Job: Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


Special Forces Teams are among the most specialized combat forces in the Army. They experience rigorous mental and physical training in order to carry out their missions in a quick and extremely effective manner. The Special Forces Medical Sergeant is a crucial member of this team and must be ready to perform a variety of tasks anywhere in the world on a moment's notice. Special Forces Soldiers in the Army will conduct offensive raids, demolitions, intelligence, search and rescue and other missions from air, land or sea. Special Forces Medical Sergeants are considered to be the finest first-response/trauma medical technicians in the world. Though they're primarily trained with an emphasis on trauma medicine, they also have a working knowledge of dentistry, veterinary care, public sanitation, water quality and optometry. Some of your duties as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant may include:

* Ensure detachment medical preparation
* Maintain medical equipment and supplies
* Provide examination and care to detachment members
* Provide initial medical screening and evaluation of allied and indigenous personnel
* Instruct and perform land and water navigation duties
* Order, store, catalog and safeguard medical supplies
* Supervise medical care and treatment during missions
* Operate a combat laboratory and treat emergency and trauma patients
* Develop and provide medical intelligence as required

Due to the wide variety of missions, Special Operations Medical Sergeants are trained swimmers, paratroopers and survival experts, as well as trained in many forms of combat. Training for the Special Operations Medical Sergeant consists of 60 weeks of formal classroom training and practice exercises. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Physical conditioning, parachuting, swimming and scuba diving
* Using land warfare weapons and communications devices
* Handling and using explosives
* Bomb and mine disposal

Helpful attributes include:

* Ability to work as a team member
* Readiness to accept a challenge and face danger
* Ability to stay in top physical condition
* Interest in medicine and science
* Ability to remain calm in stressful situations

As a member of a Special Operations Team, you're trained to defend against dangerous forces. As a Special Operations Medical Sergeant you will also receive valuable training in the field of medicine. The skills you acquire as a Special Operations Medical Sergeant will most certainly prepare you for a future civilian career in medicine, especially as an emergency medical technician. With additional medical training, you might consider a career as a physician's assistant.

* Special Forces Communications Sergeant (18E)
* Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C)
* Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B)
* Health Care Specialist (68W)
* Medical Laboratory Specialist (68K)
* Medical Logistics Specialist (68J)
* Operating Room Specialist (68D)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.