copterhead
You're being far too picky. Whether you're attached to the wire or not, you'll still get ample opportunity to rescue people from the water and then apply paramedic skills. If rescuing people is what you crave, then take the necessary steps to enable yourself to get some rescue helicopter time in.
However, the reality is that your employability in the civilian sector will probably depend on the number of years of military service that you have in the role which means the necessary steps will be signing on the dotted line somewhere. You're unlikely to get snapped up as an 18 year old enthusiastic wannabe rescuer unless it's by an organisation with questionable selection, training and standards.
Last edited by Vie sans frontieres; 9th Aug 2013 at 08:45.