U.S. Army Reserve Offers Command Medical Readiness Re-certification Training

The U.S. Army Reserve’s 99th Regional Support Command took over the Medical Skills Training Center (MSTC) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey to provide combat medics with the required training for Emergency Medical Training certification.

The Army’s 21 MSTCs in the U.S. provide combat medics the required 72 hours of training to be licensed through the National Registry EMT, according to Sgt. 1st Class David Lovett, MSTC course coordinator, 99th Regional Support Command. The Military Occupational Specialist title requires this certification that must be renewed every two years.

The training was previously managed by the 7230th Medical Support Unit, but the two Soldiers running the course were moving and the unit was unable to replace them. For the MSTC to continue operations, it must have a military course coordinator who is a combat medic and E-6 or above. Understanding the importance of this facility and the training it provides to Army medics, the 99th RSC Surgeon’s Office saw an opportunity to provide support and assigned Lovett to manage the training.

Becoming a combat medic begins with 16 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. When the Soldiers graduate, they are a licensed EMT through the civilian national registry. Recertification is required every two years, and is completed by taking a core curriculum of 72 hours’ worth of classes.

In addition to the EMT certification course, the MSTCs offer units a four-day combat life-saver class that is open to all Soldiers and units. All courses are offered every month. More information for units and medics interested in attending one of the courses offered, should visit the JBMDL website at www.dix.army.mil/MSTC/.