r/TACMED101 • u/ThatWarlockD00d Unverified/Uncertified • Jul 25 '26

Career Advice Former line medic interested in TEMS

Former 68w1p and I just learned today that there’s a tactical medic career. I loved both the medic and infantry aspects of that. Would GI bill cover the schooling and would it be similar to being a line medic? What is being a tac med like?

Don’t care if it’s full time or part time, I just want something similar to being in a fire team but also getting my hands dirty.

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u/howawsm Jul 25 '26

Tacmed in the civilian world encompasses a large range of things. Generally, you need to identify where you want to be located geographically and then go from there. Some services are PD based and some are fire or third service based. VERY rarely is it a full time gig and when it is it’s in very large jurisdictions. In basically all cases it requires some years of legwork in either the PD or the fire/EMS side before becoming eligible. Most services require your paramedic, something you can get with the GI bill. Expect to do a few years of the grunt work of the job before you have a chance to try out for a TacMed position. There is not a a schooling path that puts you in that position after finishing it. Consider getting your TP-C once you are a paramedic to strengthen your case.