What is Military Medicine
Military medicine involves the science of medicine with many subspecialties (like undersea medicine, tropical medicine, emotional disorders, nuclear warfare, chemical weapons, aviation medicine, etc.) along with its administration to take care of the medical needs of the military personnel, veterans and their dependents.
Military Medicine comprises medical hierarchies, planning and organization of the practices followed by surgeons and medical professionals in the armed forces. A wide range of specialties and roles are available in military medicine.
Specialities are many as far as military medicine is concerned. The following is a list of various speciality
Tropical medicine, travel health and infectious diseases
Public health medicine
Diving medicine
Aviation medicine
Pre-hospital medicine
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medicine
Tactical medicine
Disaster and humanitarian medicine
Sport and exercise medicine
Medical education
Psychological disorders medicine
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Military Medicine
For MBBS admission, the eligibility criteria for Military medicine are:
Must possess Indian citizenship
Must qualify NEET Exam
Passed 12th in the first attempt with at least 60% aggregate (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and individual score in subjects not less than 50% (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English)
Marital status should be unmarried
Age must be less than 24 years
For B.Sc nursing admission, the eligibility criteria are:
Must be female and Indian
Passed 12th with a minimum aggregate of 50% which includes subjects Physics, Chemistry and Biology
The selection is based on All India Rank of an objective written exam conducted by them
Entrance Exams for Military medicine
1. NEET for MBBS
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is a common entrance test for aspiring MBBS candidates. It is considered by many army medical colleges and universities across India like Army College of Medical Sciences, Armed Forces Medical College, etc.
2. AIIMS PG
Conducted by AIIMS, this is an exam for admission in higher degrees like M.D. only in the 13 AIIMS in India.
3. Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) admission
Armed Forces Medical College is a medical institute located in Pune, India. It was the first medical college established by Armed Forces in Asia for providing medical education and healthcare training concerned with Armed Forces. It
AFMC also has Post Graduate and Specialty Courses like MHA, M.D., D.M., M.S. etc.
4. Airmen by Indian Air Force (IAF)
Students who pass 12th with subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum aggregate of 50% can apply for Medical Assistant, i.e. Airmen post in the Indian Air Force. The age limit is 17-21 years.
5. Army Medical Corps (AMC)
The Army Medical Corps is responsible for providing medical services to armed forces. The eligibility criteria are that you need to possess a Postgraduate degree in the medical field such as MD and have an age of fewer than 45 years. Candidates can apply through an online application. The Indian Navy recruits from AMC.
College Predictors VIEW ALL
Scope of Military Medicine in India and Abroad
The army has immense needs of people from the medical industry. With an increasing number of people becoming soldiers and serving in armed forces, the medical needs also increase – be it assistance, protection, research, etc. Prompt care from the medical team saves many lives in the armed forces.
New researches for vaccination and taking care of the soldiers on and off-field and their dependents too have widened the scope for people practising under military medicine.
Military Medicine comprises medical hierarchies, planning and organization of the practices followed by surgeons and medical professionals in the armed forces. A wide range of specialities and roles in army medical services has led to making India lead when it comes to defence and security.
New advancements not only in technology but in administrative practices, healthcare handling, etc. have led to the immense growth of military medicine in India. India has always learnt from the past and thrives to improve and succeed with each passing day. With changing times, India transforms according to the growth.
Over the years, since the war times, there has been good research and development to improve the healthcare facilities provided to the army officials; and with the emerging new technologies from time to time, the military medicine has evolved immensely.
The focus has been on training the combat medics, improving the quality of healthcare services, and establishing combat support hospitals. The military medical system assists the civilians as well.
The scope of practice of army medics include:
General practice
Occupational medicine
Emergency medicine
Research & Development has the following under considerations:
i. AFMRC
ii. Departments
iii.Details of Clinical Material
The role of specialists demands:
Excellent leadership qualities
High Emotional intelligence
Teamwork and motivating team members
Careers in Military Medicine
Top recruiters of people who have completed training and education in army medical colleges are:
- Armed Forces Medical Services
- Army Medical Corps
- Armed Forces Medical College
You can either join the armed forces, get soldier training and serve as a medical professional or you can join as a staff (professor, researcher, etc.) at the army medical colleges.
Upcoming trends
With the computers and new technologies taking over the manual systems in the past years, military medicine has seen revolutionary growth. Few of the recent advancements are as follows:
1. IV Access with TournIQ
2. Accurate analysis with Sweat Sensors
3. Measurement of Vitamin C levels with Flexible Sensors
4. Wearable Strain Sensor which uses light for detection
5. Repel viruses using Reusable Textiles
6. Butterfly TeleGuidance for Remote Ultrasound Exams during COVID pandemic
7. Effective results by Augmented Reality Telemedicine
8. Drawing Biomedical Electronics directly onto the skin
Medical research & development include medical advances like:
- Drugs and vaccines for soldiers
- Medical evacuation systems
- Drinking water chlorination
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Military Medicine is a vast field of opportunities not only because of the many specialities available but also because of the variety of roles it offers. Some of the roles are:
Animal Care Specialist
Firefighter
Pharmacy Specialist
Dental Specialist
Combat Medic Specialist
Nutrition Care Specialist
Biomedical Equipment Specialist
Medical Laboratory Specialist
Some job profiles for Military medicine with their description are mentioned below:
S.no. | Job Profile | Description |
1. | Animal Care Specialist | Responsible for the treatment of all the animals involved in armed forces like dogs, etc. |
2. | Responsible for monitoring the supply of medicines and supervising the medical stock and other pharmaceutical needs. | |
3. | Nutrition Care Specialist | Responsible for taking care of the diet and nutrition of army personnel, soldiers and other army residents. |
4. | Medical Officer | A unique role is of a Medical Officer (MO) who is a soldier who practices the duties of a physician. The MO has to adhere to military laws and works in a military environment. The MO can work at home or overseas or both. |
The top recruiters for Military medicine are as follows:
1. Indian Army
2. Indian Navy
3. Indian Air Force
4. Uniformed Services University of the Health Science
5. Armed Forces Medical College
Average Salary
Some of the average salaries of various Jobs at armed forces in the medical field are:
Job Profile | Salary (per year) |
Dental Officer | Rs. 13 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Medical Assistant | Rs. 2-10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Medical Officer (MO) | Rs. 6-20 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Rs. 4-6 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Military Medicine
The set of skills which are required for serving in the military in the medical field are as follows:
I .High IQ
ii.Good fitness levels – An army medic has to protect the soldiers and provide medical assistance even in fields sometimes. Apart from that, an army medic goes through normal soldier training. So, one has to be physically as well as mentally fit.
