Announcing the First Ever AFMS IDMT Award Winners!!

My heart felt congratulations to the following IDMT Award Winners.

NCO Category:         TSgt Brian M. Ritchie

SNCO Category:       MSgt Michael Stephenson-Pino

This new award is long over due and much deserved.  The concept of this award began under my predecessor, CMSgt Ellen Harms’ watch.  With input from the MAJCOM Functional Managers (MFMs) and many IDMTs from the field we built the IDMT Award criteria.  All in all I was very pleased with the packages submitted.  We have IDMTs out there doing great things this as evidenced by the quality of the submission packages.  Although we had no Airman submissions this year I anticipate this will change as the AFSC grows. 

As with any force shaping change, there will be mistakes made and growing pains.  We have experienced both with the conversion of the IDMT from an SEI to an AFSC.  Please use your experiences to be a positive role models for what the IDMT career field is all about... selfless dedication, taking care of the patient, and accomplishing the most challenging missions in the AFMS.  You are our only enlisted health care provider. 

I encourage you to consider sharing your experiences on the IDMT Association website forum.  Many people, including IDMT candidates, view this and your positive posting will do much to demonstrate the exemplary work our IDMTs are performing.

IDMT SKT Exemptions

 There has been a lot questions regarding the SKT exemption for IDMTs.  AFPC sent out a message to base training managers stating that anyone who is retrained is authorized a 24 month SKT exemption from the date they were placed in retraining status.  This date is formally referred to as Date Initially Entered Retraining (DIERT).  As the CFM I was asked to select the DIERT date for the SKT exemption.  The IDMT SEI 496 was converted to the AFSC 4N0X1C in November 04.  The IDMT course did not officially become designated a retraining course until Jun 05.  Until that time we were filling class seats by MAJCOM quotas, there was no formal retraining process in effect.  I felt selecting the date the IDMT course officially became a retraining AFSC would be the fairest way to select the DIERT for the 2 year SKT exemption. 

The message below comes from AFPC regarding this issue:

4N0X1C is now a retraining-in AFSC.  Graduates of course J3ALR4N051C00AA, Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) with a class start date (CSD) of 22 Jun 05 or later are retrainees and are awarded AFSC 4N051C upon graduation.  Graduates of the IDMT course with a CSD prior to 22 Jun 05 are NOT retrainees.  4N051/4N071’s must now attend the IDMT course to be awarded AFSC 4N051C. 

All 4N051/4N071’s indirectly converted to 4N051C/4N071C are NOT retrainees and are NOT eligible for SKT exemption.  4N0X1’s with SEI 496 who converted to 4N0X1C are NOT retrainees.  Refer to AFMAN 36-2108, page 17 and Attach 1, Notes 2, 8, 9, 10 for 4N0X1C conversion information.  Only 4N0X1C’s with an IDMT CSD 22 Jun 05 or later are considered retrainees and receive a DIERT. 

Retrainees from 4N0X1 to 4N0X1C are authorized a (DIERT) and a Skills Knowledge Test (SKT) exemption (reference AFI 36-2502 table 2.4 rule 5 and note 4).  The DIERT date will equal the CSD and will be valid for 24 months.  Attached is a list of the 4N0X1C retrainees who are currently authorized a SKT exemption.

Please note IAW AFI 36-2502, Table 2.4 Note 1, "All Airmen who are SKT exempt and are in an AFSC where an SKT exists can take the SKT by signing a statement.  Once signed, do not reverse the decision without unit commander and MPF commander concurrence."  Therefore, all 4N0X1C's with DIERT dates may elect to take the SKT.

This message was coordinated through HQ AFPC/DPAT/DPPAC/DPPAET/ DPPPWM and HQ AF/SGCN.

NCO Retraining Program (NCORP)

We are still actively seeking volunteers for retraining into the IDMT AFSC without having to utilize NCORP.  This is where I need your help to recruit from within our ranks.  You are the best recruiter.  If you are aware of any 4N0 wanting to cross train in to the IDMT AFSC, please work with them on prerequisites and have them go to their MPF and apply for cross training.  Remember, NCORP is not the only ticket into the IDMT AFSC.  AFPC is working with me to grant an exception to policy (ETP) See message below sent to all MPFs.

IDMTs manning is still hovering around 60%.  This means that NCORP will stay in effect for a while longer.  What does this mean to our career field? Basically any 4N0X1 identified on the FY07 NCORP listing will only be allowed to cross train into the 4N0X1B/C AFSC.  The pending NCORP identifies 54 SSgts and 40 TSgts for retraining.  There are only 4N0X1B AFSC requirements.  I have no names at this point. 

