I'm here to ask about medical careers in the Air Force. From what I've gathered from my recruiter, I'm primarily interested in 4N0X1 Medical Service, which i understand to be the root to IDMT (Independent Duty Medical Technician) and somewhat tied to Aeromedical. Now my recruiter has told me that it's pretty rare to send recruits into the medical field and I'd just like a second opinion on this. I know for sure that I want to serve in the military and I'm also sure that I want to go into medical. However, I don't want to join the Air Force just to find out that they don't need me in the medical field and wind up doing something completely unrelated. It might be worth mentioning that A) I have 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/200 in the other that is uncorrectable. B) I have 70 college credits. C) I've scored highly on all three practice ASVABs, not that I consider these a very reliable prediction for how I'll do on the real one.

So you cant just walk into a recruiter's office and say I'm only interested in medical jobs and stick to your guns? That is if you have plenty of time to spare and chill in DEP. Your best bet is to take the real ASVAB and see where you rack and stack

My daughter is a med tech (soon to be an IDMT), so I can answer most of what you are asking.
Aeromedical evacuation IS 4N0X1,, my daughter did that for 5 years. First at Ramstien and then at Kadena (with deployments to some not so nice places). Then with 10 YIS and an E6 she was told to "volenteer" for IDMT or get out of the service. IDMT is now a completly different AFSC, and you must have 4 years of direct patient care under your belt before you are eligable to volenteer for it. Then you start over as a 3 level after 13 weeks at Sheppard, and get to do your CDCs all over again. IDMTs now get a reenlistment bonus, but the way I calculatet it out, no one will ever be eligible for it because of the other time requirements.
Zone A- 17mos to 6yrs TIS
Zone B- 6-10 yrs TIS
Zone C- 10-14 yrs TIS
Zone E- 18-20 yrs TIS
only zones A&B get the bonus, since you have to reenlist before going to IDMT school you will have been in for ten years before the bonus comes in to play.
It is one of only a handfull of AFSC that doesn't get enough volenteers, so the AF will just "ask" you to volenteer if they want you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: blunder1,

What medical AFSC would be the equivalent of an EMT?

4N0X1, Understand tho' that there are three different levels, paramedic (NOT PJ) being the highest.
The three test levels are NREMT-B, NREMT-I, and NREMT-P

as a 4N0X1 though you'll get your EMT certs but wont neccesary be operating as one unless on ambulance duty. That means working Family Practice or whatever rotation your on around the clinic

Thanks for your help. Couldn't decipher those damn military descriptions.

This is the job I want to retrain into, but even if I'm not on Ambulance duty 24/7 it's still better than the maintenance world....and at least it'll be a job I can get in the civilian world unlike my current one.

quote:

Originally posted by afdude2018:
Thanks for your help. Couldn't decipher those damn military descriptions.

This is the job I want to retrain into, but even if I'm not on Ambulance duty 24/7 it's still better than the maintenance world....and at least it'll be a job I can get in the civilian world unlike my current one.

awsome, the civilian world is hurting for EMT,medical types especially if you want to pursue nursing. Best of luck to ya

I'll stick with the EMT paramedic type stuff. Few people in my family are EMT's and I know I'll like that job.

quote:

Originally posted by blunder1:
4N0X1, Understand tho' that there are three different levels, paramedic (NOT PJ) being the highest.
The three test levels are NREMT-B, NREMT-I, and NREMT-P

There are three test levels, but it is actually three certification levels, an important distinction.

NREMT certification is a snapshot of capabilities that independently verifies and attests what is known and the level of performance expected. It is a verification tool used to ensure that people have the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others in the providing of emergency medical treatments and procedures outside of a trauma center or medical treatment facility. The higher the level or degree of certification the more qualification present to do higher reasoning, higher knowledge, and more demanding problem solving medical procedures with the lesser direct supervision and close proximity presence of a physician.

More importantly qualification training is done before certification, thus the level of certification validates the level of qualification training completed. For Pararescue the certification is the expected level of performance expected that opens access to real-world training in civilian trauma centers, civilian EMS to perform surgical and other skills to adjunct academic theory and training simulations.

Also the PJ AFSC (1T2X1) is the only AFS having requirement all holding the AFSC regardless of rank, grade, skill level (3, 5, 7 & 9) that requires all members to hold current NREMT Paramedic certification.

NREMT-B certification is the mandatory certification required for award of and qualification to perform duties within all 4NO AFSCs and duty positions regardless of skill level. This includes the following specific enlisted duties: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT), Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (AET), Hyperbaric Medical Technician (HBMT); Allergy and/or Immunization Technician (AIT), Special Operations Command (SOC) Medic, Dialysis Medical Technician (DMT), Critical Care Technician (CCT), or Neurology Technician (NT) functions.

The 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4H, 4J, 4M, 4N1, 4P, 4R, 4T, 4V, and 4Y enlisted and medical AFCS have no mandatory NREMT-B or higher EMT certification requirements.

The IDMT is a C-alpha shred out of the 4N0X1 AFSC. A 3-skill level performing IDMT (4N0X1C duties is unlikely. Prior qualification in and possession of PAFSC 4N051/71 and 3 years experience practicing as a 4N0XX with two years of direct patient care time is mandatory prerequisite to enter into training required for award of the C shred out.

