“As our veterans transition back into civilian life, it is important that we address road blocks that get in their way. Veterans gain valuable medical experience during their military service and should not be forced to take costly and redundant training, especially when it can keep them from getting a job they are qualified for,” said Enzi. “This issue is particularly important in rural and frontier communities, like those in Wyoming, that face shortages of emergency medical personnel. By encouraging the creation of fast-tracked paramedic certification programs for our veterans, we are recognizing not only their service and hard work, but sending a message that skills learned during a career in the military give you an advantage when returning to the civilian job market. ”

“When our young men and women in uniform return home, they bring the skills they learned in the military home with them,” Klobuchar said. “Many of these returning veterans have significant medical training, and it is simply common sense that they should be able to use these battle-tested skills to secure a good job. This legislation would make it easier for them to get jobs as paramedics while helping ensure our rural communities have access to high-quality medical personnel.”

Rural communities have long faced critical shortages in emergency medical personnel, threatening the safety of rural residents. Meanwhile, thousands of men and women in the military receive emergency medical training as part of their duties.

For example, most Army combat medics are currently certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) at the basic level.  When these veterans return to civilian life, however, their military-based medical training is often not counted toward training and certification as civilian paramedics.

Many existing programs require all students to begin with an entry-level curriculum.  For veterans, this means spending extra time and money for training that, in effect, they have already received.

Enzi and Klobuchar’s legislation would accelerate and streamline the transition to civilian employment for returning veterans who already have emergency medical training.

Specifically, the bill would authorize federal grants for universities, colleges, technical schools, and state EMS agencies to develop an appropriate curriculum to train these veterans and fast-track their eligibility for paramedic certification.  A standard paramedic training program can take one to two years to complete.

This legislation has been endorsed by the American Ambulance Association, the Minnesota Ambulance Association, and the National Rural Health Association.