Special Forces Medical Sergeant Job Requirements

The special operations medical sergeant employs conventional and unconventional warfare tactics and techniques in providing medical care and treatment.

Duties

Performs and maintains proficiency in all Major Duties- Ensures detachment medical preparation and maintains medical equipment and supplies, provides examination and care to detachment members and establishes temporary, fixed and unconventional warfare medical facilities to support operations with emergency, routine, and long-term medical care. Provides initial medical screening and evaluation of allied and indigenous personnel. Manages detachment, allied, or indigenous patient's, administration, admission and discharge, care, laboratory and pharmacological requirements and the initiation, maintenance and transfer of records. Orders, stores, catalogs, safeguards and distributes medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceutical. Supervises medical care and treatment during split detachment missions. Operates a combat laboratory and treats emergency and trauma patients in accordance with established surgical principles. Diagnoses and treats various medical dermatological, pediatric, infectious and obstetric conditions using appropriate medications, intravenous fluid support, and physical measures. Develops and provides medical intelligence as required.

Note: You cannot enlist with a guarantee for this MOS. New recruits interested in Special Forces may enlist under the 18X, Special Forces Enlistment Option. They then attend Infantry OSUT (basic training and infantry training in one course), and their Special Forces MOS (18B - Special Operations Weapons Sergeant, 18C - Special Operations Engineer, 18D - Special Operations Medical Sergeant, or 18E - Special Operations Communications Sergeant) is determined during the Special Forces Assessment and Selection portion of their training, based on their interests, qualifications, and the "needs of the Army."

Training Information

• 3 weeks of Airborne (parachute) Training at Fort Benning, GA
• 4 weeks at the Special Operations Preparation Course (SOPC) at McKenna MOUT Site, Fort Benning, GA.
• 30 days of Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), Fort Benning, GA.
• 40 days, Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), Phase I, Individual Skills Phase, Camp Rowe Training Facility.
• 57 weeks, Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), Phase 2, MOS Qualification Phase, Fort Bragg, NC
• 38 days, Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), Phase 3, Collective Training Phase, (location unknown)
• 4 to 6 months (depending on language), Special Forces Language School, Fort Bragg, SC.

Note: The Special Forces training pipeline is inarguably the toughest training program in the Army, and has a very high wash-out rate. Soldiers who are retraining into Special Forces, who fail any of the above training courses, revert to their primary MOS (job). New recruits, who enlist under the 18X Special Forces Enlistment Program, who fail to complete any of the above training courses, are reassigned as 11B, Infantryman.

ASVAB Score Required: 110 in aptitude area GT, and 100 in aptitude area CO

Security Clearance: Secret

Strength Requirement: No Standard Set.

Physical Profile Requirement: 111221

Other Requirements

• Red/Green color discrimination required
• Must be US Citizen
• Re-Trainees must be in the rank (paygrade) of E-4 to E-7
• Criminal history waivers (other than minor traffic offenses) are generally disqualifying
• Must have a minimum of 24 months remaining Time in Service (TIS) upon completion of the SFQC, or be able/willing to re-enlist, or extend enlistment agreement.
• Must not be barred to reenlistment or be under suspension of favorable personnel action.
• Must not have been convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action (such as Article 15).
• Must not have been terminated from SF, ranger, or airborne duty, unless termination was due to extreme family problems.
• Must not have 30 days or more "lost time" under USC 972 within current or preceding enlistment.
• Must be able to swim 50-meters wearing boots and battle dress uniform (BDU) prior to beginning the Special Forces Qualification Course.
• Must score a minimum of 229 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), with no less than 60 points on any event, using the standards for age group 17-21.
• This job is closed to women

Similar Civilian Occupations

There is no civilian occupation that is directly equivalent to MOS 18D. However, emergency medical technicians and paramedics make use of the skills developed through MOS 18D training and experience.