Home	Shred Updates	IDMT Forum	Chief's Corner	Retiree's Corner	IDMT History
Charter	Downloads/Graphics	Links	Coordinators	Coast Guard	Association News

The IDMT Symbol

For centuries the symbol of the healing arts has been a caduceus configuration.   It was commonly associated with Mercury, the Roman God of Commerce, and was carried as a symbol of peace.

Legend has it that Apollo, the Greco-Roman God with the wisdom of the Oracles, gave the staff to Mercury as a gift.  According to Apollo, the staff had the power to unite all beings divided by hate.  Mercury encountered two serpents that were fighting.   He threw the staff between them and they wound around it in friendly association.

The caduceus with a single snake coiled around it came to be a symbol for Aesculapius, the Greco-Roman God of Medicine, and subsequently for the medical profession itself.   The flame above the staff represents eternity as it applies to the passing of knowledge from one generation of IDMTs to the next.  The cross of red represents the international symbol for care and compassion towards the sick and injured.  It is also applied towards prevention and the alleviation of human suffering.  The white background serves as a reminder that we apply our skill with neutrality towards all patients regardless of nationality.  The symbol is encircled by a wreath of green laurel used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games.  This wreath is symbolic of our honor in both achievement and in personal strength as paramedical providers of health care.

The emblem we use was designed by CMSgt Richard A. Preheim, SMSgt Herbert M. Phelps, and MSgt Terry J. Council.  We are grateful for their time and effort.  They are but one part of the proud IDMT history.

The IDMT History

This history is a current revision of a paper originally prepared by myself and Capt Lisa Reid, while assigned to the 381 TRS, IDMT School.  It was presented at the Second Biennial Health Education Symposium, November 7, 1997, at Sheppard AFB, TX. [Please include Foot notes: "A History of Military Medicine" by Gabriel and Metz, Greenwood Press, 1992 and "First report of the USAF Medical Service" Wash DC, 1952. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was stealing their work.)

CMSgt Tony Kolodgy, currently assigned to the 319th MDG, Grand Forks, ND.

I. The Origin of Military Medics

"There must be (on the spot) excellent doctors, skilled in healing wounds and extracting missiles, equipped with the appropriate medicines and instruments..." Philo of Byzantium, 3d Century B.C.

     The importance of medical support in military campaigns is documented throughout the history of civilization. The Sumerians, 4000 to 2000 B.C., may have been one of the first of the world's armies to provide organized medical care to forces in the field. Chiseled into the Stele of Vultures (a monument dating to 2525 B.C.) is a picture depicting the collection of wounded and the digging of graves for those who had perished. Perhaps the Sumerians were also the first to recognize the need for surgeons to be close to the action. There exists text documenting the complaints of soldiers that the physicians remained in the rear areas to avoid capture or harm.  It was, however, the Roman Empire that put the word "medic" in our language. The Roman's unit level medical officer was known as the "medicus" and their equivalent of today's enlisted medic was called "medicus ordinarius". The medicus ordinarious was drawn from the ranks of soldiers and trained by the Roman army. Our own armed forces traditionally train and employ technicians to care for troops in the field just as the early Romans did. Today they are called "medic, corpsman, or med tech." The simplicity of this word, medic, is underscored by the immense contributions made for their brothers and sisters in uniform. The military medic's history is richly diverse - with many tales of personal sacrifice and valor.

II. The IDMT

     When the Air Force separated from the Army in 1947, only 1,480 enlisted were permitted to transfer from the Army Medical Service to the Air Force. The Air Force soon began it's own training program to meet it's needs. Medical Service Technician training began at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama in the early 1950's. During the Cold War, as a string of radar installations was being built across the free world's northern frontier, the need for more skilled technicians became apparent. These installations, referred to as Advanced Control & Warning (AC&W) sites, were to be part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. By the time it was finished in 1962, the DEW line stretched some 6,000 miles. It ranged from the Aleutian Islands in the Pacific Ocean to Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean. Typically, these installations were manned with less than 100 personnel. It was not cost effective or practical to assign a Physician, Dentist, and other health care professionals to each and every site. However, due to distance and extreme isolation, it was essential to have indigenous medical care available. Although the average medical service technician was soundly trained and highly skilled in both inpatient and clinical settings, the rigors of duty in an isolated region demanded additional training. Soon thereafter, the first Independent Duty Technicians (IDT) were created.  "A requirement developed, for fields 90250 and 90270 (graduates of the Independent Duty Technician Course), for service at AC&W sites" was written in the Air Defense Command, Surgeon General's Annual Report of 1954. The Cold War continued to drive military build-up during the 1960's. This in turn increased the demand for more radar, weapons storage and communications sites. Each of these facilities needed indigenous medical support, requiring an Independent Duty Technician.

