Army Offers RMI Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Training to Soldiers for Free

Soldiers training high angle rescue prior to an Afghanistan deployment. Combine any medical course with high angle training to maximize your effectiveness in remote environments.[/caption]

Congress recently began a pilot program called the Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Soldier Program to provide training in high-demand career fields to help Soldiers find employment after they transition out of the Army. Army Education is working with technical and community colleges throughout the United States to build upon existing programs and develop new pilot re-training programs in high demand career occupations, such as rehabilitation, nursing, medical technology, and other health care occupations.  Recently, Army education approved Remote Medical International’s (RMI) Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Remote Medical Upgrade and Recertification, Wilderness First Responder, and U.S. Coast Guard Medical Person in Charge courses for participation in the program.

If you’re an ACTIVE DUTY, NATIONAL GUARD, OR RESERVE soldier and want to take advantage of this program, there are a few things your should know.

1)  Soldiers are to consider enrollment in these programs for training or re-training.  If you’re an Army medic or hold a current EMT-B, consider getting your certification renewed before leaving the Army.  This means you will be directly employable as a Wilderness EMT without the hassle of recertifying for two years, upgrading to a wilderness medical provider, and receiving additional certifications.  If you’re not a medic, you can spend a month in our residential WEMT course and receive qualifications as a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician, U.S. Coast Guard Medical Person in Charge, and cardholder for the American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider.

2)  Programs can be no longer than 18 months in length and should not exceed the maximum cost limit of $4500.00 per fiscal year.

3)  All costs for instruction, certification, or license must be paid by September 30, 2009. No additional funds will be available after the ending date for this pilot program.

Pretty easy, huh?  Currently, soldiers are eligible for five of Remote Medical International’s courses:

Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT)

Remote Medicine Upgrade and Recertification for the EMT-B (RMUR™)

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

U.S Coast Guard Medical Person in Charge (MPIC)

National Fire Protection Association Rope Rescue Rope Rescue Technician Level I (NFPA RRT I)

Getting out of the Army is tough–getting out without certifications for civilian employment is really tough.  The AVOTEC program and RMI can make the transition easier.  If you’re thinking about becoming a fire fighter, police officer, youth group leader, or working toward a paramedic certification–RMI can get you the training needed to confidently move into the civilian sector.

 Nuts and Bolts for Enrollment:

1. Soldier must have an active account in GoArmyEd to enroll in AVOTEC.

a. If no GoArmyEd account, Soldier goes to Army Education Center for assistance in acquiring an account and access to the GoArmyEd Portal.

2. Once enrolled in the GoArmyEd Portal:
a. If Soldier has previously used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will log in and do the following:

• Click My Virtual Education Center
• Click Enroll or Drop a Course/Withdraw from a Course link
• Click the Launch Reimbursement Request link
• If Soldier has not used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will log in and do the following:
• Click My Virtual Education Center
• Click Enroll or Drop/Withdraw from a Course
• Click Request TA and Enroll in a Course
• Review your account information. Click the Account Information Verified
• Click OK
• Select the term for your class start date
• Click Class Search radio button
• Click Search
• Click the statement, Click here if you wish to take a class from a college not listed, on the Search Course Schedule screen

3. Soldier types SVP in the college field on the Add Request TA Reimbursement screen. (Subject code and catalog Nbr will then auto populate.)

4. Start date
a. If enrolling for Program, Soldier types in course Start Date and clicks Add button.
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam, Soldier types in Exam date and clicks Add button.

5. On the enrollment form the Soldier fills in the following information:
a. If enrolling for program complete:
– Course Title
– End Date
– Instruction Mode
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
– Type of exam
– End Date
– Instruction Mode

6. Soldier fills in the Registrar Contact Information
a. If enrolling for program complete:
– Name of school (satellite campus if applicable) and POC
– Phone
– Email
– School Web Site
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
– Name of certifying Agency and POC
– Phone
– Email
– Certifying Agency Web site

7. Soldier fills in the Course cost:
a. If enrolling for program-place the program cost in the Additional TA eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course cost area should be filled)
b. If enrolling for exam for certification/licensure-place the exam cost in the Additional TA eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course cost area should be filled)

8. Soldier clicks Save to submit the form

If you would like assistance completing the process, please call our office at (206) 686-4878 and we can walk you through the process.