Military Doctor Questions!

Hi! I'm 16 and for a few years I've been thinking of joining the military (as for which branch I'm still undecided!) in the medical department (or perhaps combat..)

Would an army doctor experience combat and be trained in weapons, or is that only for the combat medics? Which other military medical jobs would have weapon training involved?
To be a combat medic, could you enter during a medicine degree or is the training completely different?
I'm interested in the disaster relief and combat medicine so any other information would be helpful- I'd like to go to university thanks and sorry for the noob explosion of questions!!

Hey,

All roles within the British Army would require you to complete your Phase 1 training which, trains you how to become a Soldier.

So an Army Doctor would require you to hold a Degree: You must hold a degree in Medicine and full registration with the United Kingdom's General Medical Council. You can apply for a medical cadetship and other university sponsorship whilst you study.

As a qualified doctor you do the Professionally Qualified Officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After that you do your Defence Medical Services training, where you learn about subjects like disaster relief. After that it’s on to the Royal Defence Medical College for an intensive course in conflict surgery, military psychology and other Army-specific medical disciplines, before you choose your specialism.

You’re trained to deal with the specialist health problems found in the course of military duty, as well as the routine medical complaints found at home. You can specialise in general practice, hospital care or public health/occupational medicine. You also learn to lead and motivate those in your charge.

You could apply for role of a Combat Medical Technician, in which you would not need to hold a Degree and you would be a Soldier rather than an Officer.

After your basic Army training, where you learn essential combat and survival skills, you do a 23-week course that combines theoretical study with hands-on practice in medical centres and ambulance stations. You then join a medical regiment or field hospital for 18 months’ practical work experience.

You give emergency treatment, evacuate casualties and deal with the day-to-day medical needs of soldiers in conflict and peacetime. You work under the expert guidance of doctors in medical centres, or in the challenging conditions of a front-line base.

To apply for the role of a Combat Medical Technician, you would need to hold GCSEs or equivalent in Maths and English, grade A-C.There are other Medical Roles within the British Army that you are welcome to have a look at. Please have a browse through our role finder here: www.army.mod.uk/rolefinder

If you go to University, I would advise that you join your UOTC (University Officer Training Corps) http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/28464.aspx

If you would like to know anything else, please ask

Regards
ArmyJobs