requires you to be 16.  ARC and ECSI's first responder requirements have no age stipulation.  The state also says you can be an EMT at age 16, in many programs you can actually take the class under 16, but must wait until your 16th birthday to take the writtne test.

State Labor laws say you can be a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue/ambulance squad at 14.  There are different job/tasks and hour limitations between 14-15 and 16-17 yeaqr olds.  One Department near by will not take junior members under 16, our department will take them at 14.  My ambualnce company though 99% paid is still technically a volunteer non profit and has a youth program for 14-17 year olds....

mk

Do you know the statute for this?  I was JUST looking for this info for someone.

Which parts:
The EMS certification parts should be in PA Act 37; thats the new EMS Act  (its still in phase in.... the previous act as Act 45)
The restrictions and allowable work parts is in the child labor law section 7.3

mk

PA CLL on EMS is what I'm looking for. 

In the process, I just found this in a circular.  Apparently caddying is the only occupation worthy of an exemption here.  Very interesting.  I guess it's so members of the legislature have caddies.  I guess all the kids making websites or doing other computer work are criminals.  That's a shame.

Under Pennsylvania law, no child under the age of 16 may be employed. There is an exception for a child between the ages of 12 and 14, who may serve as a golf caddy, but may only carry one golf bag and not for any longer than 18 holes in one day. A child between 14 and 16 may also caddy with the restriction that it cannot interfere with school attendance.

[Nathan]

Hey guys how are you, I just recently joined CAP and so far I'm loving every minute of it, I can see now what amazing leadership skills and life skills you can gain from being in CAP. In the future I plan on either being a civilian medical doctor, or possibly a doctor through the Air Force. My question is, are there any programs that will expose me to helping other cadets with safety or injuries that I can possible put on my transcripts? Volunteer service and helping others has always been a passion of mine and I would really love to know if I could persue that passion through CAP. Then possibly take my experiences to help get into a a medical program in college. Thank you.

So as a guy who's currently in the process of interviewing at medical schools, here's my advice.

Don't concern yourself too much with the medical stuff that's offered through CAP, because there's nothing medically-related that's likely to do much for an application to medical school. Even if we accept that the medical programs offered through CAP are totally legitimate and useful, they're still nothing like the usual kind of medical situations that you'd be encountering as a physician. Before you apply to medical school, you're going to be looking for medical experiences like shadowing doctors, volunteering at hospitals, and so forth. I have not experienced ANYTHING medically-related in CAP that would make for a relevant medical experience to put on a medical school application.

Here's what you should be doing with your time in CAP that WILL matter for medical school:

1) Promote. The higher up you go, the better, because it shows that you have motivation and drive to complete difficult objectives. When you think about it, working to get the Spaatz is a lot like working to get into medical school. Both programs are four years (at least) of taking tests, having cool experiences, and working hard to reach an objective relatively few achieve.

2) Have leadership experiences. Proving you can be a leader is a big part of the medical school application, and there are very few people who are able to show quality leadership experiences. While most pre-meds I'm competing with are going to reference being a secratary in a science club, I can reference years of working in squadron leadership positions, giving speeches on the topic, commanding encampments, and so forth. Having strong leadership experiences will definitely make you stand out, and CAP is an excellent sources of these experiences.

3) Do community service projects. If your squadron doesn't regularly do community service, then seek out projects and present them to your commander. Most medical schools want to see you doing community service and volunteering, so use CAP's considerable reputation in this area to your advantage. This doesn't need to be medically-related community service. You can shadow doctors to prove you want to be in medicine, but you can build houses for Habitat for Humanity to show that you have a passion for helping people. Don't forget to record your hours so you can reference them later.

4) Make strong contacts. This doesn't mean that you should just meet high-ranking people; this means meeting people that can serve as mentors in various areas of your life. My CAP experience allowed me to meet some amazing members, as well as Congressman, military leaders, and so forth. These are people who can write you letters of recommendation, and the better they know you, the better the letters will be. I made some very good contacts at places like IACE, Cadet Officer School, and so forth.

