{"id":17717,"date":"2018-05-08T20:01:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T20:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/08\/putting-marines-at-risk-how-shocking-flight-medic-training-gaps-could-endanger-grunts-on-the-ground\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:18:15","slug":"putting-marines-at-risk-how-shocking-flight-medic-training-gaps-could-endanger-grunts-on-the-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/05\/08\/putting-marines-at-risk-how-shocking-flight-medic-training-gaps-could-endanger-grunts-on-the-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting Marines at risk: How shocking flight medic training gaps could endanger grunts on the ground"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In December 2016, two Naval \u00adaviators in an EA-18G Growler<\/a> suffered \u00adcatastrophic injuries after their cockpit pressure system malfunctioned, causing an explosive decompression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aviators, assigned to Naval Air Station \u00adWhidbey Island, Washington<\/a>, were rushed to a nearby medical center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of them was not breathing, requiring CPR and a tube to support his airway. He sustained a severe brain injury and facial fractures. The other crew member suffered from rapidly deteriorating lung issues that required a needle decompression to release built-up pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two aviators likely would have died that day without the critical \u00adadvanced life support skills <\/a>of the two Navy search and rescue medical technicians, or SMTs<\/a>, who cared for them en route to the hospital, according to documents obtained by Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But those two SMT medics were the only ones at the naval air station who had national-level paramedic \u00adcertification, giving them the skills \u00adneeded to keep the two aviators alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy has a severe shortage of flight medics. And the medics it does have rarely earn the paramedic qualifications that are required by the Army, Air Force and the civilian world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy and Marine Corps are the only DoD branches that do not provide paramedic certification to flight medics during their training pipeline. Astonishingly, those who do earn those certifications \u2014 like those responding to the Whidbey Island incident \u2014 pay for it out of their own pocket and get it on their own time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SMTs are the medics that are responsible for the Navy\u2019s search and rescue mission and at times whisking Marines off the battlefield, ensuring they stay alive until they reach a full-scale medical facility for surgery and other lifesaving care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet only six SMTs in the Navy are certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Navy officials say. And the field is manned at only 54 percent, with only 80 medics in the fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\t