Medic's role

[mrnothing]

Was going through some military forums and then came across a video on para rescuemen (pjs). while watching, one of the pjs in the video said that they are the only medics that also have a direct combatant role. I decided to look up some information on the role of a regular combat medic and found out that they are not allowed to be armed under the geneva convention or are not allowed to take a combatant role. the only time they are allowed to use their weapon (usually a pistol or a rifle) is to protect themselves or a wounded person under their care - but they are not allowed to use it as a offensive firearm and are considered non-combatant. also, if a person knowingly fires at a medic wearing a insignia that marks them as a medic, it is considered a war crime.

this brings me to my question. in PR, do most players take role combatant or non-combatant role ?

irl, while war rages on, the enemy is probably not gonna give a shoop da whoop whether your a medic or not. as long as you pose a threat to them, they'll shoot at you. but because this is PR, should punishments be considered too for killing a medic just like how killing a civi gets you punished ?

[Rudd]

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Combat Medic brings woman's touch to Kajaki Ops

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D94C19E2 ... emale1.JPG

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Brave Michelle saves life of a colleague in Iraq

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/66C1250F ... Norris.JPG

in PR medics are combatants, IRL that might legally be more complicated, but ingame it isnt

and there should be no punishments for shooting a medic ingame because we don't have a realistic heal system, we have a gameplay facilitating system

[flem615]

i fully agree with Rudd. this game has many small rules that result in big penalties (which i fully support 105%) and it doesnt need more concerning medics.corpsmen.

[Bringerof_D]

we'll deal with this when a guy in PR has to go back to a hospital and heal up his wounds for about a year then recuperate his physical well being over the course of several more.

This thought of yours btw also makes me think it might be fun to have a priest kit. just walk around blessing the dead guys lol, and NOTHING can hit you you are essentially visible but thin air as far as bullets are concerned. ("band of brothers" moment)

[flem615]

Lol hell yes to the priest. Conflicting statement... In kindness to the idea posted by mmothing, it is a very good point, and it's true. There are things PR has to leave out for the sake of gameplay. They can't make a kit with which you can only sometimes fight. (kind of hypocritical because they made the collaborator kit). But you get my point of course

[Spaz]

I think a combat medic is suppose to be unarmed irl, but in most conflicts today the enemy don't care about the Geneva convention so the combat medics carry weapons in self-defence.

But I think that if a medic would be unarmed and still shot that would be considered a war crime. But ingame the medics are armed so I hope nothing will be changed.

I know this is wiki so I'm not saying its the truth. Please Bob don't smack me in the face.

In modern times, most combat medics carry a personal weapon, to be used to protect themselves and the wounded or sick in their care. When and if they use their arms offensively, or carry arms that qualify as offensive, they then sacrifice their protection under the Geneva Conventions.

Traditionally, medical personnel did not carry weapons and wore a distinguishing red cross, to denote their protection as noncombatants under the Geneva Convention. This practice continued into World War II. However, the enemies faced by professional armies in more recent conflicts are often insurgents who do not recognize the Geneva Convention and readily engage all personnel, irrespective of noncombatant status. For this reason, some modern combat medics are armed combatants and do not wear distinguishing markings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_medic

[Fat Man Jim]

we'll deal with this when a guy in PR has to go back to a hospital and heal up his wounds for about a year then recuperate his physical well being over the course of several more.

This thought of yours btw also makes me think it might be fun to have a priest kit. just walk around blessing the dead guys lol, and NOTHING can hit you you are essentially visible but thin air as far as bullets are concerned. ("band of brothers" moment)

just remembered the priest during the d-day scene in saving private ryan

and how i was wondering 'THIS IS HARDLY THE TIME TO PRAY, HIDE!, HIDE YOU STUPID PRIEST!'

[Wicca]

Most soldiers know First aid, how to stop bleeding. etc.

Doing Field Surgery, while under fire, is usually not an easy thing.

But first aid, you can do that on yourself, patch up a wound. It all comes down to where your shot.

During WW2, the british had these bags of blood, that they used to give troops blood. And it saved alot of lives. Basically, it doesnt have to be complex and hard for it to work. But then again, it depends on where youve been shoot.

Id usually go with rudds judgment, he is in medical school. AFAIK.

[Rudd]

Id usually go with rudds judgment, he is in medical school. AFAIK.

not yet, the source you want is Thermis

and even if I was, battlefield trauma surgery is a specialty in itself, with multiple arms governing it according to triage and equipment. Also, medics ingame represent combat medics who have no medical degree.

Normal Doctors and nurses tend to have absolutely no clue about first aid even, without their defibrilators and pharmaceutical interventions they are completely lost. But a soldier with a triangular bandage and a sterile dressing knows exactly what to do (not that you can save a gunshot victim with only those items )

[akatabrask]

Iirc in a thread recently someone wrote, on the subject of people beeing able to pick up others medic kits, that the medic in pr in fact was a regular soldier with no more medical training than the other soldiers only that he got to carry around the medical supplies.