iii. Soft skills like patience, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and strong personality.
iv.Effective communication skills are very important in military
v. Excellent combat knowledge and defensive skills like surviving in tough circumstances
vi. Good managerial skills
Course Curriculum for Military Medicine
In an army medical college, the curriculum makes you very disciplined and strong. The curriculum ranges from physical fitness training, mental fitness training, practical medical lab sessions, lectures and extra-curricular.
Sports and other co-curricular activities are also a part of the routine for the wholesome development of the trainees.
Apart from that, self-directed learning is a major part of the curriculum. The rest depends on the duration of the course chosen. For example, MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree is of five years, M.D. is of two years, D.M. is for three years, etc. The curriculum changes according to the demand of the speciality.
Popular Military Medicine Colleges in India VIEW ALL
IIT Bombay
- Fees: ₹ 831200
- Exams: JEE Advanced
SRM University Chennai
- Fees: ₹ 189000
VIT Vellore
- Fees: ₹ 780000
- Exams: VITEEE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: How has the impact of military medicine on civilian life been?
Answer :
Wars, battles, and other military events led to the development of certain things which proved to be helpful for civilian society as well. Few examples are listed below:
i.Discovery of Penicillin was carried out in 1928 and it was used in massive amounts during the 1940s in World War II. Because there are many penicillin-resistant diseases, development was seen in the wide usage of penicillin.
ii. Wars during the 1940s gave rise to the concept of the blood banking system. And now, blood banks are a part of every country’s healthcare system.
iii. Wound adhesives became a part of first aid kits after the wars.
Question: What are the challenges faced by those serving in military medicine?
Answer :
Some of the challenges army medics face are:
Staying away from home for months and years at a stretch is not a very favourable condition. After all, army medics are humans too!
Dealing with stress under critical conditions and difficult circumstances.
Working under fire – The job of an army medic is very risky. There is a high chance of being wounded while you try to protect the soldiers.
Question: What equipment do they carry?
Answer :
The various basic equipment used by them are:
Diuretics
Morphine or other opiates
Laxatives
Fever Aids
Antimalarial medicines
Astringents to constrict tissue
Depressants and stimulants
Question: What are army combat medics’ main duties?
Answer :
Being an army medical professional is as tough as being on the battlefront. Health disasters are preventable up to 20% of soldiers are given prompt care. This is why the work of army medics is very crucial. The army medics work for long hours and hardly have any free time. They are even trained to operate under enemy fire. Their duties include:
- Evacuating injured soldiers
- Staying alert and looking for signs
- Dressing wounds and ensuring their safety
- Assisting in hospitals
Question: Do army combat medics carry weapons?
Answer :
Army combat medics are trained soldiers. Apart from emergency medical training, they also go through the same training as other soldiers. So yes, they carry weapons to rescue other soldiers and themselves in the war zone. They have the basic skills which help in providing the necessary medical treatment without risking lives. When on the field to protect soldiers, they carry basic tools and weapons along with them which help in taking defensive measures.
Questions related to Military Medicine
Showing 2 out of 2 Questions
4582 Views
what is salary of mns officers
19th Dec, 2020
Hello applicant,
*The minimum pay for an MNS officers will be Rs 8,000 but as with the experience salary will increase that is 15,600 + Grade payRs 5,400/- + Military Service pay- Rs 4,200/- + DA and also with other allowenses by the privilege purose.
*I will also provide you with eligibility criteria that is :-
*Candidates who are applying for MNS should pass BSc (Nursing) or class 12th consists of subjects PCBE (Physics, Chemistry, Biology & English) should be not less than 50% Aggregate from any recognized University also should be an registered Nurse and Midwife from a State Nursing Council.
Hope it helpful
Answer later 79 Views
How i obtain career in WEAPON manufacturing industries?
7th Apr, 2020
hi,
Career in WEAPON manufacturing industries: Weapons engineering is a specialty under mechanical engineering.
Courses categorized under Weapons Engineering
- PG in Air Armament Engineering
- PG in Combat Vehicles Engineering
- PG in Guidance and Navigation Control Engineering
- PG in Guided Missiles Engineering
- PG in Microwave and Radar Engineering
Best places in India to study the course
The best colleges to study weapons engineering in India are as follows:
- Defense Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, Maharashtra
- Institute of Armament Technology, Pune
- College of Military Engineering, Pune.
