To qualify as an Air Force medic, you must first enlist in the Air Force and then complete medical training. Doctors and nurses can also apply for other positions in the Air Force, and the requirements for becoming an Air Force doctor or nurse are slightly different. People who join the Air Force to become medics can either stay in the service for the rest of their lives or take their skills to the civilian world after they leave. Hospitals, ambulance services, and law enforcement response teams all employ trained medics.
People must be in good physical and mental health to enlist. They’ll have to pass a physical exam, and a background check will reveal any incidents in their past that could prevent them from serving. People with prior felony convictions, for example, may be barred from serving. A recruiter for the Air Force can assess someone interested in joining and offer advice on how to meet the requirements, such as physical fitness routines to help people get in shape.
A potential Air Force medic will go through basic training after being recruited. If the enlistee is found to be a good candidate for medical training, she will be assigned to a facility where she will receive paramedic-level training alongside other Air Force members. Enlistees will learn how to provide medical care as well as how to work safely under fire and in combat zones. A medic can be assigned to a unit and stationed on a base or sent into combat with other support personnel after completing training.
As an Air Force medic, you’ll have the opportunity to travel to many different parts of the globe, providing health care to Air Force members and their families, as well as allied personnel and civilians in some cases. Members of the Air Force have access to retirement plans, health care, and other benefits, and medics are provided with housing and food as well as a stipend.
The Air Force pays for continuing education and encourages its employees to take advantage of new learning opportunities. When applying for jobs after leaving the Air Force, an Air Force medic has a high level of training that can be a valuable asset. People with prior military experience are valued by tactical support teams that assist law enforcement, and skilled medics are always needed on ambulances, in hospitals, and in other clinical settings.