Dunno if that was an official statement though or just some speculations, but still I find it to be a reasonable point.

And also, in Dslyecxis Arma II TTP guide, which describes tactics and squad lay outs based on the USMCs irl standards, on the topic of squad level medics/corpsmen it states:

"While a medic carries a rifle, it is nowhere near as powerful as the skill he brings as a healer."

There is further no statement that the medic is a non-combatant but rather is supposed to maintain safety of him self and his team mates though he is also fully capable to join in on the front if the situation requires.

[Thermis]

Medics have been armed Since WWII, because in WWII we found that the enemy would fire on medics even if they were trying to help the wounded.
On the modern battlefield medics are just as armed as the next guy, there are no rules that say the medic can't shoot the enemy, they are just as much a part of the squad as the next guy. The only reason they don't get into the thick of the combat is because the platoon or squad realizes that if the medic gets hit then everyone is screwed, so they try to keep the medic towards the back and protected. With that said if a medic saw a enemy combatant and was within general ROE he would engage without thinking twice.

Rudd: You wouldn't be doing trauma surgery on the ground with all the bullets whizzing around. Medics in the platoon would be doing their best to stop bleeding, prevent shock, bla bla bla. Then you'd either medivac via helo or hop in your vehicles and get your casualty to hospital. Triage would be done by the hospital, normally you know what type of casualty is coming in from what where when a good deal before they get to you so you could try and prepare rooms ect.

[RHYS4190]

medic's are given a gun for a reason to kill people, and usually if the person is with in 90 to 130m i stand a good enough chance of killing him.
But I always try and hang back in the formation and work my magic from there.



And yeah medic's are often kept at the back of the formation, any casualty’s are sent back to be prep' ed by the medic and then evac'ed to a MASH unit.

[Nox.]

Medics have been armed Since WWII, because in WWII we found that the enemy would fire on medics even if they were trying to help the wounded.
On the modern battlefield medics are just as armed as the next guy, there are no rules that say the medic can't shoot the enemy, they are just as much a part of the squad as the next guy. The only reason they don't get into the thick of the combat is because the platoon or squad realizes that if the medic gets hit then everyone is screwed, so they try to keep the medic towards the back and protected. With that said if a medic saw a enemy combatant and was within general ROE he would engage without thinking twice.

This.

Seven chars.

[smart_boy00]

I play medic when IM not with my friends online. I tend to try not to engage the enemy and I just try to stay next to my squad leader. It bothers me though when the squad leader just takes off running and takes point. He (or she) should keep back and let the first few guys take the hits if engaged. I have had rounds where as a medic I never shot once. I just kept reviving and healing all round.

[IAJTHOMAS]

According to the text of the convention, the medic is a non-combatant whilst he is performing his medical duties. It doesn't stop him engaging in combat when not providing medical care, but the non-combatant status will not apply.

Note that the status is not 'forfitted,' you could treat a casualty, engage in combat, then treat another casaulty and be considered non combatant whislts treating the casaulties.

"Members of the armed forces specially trained for employment, should the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in the search for or the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded and sick shall likewise be respected and protected if they are carrying out these duties at the time when they come into contact with the enemy or fall into his hands"

Compare this to Art 24 which states:

Article 24. Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the search for, or the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded or sick, or in the prevention of disease, staff exclusively engaged in the administration of medical units and establishments, as well as chaplains attached to the armed forces, shall be respected and protected in all circumstances.

So it would appear that those who are solely there as doctors and medics, rather than combat medics, are always protected by the convention.

Obviously it wouldn't be a easy to draw the lines in a real combat situation, but this appears to be the theoretical position.

[Jigsaw]

I think it's simple enough, in PR a medic is a combatant and is armed as such but the player should also remember that just as in RL if he goes down then everyone is screwed, and he should therefore act accordingly to preserve his own life so that he might preserve others.

That said it certainly doesn't stop you from engaging the enemy, yesterday for instance on OGT I went 10-2 as medic, best k/d in the squad whilst keeping everyone alive at the same time.

[Masterbake]

Basically, if someone's a danger to you, shoot back, but there's no point engaging a muthafuckanator (newLMG). Really you should make staying safe a higher priority than anyone else in the squad.

[smart_boy00]

Basically, if someone's a danger to you, shoot back, but there's no point engaging a muthafuckanator (newLMG). Really you should make staying safe a higher priority than anyone else in the squad.

Agreed. Also not revive someone in sight of hostel fire! Nothing sucks more than getting revived and booms your down again! it starts your counter over too!!!!
Also use commands that lets someone know your coming to get him or her. I always get revived when IM in a darn menu someplace and just die again!

[Seiran]

It could be that the Dev's have decided to go with the Combat Life Saver role, as opposed to a full out Medic.