The Army calls them medics, the Navy calls them Corpsmen, and the Marine Corps calls them Docs. If the Marines respect the work the Navy Corpsman does in the field, they might lovingly call him Devil Doc. Putting military medics in the field is a sign of respect in that while we ask our military service members to do dangerous duty, we will fight to keep them alive. How do we equip these medics to save lives on the battlefield? We do that with some serious protective gear and unique tools.
No, military medics do not wear entirely the same gear as other soldiers; they wear the standard uniform and protective gear like body armor, but carry additional medical equipment and weapons, such as specialized aid bags, medical supplies, and firearms for self-defense and patient care. The specific loadout varies depending on the mission, unit, and the medic's role, with some medics even wearing scrubs when in a non-field facility environment. Now let’s get into the details of what medics wear and how we protect those fighting to save lives.
M-Tac Combat Medic Backpack Elite
Uniform and Armor: Standardized for Protection
When a 7.62 round hits center mass on a piece of body armor, it doesn’t care whether the recipient is a trained grunt or a combat medic. There is no such thing as purely medical armor. Either the gear is up to the task or it is not. Medics can routinely be seen dodging in and out of the combat zone, trying to save as many lives as possible. Truthfully, Army medic uniforms can look so similar down to the tactical gloves and tactical belts that it is not always easy to distinguish them from the grunts charging ahead to take lives.
I saw this firsthand during the Global Wars on Terror, where DevilDocs didn’t once hesitate about crossing a stream of bullets to reach their Marine. We’re seeing similar inexplicable acts of gallantry on the battlefield in Ukraine right now. Combat medics who take their oath seriously deserve the best protection available to them. Full stop. They get the same gear the grunts get when it comes to uniform and armor. What do medics wear in the military? Whatever it takes to keep them alive during the fight.
Where Things Start to Differ: What Medics Carry
Customization is where things start to differ for each combat medic, regardless of service branch. On their body, you can find all the standard first-aid gear and then some. Guaze, pressure dressings, trauma shears, tourniquets, chest seals, SAM splints, TQ cards, casualty cards, and a permanent marker to document the event for possible next steps.
Do medics in the military wear the same gear, regardless of which service branch? This will also vary based on the mission. Navy Corpsmen on a ship will carry different gear than one out in the field with the grunts. Special operation medics who plan to be behind enemy lines for longer will carry more military medical supplies than your average tactical first aid kit. It is all relative to the mission at hand. Military gear, military combat gear, and any other accessory can be treated the same way.
Tactical Medical Pouches: Built for Combat, Not Clinics
True customization comes into play when we start talking about what medics and Docs keep in their military med kit. That’s because it begins to speak as to just how long this Doc thinks he is going to be in the fight and just how bad it will get. Good Docs prepare for the worst and running out of supplies in his military medical kit is a nightmare good combat medics nightmare. If vehicles are available, they’ll have even more advanced supplies on hand. However, for the tactical foot patrol, the military medical bag and ruck means the difference between life and death.
Here we’re looking at more bandages, hemostatic agents to clot the blood, more advanced tourniquets, burn dressings, eye wash, and even IV start kits if needed. Every medic will carry plenty of gear on their person, but personally I want to look inside his medical bag to see just how far he is ready to go to save others. Good keep their bags loaded and the really good Devil Docs even keep a hidden can of dip or packet of cigarettes for the Marine who runs out. That last one is just a personal preference for Doc to keep in his MOLLE medical pouch.
Weapons and Radios: More Than Just a Medic
It is often a misguided notion that medics are not armed as they must maintain the ability to defend themselves and their patients. It is most often a sidearm along the 1911 or Glock variety and many are quite good marksmen. In World War 2, there was a Navy Dentist named Ben Salomen who picked up a machine gun to defend the aid station in Saipan. He gave his life that day, but not before taking out dozens of the Japanese attackers. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Tactical gear for medics is an important element to their kit. Medics can also find themselves manning radios or shuttling extra ammunition over long distances. I’ve even witnessed DevilDocs carry huge mortar plates or extra barrels to take a load off of the tired Marine. This is despite the fact that their own combat medic equipment is heavy. Remember, DevilDoc is a term of respect in the Corps and for good reason. Combat medics of any stripe are good to go in the eyes of most grunts, regardless of service branch.
M-Tac Medical Pouch Rip Off Gen.II
Beyond the Battlefield: Scrubs and Non-Combat Settings
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the depth of the medical community in the military. Many Corpsmen in a hospital setting started out in the fleet with the Marines. Countless surgeons in combat triage centers have saved countless lives over the years with their skill and ability to think under pressure.
Whether you wear the camouflage of the grunts or you are wearing scrubs back in the rear with the gear, medical professionals are respected in military circles. What do military medics carry when not on duty? It is my sincere hope that anyone with training keeps a good medical pouch in their vehicle or nearby to save others where there is no one else to do so in their stead. That is the heart and character of a combat medic.
