Advanced and Basic BMET School, Sheppard Air Force Base

Some would argue that this is by far, the hardest school in the Department of Defense. The failure rate here is so high, it is laughable. Yet people from all over the world dare to enroll in a year's worth of intense shock therapy and training.

Here in basic school we learn basic AC/DC theory, tools, basic troubleshooting skills, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and medical equipment. Since it is virtually impossible to cover every single piece of medical equipment there is in the medical field, equipment blocks are divided into separate areas of medical. Blocks covered are: Cardiovascular, respiratory, sterilization, laboratory, radiology, emergancy, dental, and computers. The information covered here in a 42 weeks is equivilant to two years of college. I've seen people cry when they go through the indoctrination because of the overwhelming amount of equipment that has to be covered. I found it to be a challenge.

I went through basic school in 2002. I had a lot of fun and the time flew. I remember getting burned a few times by the sterilizer and blowing up thousands of dollars worth of circuit boards in X-ray.

In advanced school we learn, advanced laboratory, lasers, fiber optics, advanced radiology, networking and computers, teleradiology, X-ray acceptance and general administration and leadership. It is six months long.

I found advanced school to be a vacation.

Department of Defense Biomedical Equipment Technician School