{"id":20622,"date":"2023-07-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=20622"},"modified":"2023-07-31T06:41:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T06:41:31","slug":"iowa-citizen-soldier-serves-dual-role-as-combat-medic-civilian-firefighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=20622","title":{"rendered":"Iowa Citizen-Soldier serves dual role as combat medic, civilian firefighter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n U.S. Army Spc. John Shields, a combat medical specialist with the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, Iowa National Guard, representing Region IV, poses for a photograph during the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 12, 2023.
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ARLINGTON, Va. \u2014 Army Spc. John Shields, a combat medic in Iowa Army National Guard\u2019s 334th Brigade Support Battalion, embraced his long-held dream of service by joining the National Guard while using military training to fulfill his civilian ambition as a firefighter.<\/p>\n

After college, Shields enlisted in the Army National Guard, recognizing it as an opportunity to become a firefighter with a military background, giving him a competitive edge. He finds fulfillment in serving his country and community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always wanted to be a firefighter and figured the National Guard was the best way to get a leg up on the competition,\u201d Shields explained, highlighting the advantages of Guard service combining his military background and medic training in both worlds.<\/p>\n

His military skills have proven valuable in his civilian career, where Shields has received two lifesaving awards.<\/p>\n

\u201dFirefighter Shields continues to be very dependable,\u201d said Waukee Fire Department Lieutenant Josh Hutton. \u201dHe [assists] the crew with everything that is asked of him with very minimal direction needed. He has continued to carry on this trait and is someone you can count on and trust on medical calls.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n U.S. Army Spc. John Shields, front, a combat medical specialist assigned to the Iowa National Guard, representing Region IV, conducts a spot report as Staff Sgt. Steve Biteler, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, South Dakota National Guard grades Shields performance during the Army National Guard\u2019s (ARNG) Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska July 11, 2023. The ARNG BWC tests the adaptiveness and lethality of our forces as our National Guard Citizen-Soldiers remain ready and resilient to meet the nation\u2019s challenges.
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Shields received advanced first-responder medical training as a Guard member and effectively employs his skills to benefit the Waukee community. The Army combat medic\u2019s training exposed him to advanced medical practices, making him a multicapable care provider.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get our EMT training through the Army,\u201d Shields said. \u201cWe get a little more in-depth for specifically trauma care and tactical field care, then we can focus on more different illnesses you may see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shields\u2019 dedication to service extends beyond firefighting, as he instructs and develops combat medics at the Medical Simulations Training Center at Camp Dodge, Iowa.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis demeanor, expertise and general knowledge of the military from participating in the competitions make him an incredible instructor and leader within the MSTC and beyond,\u201d said Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew T. Strasser, Iowa National Guard senior enlisted leader.<\/p>\n

Shields recently competed in the Army National Guard National Best Warrior Competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m actually our [unit\u2019s] first Soldier to compete at the national level,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big deal and groundbreaking for us … a very high honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strasser said Shields has motivated fellow Guardsmen \u201cand raised awareness of opportunities for our Soldiers and will continue to be our mouthpiece for what this has done for him personally from a readiness and development standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shields plans to start paramedic school and pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in Firefighter Science Administration to become a fire officer while continuing his career as a member of the Iowa National Guard, crediting the opportunities as Citizen-Soldier as key to making a difference in saving lives in and out of uniform.<\/p>\n

For more National Guard news<\/a><\/p>\n

National Guard Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

National Guard Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

U.S. Army Spc. John Shields, a combat medical specialist with the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, Iowa National Guard, representing Region IV, poses for a photograph during the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 12, 2023. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Eichaker) VIEW ORIGINAL ARLINGTON, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20624,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20622"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20627,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20622\/revisions\/20627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}