     The Vietnam War got underway in 1965, increasing the Air Force's operational demands for medical support, both in country and in theater.  Small isolated stations opened across South East Asia using the Independent Duty Technician to provide unit level medical services.  During the 1970's, with the Cold War build up near completion and small fixed facilities common in the European and Asian theaters, the Independent Duty Technician was recognized as an important member of the Air Force's health care team. "As the medical technician at a remote station, your primary responsibility will be to minister to the health and welfare of the military personnel assigned and attached to your organization" said the Medical Airman's Manual, dated 3 Feb 1970, pp. 5-1.

     The 1980's brought about a change in operational tempo and a gradual transition from medical support at fixed facilities to more frequent employment in the mobile and war ready posture. By the middle 1980's, the duty title changed from Independent Duty Technicians to Independent Duty Medical Technician. The Tactical Air Control Squadrons, "Red Horse" mobile construction teams, and Ground Launched Cruise Missile Squadrons demanded more IDMTs than ever. In fact, 792 IDMTs were trained between 1980 and 1989, compared with only 442 during the previous decade. During that same time, the total enlisted strength of the Air Force dropped from 558,000 to about 400,000. After the end of the Cold War, the number of isolated fixed facilities requiring independent medical support drastically decreased.  However, the 1990s introduced new operational doctrine including Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW). MOOTW includes missions such as enforcement of sanctions, counter-drug operations, counter terrorism, nation building, and humanitarian assistance. IDMTs have assumed a participatory role to support personnel engaged in MOOTW. Military participation in worldwide operations will continue to require on the spot medical support by competent personnel. IDMTs will continue to be used in MOOTW and at isolated duty stations. However, today's IDMTs may also be called upon to support, force protection, unmanned aerial vehicle launch teams, Global Reach/Lay Down Teams, Squadron Medical Elements, Tactical Air Control, Special Operations, and the very best may be handpicked for special projects and executive support.

III. The GLCM IDMT

     During the 1980's, IDMTs who were selected for GLCM duty were also required to complete three additional months of additional training at the TAC GLCM IDMT COURSE held at the 868th Tactical Missile Training Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. After graduation they reported to one of the Tactical Missile Squadrons as a GLCM Flight member, at one of 6 main operating bases (MOB) in Europe. Each MOB had several GLCM Flight's that were composed of seventy flight members and armed with up to 16 BGM-109 Ground Launched Cruise Missiles. Chief Master Sergeant Nick Caifa (USAF Ret), not only pioneered the way for GLCM IDMTs during its early days of test programs, but his dedication to this impressive weapons system led him to be selected as the 868th's Tactical Missile Training Squadron's first and only Senior Enlisted Advisor.

IV. The IDMT Course at Sheppard

     Shortly after the medical service school moved to its present location at Sheppard AFB, Texas (1968), our Medical Service Technician - Independent Duty course was chartered. Originally it was a 280 hour course. In 1974, the course was expanded to 320 hours. In 1991, the course grew to 400 hours. Changes to the curriculum in 1997 increased the course to 464 hours. 1970, was the slowest year for the IDMT course...only training 32 students. The busiest year was 1984, when 107 students were trained...but 1997/98 may break that record. Since Sheppard became home to this course, more than 1,900 IDMTs have been trained. The United States Coast Guard joined our course in 1991 and has supported the course with an instructor since then. Health Services Chief Daniel Wattingham led the way as the first USCG instructor on board. HSC Evans, was second, and has since been succeeded by HSC Lehmkule. Approximately 100 Coast Guard IDMTs have graduated from this course since then. Coast Gaurd IDMT graduates traditionally go on to small station and cutter duty. The US Navy's IDC course is still the preferred site for training those being assigned to Ice Breakers.  Current IDMT candidates are drawn from Medical Service (4N071) and Aeromedical Service Specialties (4F071). Candidates must have at least four years experience and be a non-commissioned officer (NCO). Other prerequisites include current standing as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, skill certified in suture/wound closure, intravenous therapy, and medication administration. In addition they must be medically cleared for worldwide duty. These specially selected technicians are then horizontally cross trained to perform duties with overlapping scopes of responsibility for the following areas: Medical Administration, Medical Laboratory, Pharmacy, Public and Occupational Health, Physical Examinations, Routine and emergency medical care, and
emergency dental care. IDMT responsibilities cover so many areas that there is no equivalent career pathway to be found in the civilian health care community.

