Shot out...
I started paramedic school this pass Monday. I completed EMT-basic class in December. During my basic class my instructor talked about different career opportunities within EMS. Other then 911 the one that interest me the most is tactical EMS. I plan on taking a tactical medical operator course over the summer and get my TEMT certificate. My question is how do you find TEMS jobs? I plan on living in either Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland or Virginia and working primary 911 in a medium busy system (8-12 average call per shift). If anyone can help me out I would greatly appreciate it.
I'm not gonna shoot. But what I am going to do is provide a little bit of a lens to help "that private" focus. When looking at any "cool guy" job, rather than focusing on how cool it is, how about looking at what unique skills or abilities that you can bring to your team.
How has your life brought you to the conclusion that you would be a good fit, or even what differentiates you from the next "cool guy" who wants the t-shirt? Do you bring a wealth of patient contact and clinical time, and working in environments that they work in? Do you even understand what they do, much less what your role would be, and how you're a good fit?
Are you physically fit? Because if you are in the stack, you will be carrying a standard load out, as well as medical gear, and expected to not only move well with the team, but when they're hurt, your work starts, so if your fitness level is the same as your team, you're anywhere near ready.
How is your planning/project management skills? You're going to need to be a constant resource for that commander, not only having an idea of how to stabilize prior to evac, planning the evac, coordination with local EMS and resources, contigency planning, risk assessments, but also medical assessments for your team prior to any activity.
How are your instructor skills? You need to be able to instruct a version of TCCC to your team, or whatever you feel that your team will need to be able to perform should you not be there or are incapacitated. You may have to brief local EMS on how your operations are conducted, hot/warm/cold zones, and how patients will come from your team to their transport.
How is your understanding of finances as they impact an organization, and balancing the needs/wants of a team, as it affects your plan as the medic? There are limited budgets for most teams, and everyone wants the latest "cool guy" gadget, can you adequately define why the IFAKs for your team need to take priority? Can you sell why the medical training you need to give your guys is more important than another round in the shoot house which everyone else wants to do? Can you convince your guys that it's important?
Do you have a solid understanding of what is going on with high velocity trauma, and the skills that are needed to stabilize it until your team can exfil the patient to transport?
What is your understanding of protective operations and how medical planning fits into the operational plan?
All these questions are things that I've learned the hard way. As a tactical medic, the title is cool and you can wear the t-shirt, the reality of what I've learned is that you are a worried mom, constantly planning, mitigating risk, juggling a bunch of balls, trying to keep bad things from happening, fighting for your team, stealing everything you can't get authorization to buy, training, researching, clinical rotations to keep your p/erishable skills fresh, and if you're not on a dedicated team (very few, even fewer with medics) all that, balanced with your regular job.
All that is after you've found a team that will work with you. There is no week long course that is going to teach you this job. Any EMT can find a podunk police department with a couple of fat guys in black and velcro with M-4s and tag along, maybe even get the patch. Being a proficient tactical medic is an entire world different...