My Story: A Storeman's Appeal Fight to Be A Combatant Medic.
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Hello forum ,
Its been months since i graduated from BMT. Due to an injury + long status , i didnt manage to enter scs and was posted as a storeman(at least , thats the only reason i can think of why i didnt get in). Now that everything's cleared up and my pes status is again deemed combat fit, i have managed to convince my commanders that i belong to the combat side. I managed to 'impress' them with my background and told them i wanted to be a combat medic.
OC tells me that he's submitted the required documents for the change of vocation into a medic with the support of my CO and now , its just the wait , the longest wait.
I used to be able to get a silver in BMT but due to not having any motivation to do PT as a storeman , it's dropped to a fail. A few days ago after finally trying , i can barely do 4 chin ups. Now that there's finally a sense of hope , being able to learn something and not wasting 2 years doing saigang(no offence) , im determined to bring it back up to silver, or at least a pass before my change of vocation.
My question is , am i able to check with HQMC or anywhere regarding HQMC's intake ? i.e. when will they actually start taking in trainees as from what my commanders tell me , that is when ill be finally posted out. That date will be my goal for a silver , or at least a pass.
Secondly , Will i get f-ed if i enter the combat medics with a fail in ippt ? It is 'tough' and boring doing pt alone..With that , thank you forums :)
Regards
RuiQi -
Most probably you'll have to wait until the next intake.
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Hello taru ,
Thanks for the reply , i remb u were one of them who replied to my storeman thread as well :D
I understand id have to wait for the next intake but im curious as to its date. Hence why im wondering if HQMC is the place to enquire.
Feeling excited to go over yet worried the posting might take too bloody long(NS is 2 years , its long but still , id like to spend most of my 2years as a medic). My current fitness also worries me. (part of me hopes that the posting wont be too soon as i need to get my fitness back up) Wouldnt want to enter the combat side with a fail in IPPT.
Regards
RuiQi -
Originally posted by RuiQi Tan:
Hello taru ,
Thanks for the reply , i remb u were one of them who replied to my storeman thread as well :D
I understand id have to wait for the next intake but im curious as to its date. Hence why im wondering if HQMC is the place to enquire.
Feeling excited to go over yet worried the posting might take too bloody long(NS is 2 years , its long but still , id like to spend most of my 2years as a medic). My current fitness also worries me. (part of me hopes that the posting wont be too soon as i need to get my fitness back up) Wouldnt want to enter the combat side with a fail in IPPT.
Regards
RuiQiDon't ask HQMC lah, just ask your S1 or chief clerk. They should know better.
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Young man....
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It is so stupid to transfer to a combat medic. During the course, you need to be poked by 18 G IV needles like 20 times , which give marks on the forearms. You do learn CPR and other first-aids techniques, but they are really not so practical in real life.
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There are many vocations what makes u think it will be combat medic?
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Originally posted by Lokey:
It is so stupid to transfer to a combat medic. During the course, you need to be poked by 18 G IV needles like 20 times , which give marks on the forearms. You do learn CPR and other first-aids techniques, but they are really not so practical in real life.
where got IV 20x?unless your veins so good lah let people practise. now the paramedic first aid also taught in SCDF.
Then which vocation got used in real life?
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Young man, I am a combat medic spec.
Now, before you get caught up in the glamour and glitz (if any) about being a medic, ask yourself whether (as others have pointed out) you enjoy having an 18G cannula stuck into your arms at least ten times.
If you don't know what is 18G, look at a Yakult straw and imagine poking all of it into your forearm. Yeah, it's something like that.
And ten times is only if your buddy is an expert marksman. Otherwise, expect at least twenty times. And that is only during the course itself - once you've passed as a medic, expect to do it to others many, many times. And expect other medics to train their skills on your arms.
Then, think about what it is like to carry a medical fieldpack and stretcher out in the jungle. You think the FBO in BMT was heavy? Well, you'll be carrying double of that. While everyone else is fighting in SBO attire, you will be in double FBO.
Then after each battle while everyone is resting and doing re-org, you will be running from casualty to casualty, treating each one of them. And that includes shooting that 18G cannula into their arms if need be. In the jungle, in the mud, under the hot sun, while you're shagged as hell, with all the bengs screaming at you for inflicting pain on them.
