AFSOC IDMT questions

[Breadkrumbs]

Im reviving this old thread (one that I created on my journey a few years ago) to pass out some information regarding AFSOC IDMT/SOFME selection criteria, details of the job, and some further resources. Please note that as of the writing of this I am in IDMT school and have obtained permission from the instructors to post all of this information as it is all public access, just hard to find. Complete disclaimer: I am not a SOFME or assigned to an AFSOC unit of any sort. Just passing on the information for anyone who is interested.

A SOFME is a Special Operations Forces Medical Element. It is a team assigned in support of SOF that typically consists of a MD/DO and 2 IDMTS. PA's are also used in place of IDMTs on the team depending on what the mission set entails. They are typically utilized in home station medical support for flyers and dependents, the primary providers/medical support for local flying units for deployment readiness, deployed occupational and environmental health assessments, operational planning, trauma care and CASEVAC.

Once assigned to a SOFME role, you will undergo the pipeline training to become deployable. This pipeline includes Intro To Special Operations Command/Intro To Special Operations Medicine (ISOC/ISOM), field skills, SERE, emergency parachute, underwater egress, water survival, over water emergency parachuting, CASEVAC procedures, life support training, crew resource management, emergency egress for non-eject aircraft, altitude chamber, small arms training, TCCC, and specifically for IDMTs you will go through paramedic school, Special Operations Combat Medical Skills Sustainment course (SOCMSSC) and any additional training the unit requires specific to their mission set.

Operational tempo is typically 4-6 months out of every year deployed, and while at home station TDY, providing medical coverage for exercises, and TCCC instruction along with any additional medical sustainment courses.

To apply for a SOFME role you must be already an IDMT or in the IDMT course. I can tell you anecdotally that this is a highly sought after position from the students. From my senior class, my class, and my junior class, there are over 20 people fighting to get an assignment with only 2 actually getting it. There is a physical that is required to submit a package which consists of a 3 mile run, 5 mile ruck, and a 25m surface swim in full uniform excluding boots. The minimum time for males and females for the run is 32 minutes. The 5 mile ruck is 1:15 with minimum #25 and the swim has no time limit. Like any other competitive spot, show up planning to exceed all these numbers or you will be in bad shape.

For those who have asked about getting a SOFME slot in your contract from the recruiter, thats not how the process works. The most efficient way to become a SOFME is to get 4N0X1 as your AFSC, be recommended to become an IDMT while in basic 4N training by your instructors (which also requires a 90% average or above in the course), and go through IDMT School. Once you graduate from IDMT, you will be required to serve 2-3 years before you are allowed to submit a package for SOFME. As of right now, there have been a total of 9 Proof Of Concept students (straight from 4N school to IDMT school) that have been accepted into the course. Its a fairly new addition to the school house and may change at any time.

Most of this information is found on the 4N app. Click on 4N Opportunities, Unique Special Duties and SOFME. If anyone has further questions I'm glad to answer, but it may take a while since I'm still in school.

ETA: run is 3 miles in 32 minutes, not the standard 1.5 mile from the AF PT test.

You make it to being a SOFME yet? I see that you have IDMT-P under your name!

 

[Stretcher Jockey]

Nope, not a SOFME. That ship sailed for me a while ago when I accepted a different AFSOC position.

 

[Breadkrumbs]

Im reviving this old thread (one that I created on my journey a few years ago) to pass out some information regarding AFSOC IDMT/SOFME selection criteria, details of the job, and some further resources. Please note that as of the writing of this I am in IDMT school and have obtained permission from the instructors to post all of this information as it is all public access, just hard to find. Complete disclaimer: I am not a SOFME or assigned to an AFSOC unit of any sort. Just passing on the information for anyone who is interested.

A SOFME is a Special Operations Forces Medical Element. It is a team assigned in support of SOF that typically consists of a MD/DO and 2 IDMTS. PA's are also used in place of IDMTs on the team depending on what the mission set entails. They are typically utilized in home station medical support for flyers and dependents, the primary providers/medical support for local flying units for deployment readiness, deployed occupational and environmental health assessments, operational planning, trauma care and CASEVAC.

Once assigned to a SOFME role, you will undergo the pipeline training to become deployable. This pipeline includes Intro To Special Operations Command/Intro To Special Operations Medicine (ISOC/ISOM), field skills, SERE, emergency parachute, underwater egress, water survival, over water emergency parachuting, CASEVAC procedures, life support training, crew resource management, emergency egress for non-eject aircraft, altitude chamber, small arms training, TCCC, and specifically for IDMTs you will go through paramedic school, Special Operations Combat Medical Skills Sustainment course (SOCMSSC) and any additional training the unit requires specific to their mission set.

