Army combat medic specialists are the skilled Soldiers who administer field medical care in combat and humanitarian situations around the world.
While their wartime role is critical, Army combat medics are valuable assets year-round, ensuring Soldier health and maintaining medical readiness.
Sgt. Ronald Brown, assigned to the Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, and Spc. Luke Escamilla, assigned to the Headquarters Support Company, 4th Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Division Sustainment Brigade, both in the 4th Infantry Division are combat medics with almost 11-years of service between the two of them.
As a pre-med student in college who felt lost, Brown discovered the option of enlisting in the Army as a combat medic.
“I love every part of it,” said Brown. “I love the impact, whether it's from being a line medic or being in the clinic. I still have the ability to just readily assist and help people with their issues. I’ve never once regretted it.”
Escamilla has stood in many positions as a combat medic, including being in a line unit at Fort Cavazos, Texas and working in an emergency room hospital at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. Now, he works at a sustainment brigade clinic.
“I'm getting a lot of clinical experience, like learning a lot of medical terms and practicing a lot of different tests and I get to work with the providers”, said Escamilla. “They're pretty good here, like if you don't know something, you can ask them and then they'll show you how to do it. And then they'll show you a bunch of resources you can also access to do it too.”
The focus of a combat medic is to provide expert care in a field environment. Dispensing medical care to Soldiers, as well as humanitarian efforts such as disaster relief to citizens, is an incredible chance to further your education in medicine while helping others.
“You have to be a special type of person to want to do this, because you're going to get a gut check,” said Brown. “Especially when you go into the combat portion and they drive home the realities, and you have to make sure that you are mentally prepared for that.”
Combat medics often take the position as leaders within their units, managing medical emergencies and training others. This experience fosters leadership skills that are valuable in any career path, especially in a military environment.
Brown said, “If you are sound, and you know that this is what you want to do, and just need to dedicate yourself to this.”
While the career of a combat medic is demanding, it offers a unique blend of challenge, purpose, and personal growth. If a path that pushes Soldiers to the limits, allows the opportunity to make a real difference, and provides unparalleled experiences, then becoming an Army Combat Medic is the perfect adventure.
