Medical Service Technicians

Background

In emergencies or in combat, physicians are not always immediately available to treat the injured or wounded. When a physician is not available, medical service technicians provide basic and emergency medical treatment. Medical service technicians assist medical officers in caring for sick and injured patients.

What They Do

Medical service technicians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Examine and treat emergency or battlefield patients
• Give shots and medicines to patients
• Interview patients and record their medical histories
• Keep health records and clinical files up to date
• Prepare blood samples for laboratory analysis
• Take patients' temperature, pulse, and blood pressure

Physical Demands

Medical service technicians may have to lift and carry wounded or injured personnel during emergency situations. Air medical evacuation specialists must pass a flight physical exam.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work under stressful conditions
• Interest in helping others

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Algebra
• Biology
• Chemistry
• General science
• Psychology

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Medical service technicians usually work in hospitals and clinics on land or aboard ships. Medical service technicians may give emergency medical treatment in the field.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of 16 to 54 weeks of classroom instruction, depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Basic nursing care
• Clinical laboratory procedures
• Emergency medical treatment
• Methods for diagnosing diseases
• Minor surgical procedures
• Study of the human body

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian medical service technicians work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. They perform duties similar to those performed by medical service technicians in the military. Civilian medical service technicians are known for the type of work they do: emergency medical technicians treat victims of accidents, fire, or heart attacks; medical assistants work for physicians and perform routine medical and clerical tasks; medication aides give shots and medicine under the close supervision of physicians; and physician assistants perform routine examinations and treatment for physicians.

Related Civilian Careers

• Emergency Medical Technicians

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 27,000 medical service technicians. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new technicians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, technicians are assigned to serve in their medical specialty. They work under the direction and supervision of medical officers and experienced medical service technicians. Eventually, they may advance to supervisory positions and help manage a medical facility.