Combat Medic School

Hello all!! I know, I know where the heck have I been. Well, all has been well but very busy. Looking at the calender and counting the days, I have been gone almost two months already. The time really is going by fast. Currently, me and about twenty other medics are on somewhat of a two week break. Break as in we are not training or working six days a week with long nights and days. We are in Combat Management Trauma school in Camp Pendleton. Our days are normal school days which has been a nice little relief in the middle. The days are packed though with great information and training for what we do as combat medics. All the instructors have done at least two pumps to the sandbox and have real world experience and stories. What we are learining here is the basic no shit down and dirty on how to assess trauma patients in a crappy environment, how to employ quick procedures to save the most lives with the least amount of resources. Stuff that most docs in the civilian world would have a coronary over, only because they would worry about malpractice and being sued. What is interesting is the contrast from what I have learned in Paramedic school and combat medic school. This assessment we learn here is quicker and finds life threatening conditions so much quicker. I really think this is what our civilian counterparts should be learning. This first week has been all classroom work, then next will be a live tissue lab, followed by time in the field with real live scenarios. All good training!! In all honesty I hope I never have to do any of these procedures on my Marines, but if I do, I feel well prepared to do the job I love to do. Other than that am well and healthy. Some of the young guys have been getting the basic sprained ankles, hurt knees, blisters, stuff like that, and me, 36yrs old now, hasn't had a problem yet. Those young kids!! Anyway as time marches on, I do miss home. I miss the things we all take for granted every day, driving my truck wherever I want, going to and from without having to ask permission, sleeping in, direct tv, Starbucks coffee, lying on my couch with a bottle of Captain and coke, the lake front, hot showers without worrying if I bump into the guy next to me, complete silence when I sleep and......and......Rocco's cooking. So until next update which I hope will be soon....I love you all.