Please understand members are identified for retraining because our AFSC is over manned in SSgts and TSgts.  If a member fails to successfully complete the IDMT course under NCORP they are returned to their home station and will be separated or retrained into another critically manned AFSC. There is no guarantee that AFSC will be medical.  This policy does not apply to volunteer retrainees.  The good news is career airmen may apply for a BOP if they have 48 months TOS.  MPFs should be briefing all these issues. 

If 4N0X1s were on the FY06 NCORP and were not picked up for retraining chances are their names will appear again on the FY07 listing.  Be proactive and ensure these 4N0X1s meet the requirements for the IDMT AFSC.  These requirements in AFMAN 36-2108 and prerequisites on the Education and Training Course Announcement (ETCA) home page https://etca.randolph.af.mil

TO:  ALL MPFs/MAJCOMs

FROM:  AFPC/DPPAE

SUBJECT:  Enlisted Retraining Programs

Do not to turn away any individual that desires to retrain but does not meet the guidance in the Retraining Advisory and/or AFI 36-2626.  The MPF must counsel the member that they may initiate an Exception To Policy (ETP) request for retraining and the reasons why.  Because of the need to balance out career fields, no individual should be turned away.  Accept all ETPs and forward to the MAJCOM for processing.  At a minimum, the ETP should include a memorandum signed by the member and his/her commander letter requesting the ETP and justification to support the request.  This memorandum is submitted with the retraining package. 

EXCEPTION:  Do not accept/submit any application/ETP requesting retraining via OJT.  OJT quotas are reserved for Humanitarians, EFMPs and individuals that cannot attend formal school as determined by Air Staff.

Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) and Special Duty Pay (SDAP)

We did not earn an SRB for IDMTs this year.  One of the reasons maybe we don’t yet have enough historical data as an AFSC to be competitive.  We have another year under our belt so maybe 2007 will be our year.  I will fight the good fight. 

The SDAP Board will meet in March; we are already working the IDMT package for consideration.  I will keep you posted on our progress.

I realize this is a lot of information but felt it was important. Please take the time to read and share.  I am very proud to be your Career Field Manager.  You all make me proud to be a 4N0 everyday I serve.  Thank You for all you do.

//SIGNED//
DAVID W. LEWIS, CMSgt, USAF
4N0X1/B/C Career Field Manager
HQ USAF/SGCN Office of the Surgeon General
 

     With the merger of all 4N0's and 4FOX's.  Will there be a requirement for the SME's to become IDMT's in the reserve and guard components?  If not, what will be done with the SME's?  
  

     AFI 48-149, para 2.1.1.3 allows the guard/reserve components to substitute for the IDMT as appropriate.

Chief Harms

     Is there going to be a new AFI44-103?  If there is going to be one, when will the new AFI be out?
  

     The 4N0 MAJCOM Functionals are working on AFI 44-103 to get it ready for coordination.  It is our hope that we will have the product ready following our meeting in Aug.  Due to the length of the coordination process, the AFI may not get out to the field until the first part of CY 04.

     I recently heard that the IDMT track at Phoenix Readiness is going away.  I feel that this is a complete injustice.  I went through the course last year and had an absolutely great experience that has significantly helped my career as an IDMT. The scope and nature of the course there, couldn't be produced anywhere else.  I learned things that I never would have experienced anywhere else, i.e. Convoy Ops, field craft, Op orders, etc. It's nice to have some exposure to these practices, especially when it comes to working with other services. It's nice to be able to "talk the talk", when working alongside our counterparts or some of the line side AFSC's. Please pass the word up that the training provided by the 421st IDMT's will be missed. Thanks.
  

Chief Harms
  

     I'm new to the IDMT family with only 2.5 years with AFSOC.  I do enjoy being a provider and wish to continue.  Dose SEI 496 play any role in overseas returnee assignments.  If so are the jobs advertised as so.
  

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Why with the push to PCO extender protocols are IDMT still not allowed to see Pts. within the Medical Facility? We are letting 4Ns in general do more why not allow us to see Pts in the house. This can do nothing but increase our overall ability to diagnose and Treat Pts. in the field. This would be better than being vital sign machines, wiping butts, and giving shots in a flu line. It would seem to make sense the more Pts. seen the more disease process seen and worked with. We would learn more and decrease that evil access problem.

We could be well used and learn more. Granted there are some IDMT's that will complain about not getting the pay that PA or MD/DO get. Let us prove that we are worth the pay if we can hold

Thank you for listening to me.  

We are looking at the feasibility of allowing IDMTs to practice in garrison. There are numerous issues that have to be addressed and answered. There is a meeting scheduled at Bolling AFB in Jan where these issues will be discussed as well as assignment management, deployment taskings, etc. Lt Gen Taylor will present his vision, and we will have the folks from manpower, assignments, training, and classifications, in attendance as well as IDMTs from the field. More information will be coming out following the meeting.

Chief Harms