Ryan Spencer-Smith, United States Navy
Paramedic, Napa, California, American Medical Response
Ryan Spencer-Smith joined the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman (Medic) attached to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. He was deployed to Iraq as a part of a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, treating military and civilian casualties of war.
After five years of service, Spencer-Smith decided that he wanted to spend more time with his young family—he had two children—and that he had achieved his goals set upon entering military service: serving in combat with the Marines and providing medical treatment to those in need, often on a mass-casualty level.
After leaving the military, Spencer-Smith worked for a tech company, but soon realized he was not passionate about that career. After the pandemic, he made the decision to go back into the medical field. He joined AMR and put his military training to work in a civilian role.
“Having experience in the military was a huge advantage to going to paramedic school and then working in the field,” he said. “Also, the common skills that the military teaches you—such as attention to detail, the ability to accomplish the mission no matter what the task, and a commitment to excellence—are all attributes that carry over in the civilian EMS workforce.”
Length of Service
Spencer-Smith served for five years as a medic with the U.S. Navy (attached to the Marines).
Rank Achieved
He attained the rank of Specialist (E-4), the highest rank for junior enlisted recruits.
What do You Miss about Military service?
“I miss the brotherhood, camaraderie, being with like-minded people who valued patriotism and serving their country, the leadership and the sense of pride that comes with serving the U.S. military,” said Spencer-Smith.
After five years of service, Spencer-Smith decided that he wanted to spend more time with his young family—he had two children—and that he had achieved his goals set upon entering military service: serving in combat with the Marines and providing medical treatment to those in need, often on a mass-casualty level.
After leaving the military, Spencer-Smith worked for a tech company, but soon realized he was not passionate about that career. After the pandemic, he made the decision to go back into the medical field. He joined AMR and put his military training to work in a civilian role.
“Having experience in the military was a huge advantage to going to paramedic school and then working in the field,” he said. “Also, the common skills that the military teaches you—such as attention to detail, the ability to accomplish the mission no matter what the task, and a commitment to excellence—are all attributes that carry over in the civilian EMS workforce.”
Length of Service
Spencer-Smith served for five years as a medic with the U.S. Navy (attached to the Marines).
Rank Achieved
He attained the rank of Specialist (E-4), the highest rank for junior enlisted recruits.
What do You Miss about Military service?
“I miss the brotherhood, camaraderie, being with like-minded people who valued patriotism and serving their country, the leadership and the sense of pride that comes with serving the U.S. military,” said Spencer-Smith.
