U.S. Army · Medical

68W Combat Medic Specialist

Army Combat Medic Specialists (68W) administer emergency medical care in combat and humanitarian situations, provide limited primary care, support force health protection, and train other Soldiers in first-responder procedures.

last verified 2026-06-21

68W (Combat Medic Specialist), spoken “68 Whiskey”, is in the Army and requires a minimum AFQT of 31 and ST of at least 101. Last verified 2026-06-21 against Army DA Pam 611-21 Chapter 10C (68W Combat Medic Specialist).

Quick check

Can I qualify for this job?

Enter the scores you already know. Leave a box blank if you do not have that score yet.

AFQT minimum 31Enter AFQT
ST minimum 101Enter ST

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT31
  • Training~16 weeks
  • ST line score≥ 101

Source: Army DA Pam 611-21 Chapter 10C (68W Combat Medic Specialist) · last verified 2026-06-21.

Role brief

About 68W — Combat Medic Specialist.

Army Combat Medic Specialists (68W) administer emergency medical care in combat and humanitarian situations, provide limited primary care, support force health protection, and train other Soldiers in first-responder procedures.

Initial training

How 68W training works.

FormatBasic + AIT
LocationJBSA–Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Length~16 weeks

68W Soldiers complete ~10 weeks of Basic Combat Training, then attend Advanced Individual Training at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, JBSA–Fort Sam Houston, Texas — roughly 16 weeks of AIT that includes earning the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification plus combat trauma care.

Source: goarmy.com — Combat Medic Specialist (68W) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

After training

Common 68W follow-on schools and paths.

  • Flight Medic (68WF2)Critical-care aeromedical evacuation on rotary-wing aircraft.
  • Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM)Advanced trauma care for special operations units.
  • Practical Nursing / 68CReclassification path toward Licensed Practical Nurse.
  • Airborne SchoolParachute qualification for airborne medical assignments.

Starting pay · 2026

What this job pays as a junior enlisted member.

Base pay is set by pay grade, not by job — every Army enlistee at the same grade earns the same monthly base pay. These are the 2026 active-duty rates (3.8% raise, effective 2026-01-01).

GradeRankMonthly base payService
E-1Private (PV1)$2,407after 4 months of service
E-2Private (PV2)$2,698under 2 years
E-3Private First Class (PFC)$2,837under 2 years
E-4Specialist / Corporal$3,142under 2 years
  • Plus food allowance (BAS)$460/moFlat enlisted rate, tax-free, paid on top of base pay.
  • Plus housing allowance (BAH)Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is paid on top of base pay and is tax-free, but it varies by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents — there is no single nationwide figure. Use the official DoD BAH calculator for your assignment location.DoD BAH rate lookup →

Source: DFAS 2026 active-duty basic pay tables (3.8% raise, effective Jan 1 2026) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

Eligibility notes

What 68W candidates should check.

  • The current Army MOS specification lists 68W as an ST-line-score target: candidates need Skilled Technical (ST) 101, effective 9 October 2023. The same source does not list a separate GT requirement for initial award of MOS 68W.
  • The ST requirement emphasizes General Science, Verbal Expression, Mechanical Comprehension, and Mathematics Knowledge, so GS, MC, and MK prep can matter even after a candidate clears the AFQT floor.
  • The overall Army AFQT floor is 31, but 68W eligibility depends on the job-specific ST line score after the candidate clears the enlistment floor.

What is Army 68W called, and is it the same as "68 Whiskey"?

Yes — they are the same job. 68W is the Army Combat Medic Specialist MOS; "68 Whiskey" is how the code is said aloud, spelling the trailing "W" with the NATO phonetic alphabet. Whether you search "68W" or "68 Whiskey", the requirement on this page is the same: AFQT 31 and ST of at least 101.

What ASVAB score do you need for 68W Combat Medic?

For Army 68W Combat Medic Specialist, use the job line score rather than only the overall ASVAB percentile: ST must be at least 101, with the Army AFQT floor of 31.

Is 68W based on ST or GT?

The current Army MOS specification reviewed on 2026-06-21 lists ST 101 for 68W and does not list GT as a separate initial-award line-score requirement. If an older table says GT, confirm the current requirement on your recruiter score sheet or enlistment contract.

Where do Army Combat Medics train, and do they get an EMT certification?

68W Soldiers train at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, JBSA–Fort Sam Houston, Texas, after Basic Combat Training. The ~16-week AIT includes earning the National Registry EMT (NREMT) certification plus combat trauma care.

How much does an Army 68W Combat Medic get paid?

Pay follows rank, not MOS. In 2026 an E-1 earns $2,407.20/month in base pay and an E-4 (under 2 years) earns $3,142/month, plus the $460.25/month enlisted food allowance (BAS) and a location-based housing allowance (BAH).

Why do 68W search results mention different ASVAB numbers?

Some results discuss the AFQT enlistment floor, while others preserve older Army line-score tables. For the current 68W page, AFQT 31 is the branch floor and ST 101 is the job-specific line-score requirement.

What are the MOS requirements for 68W Combat Medic Specialist?

The Army Combat Medic Specialist MOS (68W) requires a minimum AFQT of 31 and ST of at least 101, with initial training of about 16 weeks. Those are the ASVAB-based entry requirements; a recruiter confirms the full enlistment picture (medical, background, and current openings). Source: Army DA Pam 611-21 Chapter 10C (68W Combat Medic Specialist), last verified 2026-06-21.

Source: Army DA Pam 611-21 Chapter 10C (68W Combat Medic Specialist) · last verified 2026-06-21 · date retrieved 2026-06-21.

Nearby targets

Related Army score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus 68W line-score subtests.

AFQT + ST practice targets

Compare Army ASVAB requirements

Independent test-prep — not affiliated with DoD or the ASVAB program. See officialasvab.com for the test program.

Sources