Not trying to discourage you. Just trying to say it as it is.
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Come on guys, the topic already show....
SAF need young man like TS, at least his not aspired to be commando.
For honour and glory............
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Hello forum ,
Thanks for the replies :)
Havent been able to reply coz of camp but was given nights off today.
I am not going for the glory or the status but for the life skills i can learn. My elder brother passed away at home , infront of us , 2 months before i enlisted due to heart failure. Ever since then , i have had this strong intention of being an SAF medic. I understand there are always courses outside of SAF but this , will make me stronger both mentally and physically.
Personal stories aside , yes u are right , there will be times , many times where we suffer and suck thumb during our army lives , especially those in the combat side. But these times never last , and when we go through it , we become stronger , we become less afraid for the tougher days ahead. Many are right , why go through hardship (for honour and glory) when u can breeze through the 2 years peacefully and go back to civilian life. Not to wayang or so , but id like to ORD knowing that i have done my best in the army , as a corporal (since that is the highest rank men can attain prior to ORD)
I understand that BMT might be nothing compared to a combat medic but if i do get the transfer , no matter how sh--tty life gets or how unfair the treatment gets , i will never stop to regret my decision. I will have the mindset that at the end of the day , i am a step closer to achieving something and i will have something more to talk to my parents about.
I have failed to enter SCS , i now pray that with my OC's referral , HQMC will take me in. Again , thanks for the replies and peace out :)
Regards
RuiQi -
Young man, keep up the spirit.
I serve SAF from 1991-1999. Won't understand how 3G army is nowsday.
Due to desertion by SAF, I had no chance to serve my liabilities as a NSmen.
Keep that positive mind in you, which some of my nephews had lacked.
And lastly, enjoy your NSF life......
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Originally posted by fudgester:
Young man, I am a combat medic spec.
Now, before you get caught up in the glamour and glitz (if any) about being a medic, ask yourself whether (as others have pointed out) you enjoy having an 18G cannula stuck into your arms at least ten times.
If you don't know what is 18G, look at a Yakult straw and imagine poking all of it into your forearm. Yeah, it's something like that.
And ten times is only if your buddy is an expert marksman. Otherwise, expect at least twenty times. And that is only during the course itself - once you've passed as a medic, expect to do it to others many, many times. And expect other medics to train their skills on your arms.
Then, think about what it is like to carry a medical fieldpack and stretcher out in the jungle. You think the FBO in BMT was heavy? Well, you'll be carrying double of that. While everyone else is fighting in SBO attire, you will be in double FBO.
Then after each battle while everyone is resting and doing re-org, you will be running from casualty to casualty, treating each one of them. And that includes shooting that 18G cannula into their arms if need be. In the jungle, in the mud, under the hot sun, while you're shagged as hell, with all the bengs screaming at you for inflicting pain on them.
Not trying to discourage you. Just trying to say it as it is.
Nothg related to this thread.. Just a medic story i remembered when I was active.We were on those evaluation test, my medic is a nice guy but then also those attitude type of guy...during one excercise many men were declare casualty maybe 20 men, the meduc was running around like mad, keep shouting and requesting to arrange evacuation... the controller came around keep stressing him, shouting that casulaty critical, that caualty dying etc... and keep shouting at him, those dead, how? how?
He reply leaves them, the controller again shouted, how can you leave them, the other men seeing will feel demaoralise..
He dam TL shouted, Sir.. lay the dead in a straight line, I will request the APC come to roll them till no remains can be seen.....
The controller jaw drop..
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Let me refer you to
http://www.jeremyko.com/2012/04/staying-alive-and-injury-free-serving-the-saf/
might be relevant considering medics run, walk, jump with such heavy loads.
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Originally posted by fudgester:
Young man, I am a combat medic spec.
Now, before you get caught up in the glamour and glitz (if any) about being a medic, ask yourself whether (as others have pointed out) you enjoy having an 18G cannula stuck into your arms at least ten times.
If you don't know what is 18G, look at a Yakult straw and imagine poking all of it into your forearm. Yeah, it's something like that.
And ten times is only if your buddy is an expert marksman. Otherwise, expect at least twenty times. And that is only during the course itself - once you've passed as a medic, expect to do it to others many, many times. And expect other medics to train their skills on your arms.
