Army Medical Department (AMEDD)

Enhance your Medical Career and your Life, Protector of Freedom 

There are many reasons to choose a career as a health care professional in the South Dakota Army National Guard. Whether you’re involved in direct patient care, research, disease prevention, or allied health care fields, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) has an abundance of opportunities. The Army Health Care Team is one of the largest comprehensive systems of health care in the country. AMEDD is made up of six corps:

 Medical Corps With 40 Physician specialties, the Medical Corps includes internal Medicine, emergency medicine, and family practice. Serving as a doctor in the GUARD is an experience you can’t match anywhere in the civilian world.

 Dental Corps The Army National GUARD Dental Corps is a professional group of Dentists who ensure the oral health of Soldiers.

 Medical Specialists Corps The Army National Guard Medical Specialist Corps is a professional group of Physician Assistants who provide patient care, wellness education and injury prevention to patients.

 Army National Guard Nurses gain a broad spectrum of experience and further their education in such specialties as medical and community health nursing. Specialties in the Army National Guard Nursing Corps include medical surgical nursing and Family Practitioners.

 Medical Service Corps is comprised of numerous specialties that are divided into the following groups. Health Services, Behavioral Sciences, Aviator, Environmental Science, Preventive Medicine and Optometry.

Training  

Job training for Soldiers in the Medical career field consists of ten weeks of Basic Combat Training Basic Combat Training:
Basic Combat Training (BCT) is a 10-week course of intense physical and mental training, during which recruits develop essential Soldier skills, discipline and values. plus

Advanced Individual Training Advanced Individual Training:
(AIT) Following Basic Training, Soldiers attend AIT to learn a military job skill. Depending on the specialty, training ranges from 1 month to 1 year. and on-the-job instruction ranging from 6-54 weeks, depending on your specialty. Whichever job you choose, your training will equip you to save lives and improve the health of Soldiers and civilians, and help you prepare for a career in the healthcare field.

Civilian Related

Healthcare is one of the world’s most wide-open career fields. Jobs in the Guard’s Medical field will prepare you for a range of jobs in civilian hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. Related careers include Emergency Medical Technicians, medical assistants and physician assistants. You could also pursue positions with research institutions, public health departments—even the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce. A Medical field specialty could also lead to a career as a health inspector or a position in the environmental sciences field. This is truly one of the most promising career areas today.

• 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist

Electronic instruments are used in all areas of the Army, especially on the Guard’s health care team. The Biomedical Equipment Specialist is a critical part of that team, responsible for servicing and maintaining all medical equipment. Biomedical Equipment Specialists install, troubleshoot and repair various medically-related equipment and instruments.

• 68E Dental Specialist

Dental care is one of the health services provided to Guard personnel all over the world. Dental Specialists assist dentists in the examination and treatment of patients, and help manage dental offices. Additional responsibilities may include cleaning patients’ teeth, assisting with the administration of anesthesia and x-rays, and performing maintenance on dental equipment.

• 68G Patient Administration Specialist

Accurate information is crucial for planning and managing Army hospital operations. Patient Administration Specialists make sure that hospital and patient information is recorded, stored and delivered in order to keep everything running smoothly. The Patient Administration Specialist is primarily responsible for administrative duties such as scheduling office visits and keeping patient records at Army hospitals or other medical facilities.

• 68H Optical Laboratory Specialist

Quality optical care is one of the health services provided to Guard Soldiers. Optical Laboratory Specialists make and repair eyeglasses for Guard and Army personnel. Duties may include surfacing prescription lenses, assembling and repairing prescription eyeglasses and supervising optical laboratory personnel.

• 68J Medical Logistics Specialist

The right supplies, delivered at the right time, can ensure the safety of troops in the field. Medical Logistics Specialists manage the Army’s large medical inventory. This position is primarily responsible for receiving, storing, recording and issuing medicines and medical supplies.

• 68K Medical Laboratory Specialist

In order to detect and identify many patient diseases, clinical laboratory tests need to be performed. The Medical Laboratory Specialist conducts tests on the tissue, blood and body fluids of patients. Medical Laboratory Specialists examine blood and bone marrow samples, test for bacteria or viruses, and analyze tissue, blood and fluid specimens for diagnostic information.

• 68P Radiology Specialist

Radiology (the use of X-rays) is one of the many health care services doctors use to detect injuries and illnesses. Working with Medical Corps Officers, Radiology Specialists operate X-ray and X-ray-related equipment. The Radiology Specialist is primarily responsible for operating fixed and portable radiology equipment to perform radiographic examinations. Radiology Specialists also prepare, assemble and adjust X-ray instruments and materials, and assemble and disassemble radiology equipment and shelters.

• 68Q Pharmacy Specialist

Patients and physicians depend on Army pharmacies to fill their prescriptions accurately. Under the direction of a pharmacist, the Pharmacy Specialist prepares and dispenses prescribed drugs and medicines, while also maintaining pharmacy supplies and records. They work closely with supervisors to prepare, control and issue pharmaceutical products, and perform other pharmacy activities.

• 68R Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist

Meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products all come from animal sources, and need to meet strict standards before they can be prepared and served to Soldiers. As an important member of the veterinary service team, the Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist, under the direction of a Veterinary Corps Officer, inspects food designed for human consumption, while also supervising inspection and veterinary service activities.

• 68S Preventive Medicine Specialist

Preventive medicine is essential to maintaining the health and well-being of all Army Soldiers and personnel. Preventive Medicine Specialists are the central members of the Medical Services Corps Preventive Medicine Sciences team, which is charged with studying and preventing the spread of disease and infection within the Army. Preventive Medicine Specialists are primarily responsible for conducting or assisting with preventive medicine inspections, surveys and laboratory procedures. They also supervise preventive medicine facilities or serve on preventive medicine staffs, and develop community health education programs.

• 68W Health Care Specialist

Injured or wounded Soldiers need immediate attention, and the Health Care Specialist is usually the first to provide basic and emergency medical care in preparation for a doctor’s treatment or evacuation. The Health Care Specialist is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment, limited primary care and health protection, and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.

• 68X Mental Health Specialist

Stress due to combat situations or physical ailments can often have an effect on the mental well-being of National Guard Soldiers. The Mental Health Specialist, as a member of the Guard’s health care team, assists with the management and treatment of inpatient and outpatient mental health activities. The Mental Health Specialist is primarily responsible, under the supervision of an Army psychiatrist, social worker, psychiatric nurse or psychologist, for providing mental health treatment to patients. Duties may include assisting with the care and treatment of psychiatric, drug and alcohol patients; collecting patient data; counseling and treating patients with personal, behavioral or mental health problems; and providing bedside care in hospitals.

AMEDD Standard Operating Procedures