     As the standards of health care continue to improve in the community, it is also imperative for IDMTs to continue leaning forward to meet those same standards. Additional emphasis is being placed in training IDMT students to meet standards established by national health care organizations. Future technological advances in telemedicine capabilities will open a new door for care in remote/isolated environments. However, it is our goal to remain competent as "hands-on" health care providers, capable of performing our mission in the "low tech, no bells or whistles" isolated regions of the world.

     The most significant change in our recent IDMT history occurred in 1993 when the 4N0X1 Career Field Manager led the MAJCOM Functional Managers and other key players through a total review of the IDMT program thus laying the groundwork for its inclusion in the Career Field Education and Training Plan (CFETP) as part of the 4N0X1 career progression ladder. Subsequently, Qualifications Training Packages (QTPs) have been published to standardize annual training for IDMTs in the field. Because of the often unique conditions built into our missions many of our better achievements may never be told. Our contributions to military medicine are many, our sacrifice may have been intense--yet remain silent, but no one will doubt the difference we have made in the lives of our patients.

"The Air Force IDMT:  a Brief History" (Author unknown)

     A brief history of the Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) has to include our origins during the 1950's.  The United States Air Force was just a little over three years old when we began training "site medics" to be sent out to one of the many DEW (Defense Early Warning) LINE installations that dotted Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.  The DEW LINE was the kingpin of the North American Command's radar network built to detect incoming bombers during the "cold war."  IDMTs were critical to preserving the health of the numerous technicians assigned to operate these isolated sites which could be snowed-in for months.  Before reporting for site duty, our early IDMTs attended an intense 22 week course at Gunter AFB, Alabama.

     The IDMT Program was transferred in 1966 when all medical courses at Gunter AFB moved to Sheppard AFB, Texas.  The first Course Chart on file at Sheppard was for a 280-hour course.  It was dated 24 December 1969.  Coincidentally, the Vietnam Conflict was at its peak during that time.  Students frequently left here for duty at one of the many sites we were supporting across Southeast Asia.

     In 1974, the course was expanded to 320 hours; in 1975 it grew to 360 hours; and in 1991 it went up to its present content of over 400 hours.  Over the last 26 years Sheppard AFB has trained 1651 IDMTs.  The slowest year was 1970, training only 32 IDMTs and the busiest year was 1984, when 107 IDMTs were trained.

     The mid-1980s were particularly busy because of the IDMTs role in Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) System which was to deploy missiles from six main operating bases built across Europe.  The IDMT had become an integral part of tactical nuclear deterrence.  As members of the 70-member GLCM flight, armed with 16 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, our IDMTs served at the tip of the sword.  Becoming a GLCM IDMT wasn't easy.   GLCM IDMTs attended an additional three-months of training at the 868th Missile Training Squadron (TAC) at Davis Montham AFB, Arizona, where they leaned tactics, defensive maneuvers, and weapons systems specifics.  Four bases were opened and operationally bedded down (Royal Air Force Greenham Common; Comiso, Italy; Florrenes, Belgium; and Wuesheim, Germany).  Two other bases to be located in the Netherlands and Great Britain were in the early stages of opening by the time the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between NATO and the Warsaw Pact shut them down in 1987, with doors finally closing in 1990¹.

1980s.

     The United States Coast Guard formally joined us in 1991.  Health Services Chief Waddingham was chosen as the first USCG IDMT Instructor.  HSC Evans has now followed as the second USCG instructor assigned.  Approximately 60 USCG HST-IDs have been trained to date.

     The most significant change in recent IDMT history occurred in 1993 when the 4N0X1 Career Field Manager led the MAJCOM Functional Managers and other key players through a total review of the IDMT Program.  Thus, laying the groundwork for it's inclusion in the Career Field Education and Training Plan (CFETP) as part of the 4N0X1 career progression ladder.

     Our history is richly laced with personal achievements and silent sacrifices.  Because of the unique conditions built into our missions, many of our better achievements may never be told.  Our contributions to military medicine are many, our sacrifices are intense, and yet more importantly, "...we have made a difference in our patient's lives."

Footnotes:  ¹Contribution from MSgt Daniel Caufield

Return to Top-of-Page                                                        Return to Home Page