Medical skills and procedures are perishable skills that require practice throughout the year. Training for Army Medics that is both technical and tactical is crucial for the Soldier to perform their duties.
The Medical Education and Demonstration of Individual Competence (MEDIC) course is one of many medical education courses offered here at Fort Knox.
“This course is an annual requirement for 68Ws, as it provides them with continuing education units, used towards their biannual recertification,” said Nicholas Laughlin, training specialist for MEDDAC Fort Knox.
The National Registry of EMTs requires 40 hours of continuing education units (CEU). On top of those requirements the military requires 68Ws to complete 72 hours of CEUs and are required to complete a skills validation prior to submitting their recertification application.
“This class only had five people in it, but I think the smaller class made it more beneficial,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Gooding, healthcare NCO, Ireland Army Health Clinic. “The MEDIC course doesn’t change often but being in a smaller class creates discussions about things that we have seen or done beyond the course material.”
The course goes through seven tables of medical skills. They are:
Table I – Trauma Assessment and Treatment
Table II – Airway Management
Table III – Intravenous Access, Medications and Management
Table IV – Medical Assessment and Treatment (including CBRN)
Table V – Triage and Evacuation
Table VI – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Management
Table VII – Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatric Treatment
After completing the course work, there is a culminating event, Table VIII, the annual combat medic skills validation test. The test includes a trauma assessment and a medical assessment.
“The trauma assessment is combat focused and requires the medic to recognize and treat trauma related injuries quickly and know what positive and negative effects will occur when that treatment is applied,” said Gooding.
The medical assessment is generally slower paced, but requires more the problem is not always obvious. It can require more critical thinking to discover the diagnosis. “Today we saw an axillary wound for the trauma lane, and a food allergy for the medical lane,” said Laughlin.
Both assessments require that medics are familiar with airway, circulatory issues, communication and evacuation procedures, and completing the necessary documentation. Once completed, they will receive 48 hours of CEUs.
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