EMT Club

[RagingBull]

I would like to preface this and state I have already tried reaching out to other resources directly about this inquiry. I was wondering if any parents or current cadets could pass along some information about the EMT club. I was told it was a thing by my Cadet host for Genesis, but I was looking to gain some more info.

 

[Haveaniceday]

Not sure about the EMT club, but some cadets do take an EMT class at Conn College next door to the academy as a semester elective. I think it is pretty intense like a 5 unit elective and you have do to a ride along in an ambulance and some ER time as well as classroom. I believe they do some volunteer EMT work. Also, for example during Swab summer, any of the cadre that are EMTs pick up additional duties to help keep an eye on the health of cadets in the same way that cadets all earn the Red Cross lifeguard certification during 3/c PE and some are assigned to act as lifeguards during Swab summer swim activities.

A good number of cadets take the EMT elective course, pass the national test, and seem to enjoy it.

 

[RagingBull]

Not sure about the EMT club, but some cadets do take an EMT class at Conn College next door to the academy as a semester elective. I think it is pretty intense like a 5 unit elective and you have do to a ride along in an ambulance and some ER time as well as classroom. I believe they do some volunteer EMT work. Also, for example during Swab summer, any of the cadre that are EMTs pick up additional duties to help keep an eye on the health of cadets in the same way that cadets all earn the Red Cross lifeguard certification during 3/c PE and some are assigned to act as lifeguards during Swab summer swim activities.

A good number of cadets take the EMT elective course, pass the national test, and seem to enjoy it.

Would this be something swabs would be able to do, or would it be something only for upper-class? I am currently involved in volunteer fire and would like to continue working in volunteer ems services if possible.

 

[OHunts]

Would this be something swabs would be able to do, or would it be something only for upper-class? I am currently involved in volunteer fire and would like to continue working in volunteer ems services if possible.

4/c can do it, but it would eat up a lot of your time. You’ll be preoccupied with indoc, classes, athletics, and other 4/c obligations. I, personally, would wait until 3/c year. Otherwise you’ll be sacrificing your liberty. And depending on your sports schedule, you might not be able to. They have off-base classes that take up almost all Saturday. And, for example, the track team has meets almost every Saturday January through April. Most sports are also busy almost every weekend too.

You don’t take any major specific classes 4/c year (exception being nav arcs taking one nav arc class), so all 4/c have the same heavy workload. Chem 1, Physics 1, Calc 1, Calc 2 (unless you’re management or government), etc. will eat your time.

Anyway, you can take EMT classes. It’s $1000, I think. And you can be in the club and not have taken the course, but you wouldn’t be able to volunteer. I don’t know if having a previous certification would transfer.

 

[Haveaniceday]

Would this be something swabs would be able to do, or would it be something only for upper-class? I am currently involved in volunteer fire and would like to continue working in volunteer ems services if possible.

While your enthusiasm is commendable, 4/c year can be very tough for the majority of cadets. Any Freshman year is difficult with many moving to a new state, homesickness, high school relationships breaking up, the rigorous academics of an engineering college, military requirements, sports and don't forget each cadet is assigned to a work division so you essentially have a part time job each semester as well!

In fact, many cadets experience their lowest GPA during 4/c freshman year. And that low GPA often comes back to haunt them in their class rank being lowered and can have a significant impact on how competitive they are for their preferred first billet. Bottom line, 4/c year is not the optimal time to take on the EMT class. Instead I recommend you get your feet on the ground, learn the academy ways, then take a look during your upper-class time.

You really have to weigh the risk vs. reward when it comes to elective classes.

Good luck!

 

[JAH2002]

I would like to preface this and state I have already tried reaching out to other resources directly about this inquiry. I was wondering if any parents or current cadets could pass along some information about the EMT club. I was told it was a thing by my Cadet host for Genesis, but I was looking to gain some more info.

I'm so glad to hear you are interested in EMS! I'm currently on the leadership team for the EMS club. What do you want to know?

 

[RagingBull]

I'm so glad to hear you are interested in EMS! I'm currently on the leadership team for the EMS club. What do you want to know?

1. What are the steps you need to do to join the club/the class.
2. Are the steps you need to gain your cert similar to the one you would take to gain a state certification, or do you gain the equivalent of an advanced EMT cert?
3. How much riding time do you need, how would that fit within a schedule at the cga.
4. Is the final exam a practical/written combo, or a combination of both?

Thanks in advance!

 

[JAH2002]

To join the club, find our table during the Cadet Activities Fair. You do not need any experience or qualifications to sign up. Becoming a member allows you to receive emails about different opportunities and events the club is hosting.

Sign-ups for the EMT class will be emailed to the club at the beginning of each semester. We also offer scholarships to help with the cost. The class is 12 weeks long, and you take the Connecticut State Practical Exam at the end. Afterward, you complete the NREMT Cognitive Exam on your own time. This is for a national and Connecticut state EMT-B qualification.

Once qualified, the EMS club provides many opportunities to volunteer off and on base. On-base, the club is present at many sporting events and Drill. We also help with Swab Summer. Off-base, most cadets volunteer with Mystic River Ambulance Association. The club has special permission to leave campus during the week to volunteer. Since you are also a volunteer firefighter, you also have to opportunity to volunteer with local stations.

Finally, the class is open to all cadets, regardless of year. I completed it during the second semester of my 4/c year.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about the EMS club or cadet life in general.

 

[RagingBull]

To join the club, find our table during the Cadet Activities Fair. You do not need any experience or qualifications to sign up. Becoming a member allows you to receive emails about different opportunities and events the club is hosting.

Sign-ups for the EMT class will be emailed to the club at the beginning of each semester. We also offer scholarships to help with the cost. The class is 12 weeks long, and you take the Connecticut State Practical Exam at the end. Afterward, you complete the NREMT Cognitive Exam on your own time. This is for a national and Connecticut state EMT-B qualification.

Once qualified, the EMS club provides many opportunities to volunteer off and on base. On-base, the club is present at many sporting events and Drill. We also help with Swab Summer. Off-base, most cadets volunteer with Mystic River Ambulance Association. The club has special permission to leave campus during the week to volunteer. Since you are also a volunteer firefighter, you also have to opportunity to volunteer with local stations.

Finally, the class is open to all cadets, regardless of year. I completed it during the second semester of my 4/c year.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about the EMS club or cadet life in general.

Thank you for the response, if I may ask, how do you balance volunteering with EMS and academics+military stuff? How long are your shifts?

 

[JAH2002]

Thank you for the response, if I may ask, how do you balance volunteering with EMS and academics+military stuff? How long are your shifts?

Currently, I don't often volunteer off-base. Instead, I'm focusing on academics and on-base opportunities. That is the balance I needed to establish this semester. However, I plan to participate more off-base in the future.

The shifts are 12 hours long and limited to one per weekday and no more than two a week.