SARC PIPELINE MENTOR

[THE_LOW_ROAD]

Im in the infantry currently as a Hospital Corpsman. I like what I do but im looking for a little more of a challenge so ive decided to pursue a career as a Special Amphibious Reconnaisance Corpsman. Id like some advice or a good fitness plan for BRC, Marine Combatant dive school, and 18D course or any general words of wisdom at all. My base of fitness is pretty solid right now, I swim everyday and alternate between crossfit and strength training every day with sunday as rest day. I need to work in rucking and running so if anyone has any advice itd be greatly appreciated.

-THE_LOW_ROAD

 

[x SF med]

When you say 18D School you mean SOCM, don't you? Unless you are an 18D or a senior SEAL or PJ you will not get into the 18D course .

 

[THE_LOW_ROAD]

Yes, I do believe I meant SOCM, ive heard it reffered to as both so I was a bit unsure.

 

[x SF med]

Yes, I do believe I meant SOCM, ive heard it reffered to as both so I was a bit unsure.

The 18D course is longer and a bit more in depth on the clinical side, All 18Ds attend SOCM, not all SOCM medics are 18Ds.

 

[Teufel]

Many SARCs refer to SOCM at 18D but that is inaccurate. SARCs go to SOCM in their initial pipeline along with airborne, BRC, dive, dive medicine etc. The Navy/Marine Corps consider 18D to be our SARC Independent Duty Corpsman course and all SARCs will eventually go if they stay in long enough. All MARSOC SARCs are SARC IDCs and go to the full 18D course.

 

[x SF med]

@Teufel ... apologies, I keep forgetting that some MARSOC IDC's do get to 18D because of the mission set, when, as you stated.... they stay in long enough. IIRC, some of the reqs are 2nd (min) enlistment with a statement of intent to remain in the service for 5 years after course completion. It is NOT an inexpensive school to send a person to, financially and time away from unit.

ETA - the above information is dated. There is a higher demand in MARSOC for SARC IDCs than stated.

 

[CBTech]

Heard it referred to as SOCM as the "18D Short Course" then heard an SF guy correct, in detail, why it is not a "Short Course" for 18D. The point was made that they are two different schools and they should be called and referred to as their actual names. No use in trying to church it up as 18D anything. It has it's own challenges, it's own cadre, different requirements,..... It's either 18D, SOCM, SARC, IDC school, or it's not. I hung out with our IDC and our SOCM a lot and picked their brains, a lot. My goal was to get out, become a an Nationally Registered EMT, Paramedic, then become a Firefighter. The drive came from within but I really couldn't have done it without the direction of a few mentors who were IDC and SOCM's.

I commend you for having the ambition, Low Road. It sounds like you are physically fit enough so as long as you have that motor inside that won't quit then I think you will have physical limitations. My suggestion would be to maintain your own, high, physical standard and don't get hurt and don't quit (with PT, your package, your studies).

I would emphasize studies. If there is some coursework or pre-coursework you can start on that would be most important, I believe. Look at drops. Was it because they failed on the bookwork/clinicals or because they were not physically fit. Where do they wash people out?

 

[TLDR20]

Many SARCs refer to SOCM at 18D but that is inaccurate. SARCs go to SOCM in their initial pipeline along with airborne, BRC, dive, dive medicine etc. The Navy/Marine Corps consider 18D to be our SARC Independent Duty Corpsman course and all SARCs will eventually go if they stay in long enough. All MARSOC SARCs are SARC IDCs and go to the full 18D course.

This is also not exactly accurate. The senior guys do come back and go through the SOIDC course which is the same as the Special Forces Medical Sergeants course. However they are not 18D's. The 18D is unique in that he has also completed the rest of the SF pipeline, and speaks a foreign language. SOIDC's actually have a more robust scope of practice and focus much much more on medicine than the average 18D.

Also when I was teaching at JSOMTC in SOCM the MARSOC bubbas were(for the most part) not SARCs and were definitely not attending SFMS. The only Navy guys attending SFMS were Recon HM1's and above.

I know this is semantics but I don't go around saying I am an SOIDC, just like they shouldn't be saying they are 18D's.

ETA: this info is a bit dated(about a year), but one of my best buddies is an SOIDC and an instructor at SOCM. I can ask him if it is up to date

 

[TLDR20]

When you say 18D School you mean SOCM, don't you? Unless you are an 18D or a senior SEAL or PJ you will not get into the 18D course .

This too, no PJ's attend anything aside from the refresher at the JSOMTC. There aren't even PJ instructors. SEALs used to attend SFMS but almost none do now.