History: Combat Medics, Afghanistan

Combat medics are trained military personnel (also known as medics) by the US Army's MOS designation "68-Whiskey" who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury. Combat medics are normally co-located with the combat troops they serve in order to easily move with the troops and monitor ongoing health. In 1864, sixteen European states (referring to themselves as "High Contracting Parties"), adopted the First Geneva Convention to save lives, to alleviate the suffering wounded and sick military personnel, and to protect trained medical personal as civilians, in the act rendering aid.
Chapter IV, Article 25 the Geneva Convention states that "Members the armed forces specially trained for employment, should the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in the search for or the collection, transport or treatment the wounded and sick shall likewise be respected and protected if they are carrying out these duties at the time when they come into contact with the enemy or fall into his hands." Article 29 reads "Members the personnel designated in Article 25 who have fallen into the hands the enemy, shall be prisoners war, but shall be employed on their medical duties insar as the need arises."
According to the Geneva Convention, knowingly firing at a medic wearing clear insignia is a war crime.
In modern times, most combat medics carry a personal weapon, to be used to protect themselves and the wounded or sick in their care. When and if they use their arms fensively, or carry arms that qualify as fensive, they then sacrifice their protection under the Geneva Conventions.