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Military Medical Assistants

Military Career

General Information

Description

Medical assistants serve as critical team members in providing medical care to service members and their families. They give patients the care and treatment required to help them recover from illness or injury, including injuries suffered in combat. Medical assistants help prepare equipment for diagnostic tests and other procedures for patients.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Medical assistants work in hospitals and clinics on land or aboard ships. In combat situations, they may work in mobile field hospitals.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Health Science

Related Military Careers

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Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Medical Assistants in the Military

23,762

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$61,735

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Post-secondary certificate 44%
  • High school 20%
  • Some college 17%
  • Bachelor's degree 17%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Medical assistants in the Military will gain skills through classroom study, laboratory demonstrations, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include: Patient care techniquesEmergency medical treatmentMethods of sterilizing surgical equipmentWorking on a medical teamBasic nursing careMinor surgical proceduresClinical laboratory proceduresMethods for diagnosing diseasesPreventive medicineMedical management information systems

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Medical assistants in the Military will gain skills through classroom study, laboratory demonstrations, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Patient care techniques
  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Methods of sterilizing surgical equipment
  • Working on a medical team
  • Basic nursing care
  • Minor surgical procedures
  • Clinical laboratory procedures
  • Methods for diagnosing diseases
  • Preventive medicine
  • Medical management information systems

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administrative
  • Computers and Electronics
  • English Language
  • Medicine and Dentistry

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.