BEING A MEDIC IN THE NAVY

[patti dalida]

Hi everyone- My son's job in the Navy is being a Medic.He is now stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. He is very bored with his job and I'm wondering is it going to get any better for him? What exactly will be his duties? Thanks-Patti

[Karen J.]

Hi Nancy, this is Karen J. Ed's mom. Even tho my son didn't go corpsman, (he took his dad's line of work, aviation mechanics, not mine been in EMS for over 20yrs) After going thru his corpsman A-school, his EMT classes will be a breeze for him. I went to medical assistant school, the body can't handle riding ambulances anymore, and most of it was review for me. I shouldn't pat myself on the back,,, but I will. I was at the top of my class and scored the highest on the national exam. So any training will make it so much easier for him later on.

[Linda Fleshman]

Patti,
What is your son's future plans? He most definately wants to attend FMF scool and get assigned with a USMC unit.
Some of my best years were with the USMC, just because you are assigned to a USMC unit, you still have to EARN there respect to called DOC. Rest assured they will always take care of the DOC
Something else he wants to check out is: IDC school, the one major draw back is sea duty, but promotion rates are easier to get.

Linda
[e-mail]

[Lyrae31]

Linda..thank you for the input. I will be sure to let him know. Yes he wants to be assigned to the marines and EARN the title Doc. We told him it is not an easy road but one i think he is up to the challenge.

Any words of wisdom or encouragment you have will be passed along and shared with him.

Thank you again...Not only for sharing but for your service to our country as well.

[Cindy Corpsman Mom]

Hello Linda ~ My son just graduated from FMTB at Camp Pendleton. He's already called 'doc' and was called 'doc' before he graduated. However, I know Morgan will earn that title when he's deployed. I'm sincerely hoping, that when he is deployed, his back will always be watched He's stationed at CP and assigned to the 3/1. As to which group, that has yet to be determined; so, for now he works at a BAS. Currently, he's on a 3 wk mountain training course at Bridgeport. He's also studying for his FMF pin. Question for you, how much have things changed, that you know of, since you were with the Marines? He and a few others were told that they will be skipping the pre-exam and exam and go straight to the review board. Is this a mind game or can this actually be done? IF they do go in front of the review board and fail, can there truly be consequences given?

[Linda Fleshman]

8/18/09
Cindy,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to your question, however I do not have any answer for you regarding changes that may have been made. I went to FMF School in Fall 1999 at Camp Lejeune, NC, there was a lot of classroom work and you could only fail any given test 2 times, we also had clinical hands on training. We walked in formation every where. Had night training looking for specially marked places. As I recall most of the work had to do with the Marine History and what makes them tick. You have heard of the statement: ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE, it is TRUE. The Marine Physical Fitness is different from the Navy and he will have to pass that in order to graduate. If your son is marginal in Navy PRT he may want to start working on that program. Work together as a team and NEVER loose is rifle, One of my group did and the ENTIRE BASE got locked down and you would not believe DI yelling and having to stand in formation & attention (in the rain) most of the night. That being said he will come away with a great sense of accomplishment & and pride.
Semper FI
Linda ([e-mail]

[Quadralene]

Hello Patti,

As a mom of a hospital corpmans (fmf) that's attached to a marine unit I can only say that your son needs to really enjoy what he considers his "bored" time. These guys are very busy. My son has served in Iraq for 7 months, 29 Palms for 7 months, Seattle for 7 months, Virginia and at his duty station in Camp LeJune. His duties range from giving physicals to assisting in combat zones. Being a naval Medic (DOC as the marines call them) is no joke. It's a serious job.

[Fletcher]

Is a medic the same as a core man?

[Lady Hamilton]

Hospital Corpsman (HM), yes.

[Sherry]

its Corpsman..and yes.

[Linda Fleshman]

Yes, I think the Army uses the word medic more than any service. Corpsman can be demanding job as well as enjoyable.

[e-mail]
Linda

[Navy Dad Mark]

The Navy activly encourages it sailor to continue their education through courses offered on base or online. In fact the Navy reimburses most of the costs of tuition.

My son has been in Japan for a couple of months and is presently a corpsman serving as an optician at a Naval Air Facility. He got up early on a Sunday morning...took a train to Yokahama...took a two hour graduate school exam...has applied for graduate school to complete online over the next three years.

Most corpsman don't have time to get bored. Continuing your education through the Navy's support is a great way to make sure boredom doesn't enter the picture.

[cjkmom]

Hi Nancy, My son will be going to boot camp at Great Lakes in November and will be training to be a Corpsman after Boot Camp also. It's so hard for us moms as we want the very best for our children. We have been talking a lot about this Navy experience is going to be what he makes of it. I sounds like your son kind of has a goal by wanting to go to FMBT school and being attached with the Marines. My son wants to do the same thing. This is definately not something I would choose for him but I am proud that he wants to do it. For me, I see that this going to be a letting go process that is going to be tough. In June he was a "kid" in graduating from High School and "all of a sudden" he is a young man making his career plans in a field I know nothing about.
It sounds like we are kind of in the same "boat" with our kids. Could we keep in touch as things progress along this journey?
Thank you to all on this N4M site. I've read all the responses to Tamie's topic. Everything said is helpful. I anyone has word for me please write. Thanks. CJKmom