A combat or military medic serving in an armored division is a "trained soldier responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield" (Combat, 2008, p. 1). Military medics also provide ongoing medical care for soldiers in the absence of a physician, from treating non-battle injuries to fighting disease. Military medics go through a rigorous 16-week training program that is designed to put them on the same level of skill as a second-year medical resident (Cooper, 2006). Military medics serving in armor divisions purposefully put their lives at risk to care for other soldiers. As Marine General Robert Magnus asserts, "Whenever there is a soldier or Marine storming an enemy position, there is a corpsman or a medic that is right within sight" (Long, 2007, p. 4). This paper will discuss the role of the military medic serving in an armored division, including his or her training and purpose on the field of combat.
Combat or military medics have a variety of names. Since 2005 medics in the army have been referred to as 68Ws (Combat, 2008). Military medics are provided with a unique insignia that identifies them as military personnel. Under the Geneva Convention, knowingly firing at a military medic wearing visible insignia is a war crime (Combat, 2008). The following insignia is used by military medics serving in armored divisions in the U.S. military:
The colors maroon and white are used to stand for medical institutions. The serpents are traditionally associated with the healing professions, while the three-colored triangle at the base of the insignia mirrors the Armored Force insignia. The insignia was re-designated for use in 2006.
Despite being called by different names, all military medics share two things; they endure a rigorous training program and they have a specific mission serving in armor divisions. Military medics endure a grueling 16-week training sess...