I can probably think of more, but you get the idea. Even at its best, CAP medical training is comparable to EMT training, not physician experiences, and the medical school guys are going to know that. They'll ask you why you wouldn't rather be an EMT or someone who would be working out in the field. There are plenty of experiences outside of CAP to get clinical experiences, so use CAP for what it's good for. CAP is rich in leadership experiences, volunteering experiences, and for making important friends. Focus on that, and you'll be in fine shape when you're ready to apply.

[Eclipse]

1) Promote.

2) Have leadership experiences.

3) Do community service projects.

4) Make strong contacts.

This should be on a T-Shirt as a mantra for life.

I have not experienced ANYTHING medically-related in CAP that would make for a relevant medical experience to put on a medical school application.

I think there are some encampment HSO's who would argue the point, though they weren't supposed to be treating people.  Nothing like
seizure disorders to really round out a weekend!  (Mom: "Yeah, that happens a lot, just let him lie quietly in a dark area for a little while and he'll probably be fine...")

[sarmed1]

I'd like to think that HMRS's Doc (Navy MD on his time, not CAP BTW) gives interested cadets (and seniors) a pretty good exposure to  the medical word..... I've seen a number of routine, urgent and emergent treatments taking care of by him and cadets that have been there have been fairly Wow'd; he even does a good disection of pig or cow heart/lungs and usually an eye ball that even I am pretty impressed with.  However even if you were to be attached to his hip for a week there I dont think the experience would carry much weight in consideration for a medical school or other related application; I am not sure even a "Military Medical Careers" NCSA would seem like a big deal in the consideration toward a medical school.  CAP's best contribution in this realm I think is still the character building and leadership training you are exposed to as a cadet that will show forth in actual interviews and interaction during the application process.  The networking and guidance/path direction from those that happen to be in the career field is a close second.

mk

[Nathan]

I'd like to think that HMRS's Doc (Navy MD on his time, not CAP BTW) gives interested cadets (and seniors) a pretty good exposure to  the medical word..... I've seen a number of routine, urgent and emergent treatments taking care of by him and cadets that have been there have been fairly Wow'd; he even does a good disection of pig or cow heart/lungs and usually an eye ball that even I am pretty impressed with.  However even if you were to be attached to his hip for a week there I dont think the experience would carry much weight in consideration for a medical school or other related application; I am not sure even a "Military Medical Careers" NCSA would seem like a big deal in the consideration toward a medical school.  CAP's best contribution in this realm I think is still the character building and leadership training you are exposed to as a cadet that will show forth in actual interviews and interaction during the application process.  The networking and guidance/path direction from those that happen to be in the career field is a close second.

mk

Actually, an activity specifically designed to introduce someone to military medicine probably wouldn't be bad thing to put down. But nothing like that exists in CAP.

The idea is to get realistic exposure to what a physician does; a cadet should be able to leave the experience with a better understanding of what he/she can expect upon becoming a physician, and convince the medical admissions board of that fact. If the cadet can't pull of telling a few doctors that he/she knows what being a doctor is going to be like because of Hawk Mountain, then it's not going to be a useful experience as far as medical school admissions goes.

[sarmed1]

Actually, an activity specifically designed to introduce someone to military medicine probably wouldn't be bad thing to put down. But nothing like that exists in CAP.

CAP seems to be adding more and more "orientation" programs every year..... they seem to start as local level programs initially, but with interest and support seem to find their way to "official" NCSA status eventually... so why not this one?

mk

[Eclipse]

Actually, an activity specifically designed to introduce someone to military medicine probably wouldn't be bad thing to put down. But nothing like that exists in CAP.

CAP seems to be adding more and more "orientation" programs every year..... they seem to start as local level programs initially, but with interest and support seem to find their way to "official" NCSA status eventually... so why not this one?

Because no one coming back from Aircraft Manufacturing & Maintenance Academy will call themselves an A&P, but you can bet cadets coming back
from the "Emergency & Field Medicine Academy" would be calling themselves "Medics".

[Flying Pig]

And once your an MD, volunteer with

http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/sheriff/volunteer/Search_Rescue.asp       

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opdZeyumPoU

and be awesome

[Fubar]

Because no one coming back from Aircraft Manufacturing & Maintenance Academy will call themselves an A&P, but you can bet cadets coming back from the "Emergency & Field Medicine Academy" would be calling themselves "Medics".

Please put this on a t-shirt. I'll take two.