EMS Begins Intern Program for Soldiers

Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services (MCEMS) is pleased to announce an intern program for 68-W soldiers (medically trained) transitioning out of the military. This program will provide hands on experience in the public sector for those soldiers wishing to continue working in the medical field outside the military. These soldiers will have to go back to school for a fifteen week course to become AEMT certified, but the internship program will allow them part-time work in the field while in school.

Jimmie Edwards, EMS Director states, "These soldiers are already medically trained, but are having trouble finding employment once leaving active duty because they aren't AEMT certified. Similarly, Emergency Medical Service across the state are having a difficult time finding licensed employees, so this would provide employment during the internship and schooling that would hopefully transfer into full time employment upon their course completion. It's a win-win situation."

Mayor Jim Durrett adds, "Our military are well-trained, skilled individuals, and this program will give us a great opportunity to hire some of these individuals in county government. I'm excited about it and hope it will spread across our state. We have over 150 soldiers in the EMS field transitioning out of the army in the next six months that will be looking for work. If we can get them hired as interns while they complete their training for the public sector, it could drastically help the EMT shortage across our county and state. Chief Edwards has done an outstanding job spearheading this program. This is just another example of Montgomery County's commitment to supporting our men and women in the military."

The intern program will begin with 10 interns. Those interested in applying for an internship may apply online at www.mcgtn.org/human-resources. For more information on the intern program, contact Jimmie Edwards at [email protected] or John Clement at [email protected].