Transitioning to civilian medical career (USMC)

[BStinn007]

Hello, My name is Brandon. I joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and am now 22 and living in Hazel Green, WI. I have no college education for Emergency Medical Services however while I was in the Marine Corps, much like every other Marine, I was certified in CLS/TCCC/TCEC (Combat Life Saver, Tactical Combat Care Course, Tactical Combat Evacuation Course) as well as Basic and Intermediate Swim Qualifications, Submerged Vehicle Egress Training, and Marine Combat Water Survival Training. My question to all of you is how can I get my foot in the door with these qualifications, that so far seem pointless in the civilian world, at a Fire Department or an Emergency Medical Company? Is there a way to use these qualifications to bypass the requirement for a degree and get hired at a department and just undergo in-service training to eventually move to Firefighter/Paramedic status?

 

[DesertMedic66]

Since you are not certified to the EMT or paramedic level you will first need to obtain that training and get certified/licensed. All of the agencies around me will give "bonus points" for being in the military (unless you were dishonorably discharged). Really the only other cert that you have that may help you out is the TCCC.

EMS doesn't usually involve water aerobic type activities.

 

[VentMonkey]

My question to all of you is how can I get my foot in the door with these qualifications, that so far seem pointless in the civilian world, at a Fire Department or an Emergency Medical Company? Is there a way to use these qualifications to bypass the requirement for a degree and get hired at a department and just undergo in-service training to eventually move to Firefighter/Paramedic status?

Hello Brandon, thanks for your service. In short, not that I am aware of. I would strongly suggest whatever money you can get out of your G.I. bill would be best suited towards pursuing an education in whatever it is you have in mind.

Also, if FF/PM is your end goal, perhaps take some fire tech courses, and see if you like it enough to follow through with. Take an EMT course as well, find yourself a part-time EMT job somewhere while getting a degree, preferably a bachelors of some sort applicable to your chosen career-path. If you find that you still enjoy prehospital care all while going through school, working a PT EMT job, and applying at FD's, then give paramedic school a shot.

Above all, please don't just become a paramedic to get your foot in the door at a fire department, or if the fire service remains your true passion.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Hello, My name is Brandon. I joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and am now 22 and living in Hazel Green, WI. I have no college education for Emergency Medical Services however while I was in the Marine Corps, much like every other Marine, I was certified in CLS/TCCC/TCEC (Combat Life Saver, Tactical Combat Care Course, Tactical Combat Evacuation Course) as well as Basic and Intermediate Swim Qualifications, Submerged Vehicle Egress Training, and Marine Combat Water Survival Training. My question to all of you is how can I get my foot in the door with these qualifications, that so far seem pointless in the civilian world, at a Fire Department or an Emergency Medical Company? Is there a way to use these qualifications to bypass the requirement for a degree and get hired at a department and just undergo in-service training to eventually move to Firefighter/Paramedic status?

These quals do not translate to the civvie world. Use you GI Bill to go to medical school or RN. Senior Chief sends.

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[Carlos Danger]

As others have said, the qualifications you earned in the Marines will unfortunately not transfer to the civilian in the EMS/Fire world. That doesn't mean they are meaningless; many employers will look very favorable on your military background.

But you still have to get the civilian qualifications. There's probably no way to bypass the degree requirement, and there's definitely no way to bypass the requirement for civilian certifications (EMT, Firefighter I & II, etc).

Probably your best option is to find a community college with a two-year degree program in Fire Science, and use your GI bill. These programs usually include EMT certification, all the basic firefighting stuff, as well as some basic gen ed courses.

 

[MackTheKnife]

These quals do not translate to the civvie world. Use you GI Bill to go to medical school or RN. Senior Chief sends.

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Medic school.

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[SAREMT]

PM me if you want to talk more in depth. This is basically the track you need to go. EMT first, go to a fire academy, get an EMT job or start volunteering to get experience, start knocking out any prerequisites for medic school while working as an EMT/volunteering/reserving at an FD, go to medic school after sufficient EMT experience and prereqs completed, get your degree. EMS and fire are far more certification based rather than degree based as opposed to other professions.

Preferably you could be getting experience part time as an EMT while you're in an academy, but if you can't, do the academy first. The first step though is getting your EMT. I've seen numerous people go to an academy only to discover that EMS was not for them, and they wasted a lot of time getting fire certs. They either thought it was stupid, or they simply couldn't handle the work load. It is an intensive course for someone that hasn't really been exposed.

I would suggest you get your feet wet asap to see if it really is for you. DON'T be a paramedic if you only want to be a firefighter.

 

[akflightmedic]

DON'T be a paramedic if you only want to be a firefighter.

I agree, however sadly in many places, becoming a Medic is the ONLY way to be a firefighter. Florida especially....when you have 1000s competing for the same position, being a paramedic puts you ahead of the hundreds or more of EMTs.

 

[Carlos Danger]

Also keep in mind that most community colleges will give you a lot of credit towards a 2 year degree for your military experience and credentials.

 

[E tank]

I'm with @Remi. Whatever you do, exploit your GI bill toward a bachelors degree somewhere in the plan. You can't drag hose and lift stretchers forever and a bachelors will ease the transition from the field to a desk a lot.