Healthcare Specialist [Sergeant / E-5]
CurrentA military occupational specialty in which one is, "primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at the point of wounding on the battlefield, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness", but also extends to clinical care in more established settings. My personal experience outside of training, where I received a National Certification as an EMT, has been during a 4-month activation in NYC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was originally tasked to work on multiple testing sites where I conducted approximately 2,500 COVID tests before I was relocated to the Battalion Aid Station. In the BAS I was responsible for competently treating soldiers' conditions, independently or as a team. My duties included assessing soldiers' conditions, creating a plan of care, documenting the visit and care given, as well as presenting patients to a higher level of care when necessary. Aside from patient treatment, our team was responsible for expanding our medical knowledge and practicing our skills when the time was available, maintaining the inventory during our respective shifts, and assisting in any other task as directed by our leadership.Activations or deployments vary greatly with responsibilities depending on the situation and delegation of resources. If not on active duty, the National Guard conducts drills one weekend per month, with a scheduled annual training approximately 2 weeks every year, to maintain skills and discipline to preserve a proficient, experienced force ready to provide aid whenever necessary.