Operational tempo is typically 4-6 months out of every year deployed, and while at home station TDY, providing medical coverage for exercises, and TCCC instruction along with any additional medical sustainment courses.

To apply for a SOFME role you must be already an IDMT or in the IDMT course. I can tell you anecdotally that this is a highly sought after position from the students. From my senior class, my class, and my junior class, there are over 20 people fighting to get an assignment with only 2 actually getting it. There is a physical that is required to submit a package which consists of a 3 mile run, 5 mile ruck, and a 25m surface swim in full uniform excluding boots. The minimum time for males and females for the run is 32 minutes. The 5 mile ruck is 1:15 with minimum #25 and the swim has no time limit. Like any other competitive spot, show up planning to exceed all these numbers or you will be in bad shape.

For those who have asked about getting a SOFME slot in your contract from the recruiter, thats not how the process works. The most efficient way to become a SOFME is to get 4N0X1 as your AFSC, be recommended to become an IDMT while in basic 4N training by your instructors (which also requires a 90% average or above in the course), and go through IDMT School. Once you graduate from IDMT, you will be required to serve 2-3 years before you are allowed to submit a package for SOFME. As of right now, there have been a total of 9 Proof Of Concept students (straight from 4N school to IDMT school) that have been accepted into the course. Its a fairly new addition to the school house and may change at any time.

Most of this information is found on the 4N app. Click on 4N Opportunities, Unique Special Duties and SOFME. If anyone has further questions I'm glad to answer, but it may take a while since I'm still in school.

ETA: run is 3 miles in 32 minutes, not the standard 1.5 mile from the AF PT test.

Hey boss, how's the journey going for SOFME? I see that you have IDMT-P under your belt and would love to ask some questions that you might be able to answer!

 

[Breadkrumbs]

Nope, not a SOFME. That ship sailed for me a while ago when I accepted a different AFSOC position.

sorry for the double response, I didn't think the first one went through. What position did you end up snaggin?

 

[TLDR20]

Nope, not a SOFME. That ship sailed for me a while ago when I accepted a different AFSOC position.

You guys go through SOCMMSSC, but not SOCM?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a non SOCM/PJ at the refresher, and I taught there.

 

[Stretcher Jockey]

You guys go through SOCMMSSC, but not SOCM?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a non SOCM/PJ at the refresher, and I taught there.

Correct, no SOCM for Air Force medics. But we do go through Advanced Medical and Trauma Sustainment Skills Course (AMTSSC) which took over for SOCMSSC a couple years back. Still held at UAB’s SOCMID school.

 

[amlove21]

You guys go through SOCMMSSC, but not SOCM?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a non SOCM/PJ at the refresher, and I taught there.

I went through SOCMSSC 2 times without going through SOCM, wanna say I went in '09/'11? The STS dudes still had slots before we stood up the Birmingham course.

The entire AFSOC med architecture is run out of UAB now, wanna say that started in 22 or 23. Great program down there, AFSOC used to rotate through there (program called CSTARS) for clinicals and a 2 week break from GWOT. I hit UAB 2 or 3 times, got to spend a month in Baltimore at Shock Trauma too. Great training.

 

[TLDR20]

I went through SOCMSSC 2 times without going through SOCM, wanna say I went in '09/'11? The STS dudes still had slots before we stood up the Birmingham course.

The entire AFSOC med architecture is run out of UAB now, wanna say that started in 22 or 23. Great program down there, AFSOC used to rotate through there (program called CSTARS) for clinicals and a 2 week break from GWOT. I hit UAB 2 or 3 times, got to spend a month in Baltimore at Shock Trauma too. Great training.

Yeah I used to see PJ’s there, my point was that I never saw a a non PJ Air Force guy. That may have been unclear.

 

[amlove21]

Yeah I used to see PJ’s there, my point was that I never saw a a non PJ Air Force guy. That may have been unclear.

Oh yea- we used to send our IDMT's too. Usually it was only the hard chargers that also needed their ATP updated as SOCMSSC was the only spot still certified to re-hack that one. IDMT's with AT on the STS side was pretty rare though, usually only 1 per unit.

 

[Stretcher Jockey]

@amlove21 nailed it. The general IDMT career field is built around being a mobile medical provider in the sick call sense. Most slick IDMTs never get paramedic training and have no need to go through SOCMID to get more advanced training. Most IDMTs are attached to flying squadrons (bombers, fighters, tankers, etc) to provide sick call and flight medicine needs to their flyers.

The rest of the training (public health, bioenvironmental, food inspections) are so we can provide that service in deployed locations, while maintaining the health of the unit in a more holistic look.