Okay so I decided to join the Canadian Reserves and become a medic. Anyone here currently medics? Are medics allowed to carry weapons?

It looks like a fast paced and fun job. I don't mind blood so it should be ok.

Okay so I decided to join the Canadian Reserves and become a medic. Anyone here currently medics? Are medics allowed to carry weapons?

It looks like a fast paced and fun job. I don't mind blood so it should be ok.

My brother-in-law is a US army reserve medic. He became commissioned, however, because he's a doctor outside of the military as well. And yes, they're right there in the thick of things so they carry weapons.

Keep this in mind: enlisted medics don't advance quickly. I can't for the life of me figure out why, though. The only rationale I can come up with is that there's so many.

Again, this is american army.

I knew a combat medic fresh out of training. He was assigned to ft bragg, so he thought he was going to go kick in doors with the 82cd airborne division. Turns out he got assigned to a nondeployable hospital unit. Kinda broke his spirit.

Our doc in iraq got yelled at by some major for pulling guard with the .50cal. Apparentally medics are techincally supposed to be noncombatants and can only fight to defend themselves or their patients and that there should be no reason for them to touch a crew servered weapon as long as there is infantry around.

Medics are always a little off. Cool guys, just a little different from everyone else. Also, everyone of them I have talked to has given themselves an IV in the dick during medic AIT. Think you got what it takes to shove a needle into a blood vessel in your dick?

I'll be signing up for the CF once I get the OK from the doctor about my leg. I can't be a medic unless I go pickup a highschool chemistry course first though.

Reading right off the CF Medical Technician info sheet:

"Note: Although they are non-combatants under the Geneva Conventions, Medical Technicians deployed on operations bear arms to defend both their patients and themselves."

Turns out he got assigned to a nondeployable hospital unit. Kinda broke his spirit.

Geez that sounds like the Canadian guard. ;)
Hey Warhol, would you be getting deployed overseas?

Geez that sounds like the Canadian guard. ;)
Hey Warhol, would you be getting deployed overseas?

That's the plan if the doctor says I'm good for it.

I don't know if my information is correct, but Medics, when unarmed, are not supposed to be shot by enemy combatants. If the medic is armed, they are treated as an enemy soldier.

I heard that what some militaries do is that they assign a soldier as a 'bodyguard' for the medic (and patients), keeping the rule in place.

I don't know if my information is correct, but Medics, when unarmed, are not supposed to be shot by enemy combatants. If the medic is armed, they are treated as an enemy soldier.

I heard that what some militaries do is that they assign a soldier as a 'bodyguard' for the medic (and patients), keeping the rule in place.

That is correct.
Medical personnel are noncombatants. When armed, they then become unlawful combatants.

Hey, I'm an ex Army (9 years) Medic. Most countries, particularly western countries, train normal infantry types up to become medics or take conventional soldiers and give them the opportunity to train as medics. Military medics are first and foremost soldiers and most carry weapons into combat! Armed medics are NOT unlawful combatants unless they are working for humanitarian or aid agencies such as red cross or red crescent. Good luck in your career choice man!

I was a Combat Medic in the US Army.

I was allowed to carry a pistol to protect the wounded. Going on mission, I would also carry an M-16. Shit if someone was gonna try to kill me, I wanted a chance to take a few with me.

But at the first yell "MEDIC", I was a medic.