Then, think about what it is like to carry a medical fieldpack and stretcher out in the jungle. You think the FBO in BMT was heavy? Well, you'll be carrying double of that. While everyone else is fighting in SBO attire, you will be in double FBO.
Then after each battle while everyone is resting and doing re-org, you will be running from casualty to casualty, treating each one of them. And that includes shooting that 18G cannula into their arms if need be. In the jungle, in the mud, under the hot sun, while you're shagged as hell, with all the bengs screaming at you for inflicting pain on them.
Not trying to discourage you. Just trying to say it as it is.
WTF? A staged exercise involves shotting real cannulas to the whole unit's men?
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Originally posted by "newbie":
Nothg related to this thread.. Just a medic story i remembered when I was active.We were on those evaluation test, my medic is a nice guy but then also those attitude type of guy...during one excercise many men were declare casualty maybe 20 men, the meduc was running around like mad, keep shouting and requesting to arrange evacuation... the controller came around keep stressing him, shouting that casulaty critical, that caualty dying etc... and keep shouting at him, those dead, how? how?
He reply leaves them, the controller again shouted, how can you leave them, the other men seeing will feel demaoralise..
He dam TL shouted, Sir.. lay the dead in a straight line, I will request the APC come to roll them till no remains can be seen.....
The controller jaw drop..
Well he's doing ok.....priority given to those that can be save.
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Originally posted by alize:
WTF? A staged exercise involves shotting real cannulas to the whole unit's men?
Why so surprised? In war, this is the kind of thing medics have to do anyway. We practice in peacetime so that we can do the job properly in wartime.
I once got f**ked by my brigade commander when he witnessed one of my platoon medics missing a vein.
And that was in Brunei, right after a dawn deliberate attack, which was preceded by the infamous Mt Biang, river crossing and the Seven Knolls.
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Originally posted by tarutaru:
Well he's doing ok.....priority given to those that can be save.
Which is true. Dead soldiers are given the lowest priority.
After all, you can't bring back the dead. But you can still stop the living from being dead.
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Originally posted by fudgester:
Why so surprised? In war, this is the kind of thing medics have to do anyway. We practice in peacetime so that we can do the job properly in wartime.
I once got f**ked by my brigade commander when he witnessed one of my platoon medics missing a vein.
And that was in Brunei, right after a dawn deliberate attack, which was preceded by the infamous Mt Biang, river crossing and the Seven Knolls.
Agreed. But did the COL volunteer his vein first?
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Originally posted by alize:
Agreed. But did the COL volunteer his vein first?
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Hello forum ,
16th July , that's the confirmed date of my posting to HQMC in Nee Soon camp as a trainee.
I can't believe it , i got it. After waiting for so long , thinking everyday about whether my appeal will be a success , its finally over. My OC told me the chances of revocating from a storeman to a medic was actually slim but due to my background and history , i got extremely lucky.
I will never be able to thank them enough for helping me change my NS life. All i can do is work hard. I know it'll only get tougher beyond this point , but what we experience are nothing compared to those soldiers out there fighting a war at this moment. If they can get through it , we definitely can , at least , this is one of the things i say to myself to push on. I cant promise those who helped me that i'll be the best , but ill definitely put everything i can to my new vocation.
Ill definitely have more to ask in the near future but atm , thank you forums for the advices in this thread :)
Regards
RuiQi -
Originally posted by RuiQi Tan:
Hello forum ,
16th July , that's the confirmed date of my posting to HQMC in Nee Soon camp as a trainee.
I can't believe it , i got it. After waiting for so long , thinking everyday about whether my appeal will be a success , its finally over. My OC told me the chances of revocating from a storeman to a medic was actually slim but due to my background and history , i got extremely lucky.
I will never be able to thank them enough for helping me change my NS life. All i can do is work hard. I know it'll only get tougher beyond this point , but what we experience are nothing compared to those soldiers out there fighting a war at this moment. If they can get through it , we definitely can , at least , this is one of the things i say to myself to push on. I cant promise those who helped me that i'll be the best , but ill definitely put everything i can to my new vocation.
Ill definitely have more to ask in the near future but atm , thank you forums for the advices in this thread :)
Regards
RuiQiEnjoy. Seek, save , serve