Performing 4NOX1C duties other than in Special Operations duty position do not require Paramedic certifications. The standard is “Qualification to perform duties at an isolated location according to the provisions of AFI 48-123”.


The 2008 4N0 SRBs effective 15 Sept 08 are:

4N0X1 Aerospace Medical Service Zone A---------------------1.0
4N0X1B Aerospace Med Serv, Neurology Zone A ----------------1.0
4N0X1C Aerospace Med Serv, IDMT Zone A and B-----------------2.0
4N1X1B Surgical Service, Urology Zone A and B----------------1.0
4N1X1C Surgical Service, Orthopedics Zone A and B-----------1.0
4N1X1D Surg Serv, Otorhinolaryngology Zone A and B----------1.0

FYI: The only Air Force AFSC that does require all members to hold current NREMT-Paramedic certification, 1T2X1, has Zone A, B, AND C---7.0 SRBs.

Zone E is 18-20 years of service and there are no AFSCs approved to get a Zone E SRB. However those members of the 1T2X1 of E-5, E-6, and E-7 rank and grade still having the functional fitness to perform duties after serving twenty years are eligible for critical skills retention bonuses of $10,000 to $40,000 if they commit to and reenlist after serving beyond twenty years of service. The 7.0 SRB for zone A,B, and C gives a good indicator of which end of the scale 1T2X1 is compared to other critical skills retention AFSCs which does not include any 4N0 enlisted medical AFSCs.

The Air Force has only one AFSC that requires all members performing duties of the AFSC to obtain and sustain current NREMT Paramedic certification. It is only this AFSC that gives all its members equal opportunity to use the skills and qualification of paramedic level certification, because all members of this AFSC get the same being there performing and participating opportunity.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: johca,

quote:

Originally posted by 19205342:
I'm here to ask about medical careers in the Air Force. From what I've gathered from my recruiter, I'm primarily interested in 4N0X1 Medical Service, which i understand to be the root to IDMT (Independent Duty Medical Technician) and somewhat tied to Aeromedical. Now my recruiter has told me that it's pretty rare to send recruits into the medical field and I'd just like a second opinion on this. I know for sure that I want to serve in the military and I'm also sure that I want to go into medical. However, I don't want to join the Air Force just to find out that they don't need me in the medical field and wind up doing something completely unrelated. It might be worth mentioning that A) I have 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/200 in the other that is uncorrectable. B) I have 70 college credits. C) I've scored highly on all three practice ASVABs, not that I consider these a very reliable prediction for how I'll do on the real one.

4N0X1 is an Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman/Craftsman. Yes, it is the AFSC if you want to become an IDMT. We get brand new airman into the career field all the time; whether it is 4N0X1, 4A0X1 (Health Mgmt), 4Y0X1 (Dental), etc. There are plenty of medical career fields to choose from. I don't know if your vision would disqualify off hand. But coming into the AF in a medical AFSC is not rare.

My daughter graduates from IDMT school next Thursday

Congratulations to your daughter. Is she AF, or does she have some other affiliation? If she's AF, do you know where she'll be stationed?

quote:

Originally posted by blunder1:
My daughter graduates from IDMT school next Thursday

Congrats to her. IDMT school is no joke. Out of 4 years of college, Paramedic school, and all the other things I have done....IDMT was the most challenging.

Now comes the hard part...remembering it all.

She'll love the annual recert times....argh. Sustainment training is a bit£$. But at the end of the day...it's a great job. There are many opportunities for IDMTs within the AF. She should make the most of it.

Yes, she is AF (an E-6)She flew Aeromedical Evac for five years, so she is well "seasoned"
She has been freeked beyond words at times during this school, and says it has been about the hardest thing she has ever done.
She is stationed at Bolling now, but will be transfering to Mountain Home (4 hour drive from home)

And yes I am flying down to Sheppard for her graduation!

Very proud dad

This is probably the best time to come in as a 4N0X1. Manning is being prepped for FHI (Family Health Initiative) and technician slots are gonna be plentiful. If you want to become a paramedic and have the AF pay for it, they just started a EMT-P SEI and should be taking names before too long. Been doing this for 8 years and it hasn't gotten old yet. Managed to stay out of clinical work and been EMS for about 5 years. Its a lot more addicting than the other jobs we can do. Stick to your guns and get what you want guaranteed in writing.

quote:

Originally posted by 9252535:
If you want to become a paramedic and have the AF pay for it, they just started a EMT-P SEI and should be taking names before too long.

Is that something say ,I become NREMT-P and not in the medical careerfield would I be able to crosstrain over into you think or is that for folks already 4N?

You would have to be prior 4N so you know the other aspects of the career field since we deal with physiology and a lot of other stuff that isn't emergency driven. If you did crosstrain though and had the paramedic license, you would just submit paperwork to receive the SEI.

before you get excited about being a medic, you have to understand how truthful your recruiter was being. out of a list of about 90 jobs that my squadron gets, maybe 3 are medical. also, there are about 40 people that have medical down on their list. so, what are those college credits for? if they're medical related you can get a "competency booking" since you're already familiar with the area.
good luck!