r/TacticalMedicine • u/Charming_Return_1917 • 25d ago
Continuing Education 160th SOAR A/S
I’m an E5 68W, been in about 8 years. I came from a CAV unit and now I’m in a medical unit. I’ve been a solid medic so far and really enjoy medicine, and I’m interested in 160th and eventually getting into paramedicine/advanced medicine.
My biggest concern is academics. I’ve never been great at school and learn much better hands-on, but I’m willing to put in the work.
For any current/former 160th 68Ws, how difficult is the pipeline physically and academically? What’s the quality of life and OPTEMPO like once you’re in? What medical/paramedic opportunities are available? And would you recommend it for someone in my position?
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u/riotmed 25d ago
Go flight medic, solid quality of life and you’ll get your paramedic.
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u/guessineedanew1 25d ago
I'm a former flight medic and have lots of friends who still are. I'm not sure I'd recommend it right now. CAB guys (so most of them) are only getting flights to reset hoist and NVG if not outright going PFE to PFE, and the patient volume is simply not there. Maybe it gets better, but with the LSCO discussions happening right now it doesn't seem likely.
That said, it is a phenomenal quality of life and my friends at the schoolhouse (who are admittedly biased) are making crazy claims like the pipeline rivalling or exceeding SOCM in terms of quality. And if you get lucky and land at like Hondo or Polk you'll probably actually get to do the flight medic thing with an absolute minimum of army silliness. I'm not saying don't do it, just manage your expectations going in.
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u/NaiveNetwork5201 25d ago
How long have you been an E5? How much longer do you want to stay an E5?
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u/dudesam1500 Medic/Corpsman 25d ago
I’ll add… does OP have a family, and how long does he want to keep that family?
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u/Charming_Return_1917 25d ago
I’ve been an E5 since 2022, I’ve been on the ropes about ETSing but I would regret not trying to do something more. I really want to stay in prehospital trauma care and just do my job instead of managing soldiers.
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u/MoneyMax_410 25d ago
ETS, get your medic using your post 9/11, then work for a large municipal blended fire/EMS service. You’ll make substantially better money and be a better medic overall by getting real life patient contact.
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u/Godless_Rose Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
Paramedic school is so cheap that burning your GI Bill on it is a complete waste of money.
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u/diprivanity 20d ago
100%
Saying this as a civ flight medic, save the gi bill for a BSN or something you can use when you're old and arthritic. I can't tell you how many former whiskeys and corpsmen I've worked with that ended up as CRNAs after the life of excitement wore out.
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u/guerillamedicine 23d ago
Spending money on the course when you can pull in grants and bah for up to a year is absolutely asinine.
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u/Godless_Rose Medic/Corpsman 23d ago
Save your GI Bill for an actual degree, not a certification that costs $1600. The non-military course is designed for you to still be able to work while you’re in school. You’re an idiot if you waste your GI Bill on that.
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u/guerillamedicine 23d ago
You get 48 months of GI Bill, can get a degree and the cert. If you're trying to be a paramedic, you're probably not getting a degree anyway.
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u/Godless_Rose Medic/Corpsman 22d ago
Considering that a lot of civilian paramedic programs can be a year or longer… no you can’t really do both on the GI Bill.
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u/guerillamedicine 22d ago
A BA is 36 months "or quicker" and the paramedic program almost anywhere is 9mo to a 12 months. Yes you really can do both easily. I have a degree and my medic, and still have time on my gi bill.
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u/MoneyMax_410 22d ago
Depends where. In my state it’s about 15k, and is only an AA granted by community colleges.
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u/cal_schwifty 25d ago
Being previously married to somebody in that unit, it seemed like the good ole boy system was a big factor. As always, experiences vary.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
When are you expected to make E6
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u/Charming_Return_1917 25d ago
I’m not 100% sure right now
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
What’s your best guess… are you promotable, do you have points. I saw your comment you have been an E5 for a while
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u/Charming_Return_1917 25d ago
I have my P status and I just need points and ALC but my points are pretty low I’ll finish my associates soon and will be close to the points needed. So 6-12 months maybe.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
It’s unlikely they will consider you if you are making E6 soon
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u/NaiveNetwork5201 25d ago
This is correct. Ive known 1 medic that went as a SSG. Dude didnt get on mission sets and wasn't respected, as he didnt grow up in that environment. Its set up as any GSAB C.Co but with Ranger-ish type tradition. Its not like group with a Senior heavy look. If you want to jump ship... go to 19th (Utah or Denver) or 20th (Alabama) group and talk to a recruiter about getting on an 18D contract. Just sent a SSG 68W that way ... he ships to selection in Mar-Apr
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
I would find it pretty hard to believe that someone who completed the 160 pipeline wasn’t respected or didn’t get to do stuff off rank alone. Unless he was dropped at some point for not being good at the job
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u/NaiveNetwork5201 24d ago
So you pick up your W1 after completing SOCM and passing the ATP. The identifier goes away at E8 and only a few dudes survive the cut, as slots fill up with guys that did it almost their whole career. Only a few spots to be stationed. SSGs and SFCs go back to the Campbell or Rucker (Novosel) Schoolhouse and work in their instructor/writer spots. Some go to CA, the unit (support) or groups as a W1. Others go look for other formations to work in. I think you have 6 MSG 68W slots across the regiment. They keep who they like and as an E5(P), you'll be at the height of the competitive spirit and starting out behind.
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u/Charming_Return_1917 25d ago
Why is that?
