State Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently took note of the skills that military veteran medics have in the health industry and developed a solution to help these veterans as they look for work as civilians.
The new solution is H.R. 1818, the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2016. In May 2016, the House passed the new bill with a vote of 415-1. It is included as a piece of the strategy against opioid abuse in the U.S.
Many military medics have quality experience as well as unique skills that they have learned during emergencies on the battlefield. Unfortunately, these skilled veterans may experience difficulty in finding work after they return to civilian life.
The act is designed to help these veterans find work among civilians, allowing them to be natural candidates for positions for first responders in the U.S. It isn’t necessary for them to complete additional training to work as civilian emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
“This bill has always been about increasing the number of first responders reporting for duty,” Kinzinger said. “Whether EMTs are reporting for duty on the front lines overseas or the front lines of our local communities, they have important skills that help save lives. This new law is a win-win for supporting our local heroes, our first responders and our community.”
