Life After Being an Army Medic: What Jobs are Available?

If you have spent time as a health care specialist in the army, then you may be wondering what jobs are available outside of the forces. As someone who has spent time as a trained medic, doctor or nurse in potentially life-threatening situations, you will be uniquely qualified for a number of jobs. Even if you’re looking for a career in medicine that isn’t related to the armed forces at all, you will still find a plethora of options open to you.

Paramedic

As someone who has served in the armed forces, you will be accustomed to having to react quickly to life-threatening situations. Being a paramedic will depend on your ability to think fast and also be quite physically fit. As someone who has worked in the medical field and the military, you already have experience in transporting injured and sick patients to and from locations and vehicles. This field of work is actually expected to see growth in 2020 in terms of the number of jobs available. So, if you’re considering this field of work, you won’t be out of a job anytime soon.

Healthcare Manager

You may have found that your ability to make life or death decisions and think on your feet has made you quite a good leader. If this is something you have considered, you may want to consider healthcare management. It might be worth your while to look around for MSN MBA job opportunities that are related to this sector. If you are worried about being under-qualified, you can always take an online course to boost your managerial education.

Intermediate Care Technicians

You may have heard that, in some states, there is a distinction made between army medics and civilian doctors; affecting some ex-military medics’ ability to get employed outside the forces. The role of ‘Intermediate Care Technician’, or ICT, was developed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, and it helps to establish former army medics within the healthcare system. This is a great program to enroll on if you wish to not only go back into healthcare, but also want to help improve the connection between veterans and the healthcare system as a whole.

Low-ranking Medical Roles

If you want to return to the medical field, but don’t want to re-enter a role of extreme responsibility, then there are still plenty of options for you. Positions such as phlebotomist and ultrasound technician do not require a degree to operate, but they will still benefit from your knowledge. Lower-ranking positions such as these could be a great way to re-introduce yourself into civilian life.

Re-entering the civilian workplace can be challenging for some veterans. However, there are a variety of options open to you, including some specialized programs. By enrolling in education and programs such as ICTs, you will find yourself back in the healthcare system in no time. Your experiences as a former army medic will give you a unique perspective and set of abilities.