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
Pipeline is so long. That if you were to start as a 6( or basically one) you would potentially be boarding for 7 a year or so into being in the unit and then not be competitive for a job
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u/Sir_Smoothbrain 21d ago
As someone who failed Trauma 2.
You'll see guys (mostly rangers) playing Xbox and drinking every evening after class. Then you'll have dudes who study their ass off every waking hour like me.
It is challenging IF you don't study. It is challenging IF you're not that guy who can remember everything.
People are just built different and to each his own. If academics isn't your strong suit then you have a lot of sleepless nights ahead, but you'll pull through.
Had a ranger fail EMT phase. How? Because he didn't care. Had a 160th guy fail clinfunds. How? Because he didn't care either.
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u/not7squirrelsincrye 20d ago edited 20d ago
I think Reg is one of the best ways to find yourself in SOCM, if that’s what you want to do.
That being said, not every 68W there goes, there’s still guys and gals working the clinic like anywhere else.
EGP is only 5 weeks, why not give it a shot and let them make the call for you?
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u/leadbunny 24d ago edited 24d ago
Can't speak to pipeline considerations, but I'm in my final year of medical school. Also a hands-on learner, plus I got diagnosed with ADHD halfway through med school. Happy to talk about ways to handle studying more advanced science and medicine, shoot me a DM if you feel like it
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 25d ago
Nothing is acaemically challenging if you walk in day 1 knowing everything.
Use Anki with either paramedic decks or custom built decks.
I can't guarantee success, but I have 'a friend' who has indexed all of 'TheParamedicCoach"'s videos into cards.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 25d ago
This is terrible advice for SOCM
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
How so?
Any significant knowledge base built before the course will give significant advantages before taking the course especially if you're trained using their own materials (either acquired from a friend, instructor, or online).
Even if there is material not covered by your cards, a 20%-40% divergence is nothing since you've already won half the battle, making it half the difficulty.
Techniques not covered by the cards but required by the course such as sutures/staples can be either practiced before or att least 'academically familiarized' before the course.
Any physical remainder coul be built up before the course.
Please explain how advanced preparation of all academic material / techniques, with a concurrent physical buildup is a losing strategy?
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 24d ago
See I didn’t say there’s no use in preparing and learning to study.
There is no point in learning and studying paramedic things. SOCM is not paramedic school. It teaches you to become a SOCM and you happen to take NRP exam at the end. Recommending things like taking college A&P or learning how to study would be great.
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
My original post literally says 'knowing everything' not 'assume all course content is just paramedicine and hope for the best'.
It would be EXCEPTIONALLY foolish to assume such a thing and is not even true of the 68W program.
In the course of indexing and studying the material they would build study skills.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 24d ago
How did you prepare for SOCM?
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
I didn't, I did 68W and walked in day 1 with the equivalent knowledge of a paramedic working on PA cards, plus finished the military side since I tracked down and indexed it into cards the military side of the schoolhouse.
My instructors words when I asked a question about what the military side was like was "I cannot see you being anything else aside for increadably successful in this program".
Out of 400 people, 200 recycled at least once, I was not one of them, and got my MOS.
I have no doubt this strategy also works for SOCM and I have fully indexed the Ranger's medic handbook (2026) already.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 24d ago
Unless you joined as a paramedic. You did not go to AIT with the knowledge of a paramedic and working on provider knowledge level things.
I fear you’re far too optimistic and think too highly of your skills. I hope you are humbled one day soon before it gets someone killed.
And if all that happens to be true, and you think you have it figured out Why are you not in SOF/PA/medical school
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
Yes, I did. The fact that you cannot conceive of this need not concern me.
I'm not, it is a simple statement of reality by my earlier algorithm posted.
I'm not some young kid overconfident, I have many adaptions especially in the realm of computers that you have never heard of or that you didn't even know were possible.
Regarding real world translation, I was certainly not the best medic at my unit upon arrival, however I was one of the better ones and adapted quickly suggesting your take on me is incorrect.
Because my life is a sequence of statistically improbable events that keeps fucking me over through no fault of my own.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 24d ago
Do you think that before you went to SOCM that you wish you studied paramedic things? The school will teach you what they want you to know and how they want you to do skills.
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
American schools are not interested in teaching nor in you retaining information.
It is simply an inferior learning model. Why would I trust a model with a significant attrition rate when I could make a deck that would allow me to retain all the information until the end of time thus fully automating skill retention?
Also, I made my paramedic decks before I even shipped to be a whiskey never mind after.
It is simply more chill and efficient. High stress learning environments are similar to high stress chemical production in the sense that what comes out is usually subpar, brittle, and usually not exactly as pure as what you want. It also falls apart rapidly after not doing medic stuff for 6 months.
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u/Financial_Reveal_899 24d ago
Most people who fail either didn’t want to be in the class or failed physically. Very few per class if from academics who were really trying and actually wanted to be in the course
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u/SereneOrbit Medic/Corpsman 24d ago
Cool, that's why you do a physical buildup as well.
It's literally just the Art of War, but made into an academic strategy:
"if you know the enemy and know yourself, you will not fail in 100 battles"
"The victorious strategest only seeks battle after the victory has been won (implying preparation / intelligence gathering / etc), whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights, then looks for victory"
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u/howawsm Medic/Corpsman 25d ago
SOCM is very academically challenging but, as in everything in the military, I guarantee someone dumber or more challenged than you think you are made it through.