Become a Civilian Combat Medic Training Instructor at Fort Sam Houston

Are you an experienced emergency medical professional or instructor seeking a meaningful career supporting the United States Armed Forces? The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has announced an opening for a Training Instructor (Combat Medic) under the GS-1712-09 job series. Located at the world-renowned Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, this position offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the capabilities of front-line military medical personnel while accessing full federal benefits.

With a salary range between $62,629 and $81,423 per year, this position serves a pivotal function in modern military healthcare readiness. Below is a comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about the role, qualifications, salary structure, application nuances, and hiring requirements.

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About the Agency: Defense Health Agency (DHA)

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) functions as an integrated medical care system providing comprehensive health services across the Department of Defense. DHA enables combat support to the Joint Force and delivers health, dental, and pharmacy programs to over 9.5 million uniformed service members, retirees, and their families worldwide.

This specific role is embedded within the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. METC stands as an unparalleled center of excellence for military medical training, operating as the world’s largest consolidated military medical training institution. As a civilian instructor, you will join a dedicated team of professionals focused on building mission-ready medical responders.

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Key Job Responsibilities

As a Combat Medic Training Instructor, your primary mission is to plan, deliver, and refine high-quality emergency medical instruction. Candidates selected for this position will engage in a variety of complex educational and tactical duties:

• Curriculum Execution & Technology Integration: Utilize advanced educational software, training aids, and simulation technology to deliver engaging and effective instruction.
• Standard of Care Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date expertise regarding Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) methodologies, protocols, and medical standards of care.
• Varied Instructional Delivery: Employ adaptable teaching approaches—such as practical demonstrations, formal lectures, and group discussions—tailored to specific lesson objectives.
• Course & Program Development: Assist in developing curriculum for trauma treatment, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), medical evacuation procedures, and field craft skills.
• Evaluation & Assessment: Develop lesson plans, manage course materials, evaluate student performance, and systematically assess learning outcomes.
• Comprehensive Skill Instruction: Deliver hands-on instruction covering Basic Life Support (BLS), primary care, advanced field trauma care, and scenario-based warrior skills.

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Qualification Requirements

To be considered for this GS-09 role, applicants must meet specific federal qualification pathways. You can qualify based on specialized work experience, advanced educational achievements, or a combination of both.

Specialized Experience

Applicants must possess at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty equivalent to the GS-07 grade in federal service. Specialized experience includes practical knowledge of emergency medical instruction, gained by teaching Medics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), or Paramedics in either an academic or field setting.

Educational Requirements

Alternatively, candidates may qualify through education by meeting one of the following criteria:

• A Master's or equivalent graduate degree in education, science, or a directly related field.
• Two full years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate study leading to such a degree.

Education vs. Experience Qualification Pathways

Qualification Method	Minimum Required Background	Supporting Documentation Needed
Specialized Experience	12 months equivalent to GS-07 performing EMT/Medic instruction	Tailored resume detailing hours per week and key duties
Graduate Education	Master's degree or 2 full years of graduate study in education/science	Unofficial or official academic transcripts
Combination	Pro-rated blend of graduate education beyond year 1 and field experience	Resume AND official/unofficial college transcripts

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Competencies Evaluated

Applicants will be evaluated on core technical and professional competencies via application review and the USA Hire assessment platform. Critical competencies include:

1. Attention to Detail: Ensuring accurate delivery of medical protocols and evaluation guidelines.
2. Integrity & Honesty: Maintaining uncompromising ethical standards in grading and student assessment.
3. Interpersonal Skills: Communicating effectively with military students, co-instructors, and command leadership.
4. Reading Comprehension: Interpreting technical medical literature, military doctrine, and instructional guides.
5. Self-Management: Managing classroom schedules, evaluation routines, and practical training setups independently.
6. Teamwork: Collaborating with multi-service instructional teams to achieve mission objectives.

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Salary & Compensation Overview

The position carries a full-time GS-09 General Schedule classification with a starting annual pay band of $62,629 to $81,423.

• Locality Adjustment: The base pay scale reflects San Antonio area locality rates.
• Salary Negotiation: Candidates entering Federal civilian service for the first time may be eligible for salary negotiation based on superior qualifications or existing pay rates.
• Promotion Potential: The target grade for this position is GS-09 (no built-in non-competitive promotion potential past GS-09).

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Federal Employee Benefits

Civilian employment within the Department of Defense offers robust compensation features beyond base salary:

• Healthcare Coverage: Select from dozens of high-quality health insurance plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your future with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity combined with Social Security.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Enjoy up to a 5% employer matching contribution to a 401(k)-style investment portfolio.
• Paid Time Off: Earn 13 days of paid annual leave, 13 days of paid sick leave, and observe 11 federal holidays annually.
• Life & Long-Term Care Insurance: Optional access to FEGLI group life insurance and federal long-term care plans.

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Critical Application Guidelines & Tips

Applying for federal jobs requires strict adherence to submission rules. Disqualifications frequently occur over avoidable administrative errors.

The Strict 2-Page Resume Rule

CRITICAL WARNING: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. Resumes longer than two pages will be automatically rejected by the hiring authority without evaluation.

Ensure your two-page resume clearly outlines:

• Employer names and locations
• Start and end dates for each position held (Format: MM/YYYY)
• Average hours worked per week
• Specific duties matching the GS-07/GS-09 instructional competencies

USA Hire Online Assessment

After submitting your application package on USAJobs, eligible applicants will receive an email invitation to take the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessment.

• You must complete the assessment within 48 hours of receiving the notification.
• The assessment takes approximately two hours to complete.
• Assessment scores remain valid for up to one year for future applications requiring the same competency evaluation.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is eligible to apply for this vacancy?

Eligible groups include current DHA civilian employees, current DoD civilian personnel, veterans under VEOA, military spouses, Schedule A eligible individuals with disabilities, and land management workforce applicants.

Q: Is telework or remote work available for this position?

No, this role is classified as non-teleworkable due to the hands-on nature of clinical simulation and practical instruction at Fort Sam Houston.

Q: Is travel required?

Travel requirements are minimal, listed under standard Travel Code 1 (occasional routine travel for training or conferences).

Q: Is relocation assistance offered?

No. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses will not be funded by the government.

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Serving as a Training Instructor (Combat Medic) at Fort Sam Houston is more than a job—it is a vital contribution to military readiness and life-saving operational medicine. By preparing tactical medics for realistic emergency environments, you directly impact the success and safety of global operations. Ensure your resume stays strictly within the two-page limit, gather your transcripts or SF-50s, and submit your application package before the closing date!