FMTB info, links, maps, where to stay & car passes for graduation

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Field Medical Training Battalion (FMTB) - also called Field Med for short.  FMTB is located at Camp Johnson, about four miles south of Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC.  The format is several weeks of classroom study, followed by arms training and education in combat emergency medical care.  The program is physically and mentally demanding.  Here are some links, maps, and information:

Field Medical Training Battalion East official website - Camp Lejeune/Camp Johnson, NC - in the drop down menu, Click on Students -> Welcome -> FMST then use the links.  USE THE WEBSITE to learn what FMTB is, where it is, what to bring, car info, & more.  The FMTB-E Facebook page has photos of each class and graduation information.

If your sailor is bringing his/her own vehicle, and does not already have base decals for the vehicle, they will be required to comply with Base regulations and obtain permission to bring a vehicle on base. The following are required to be presented prior to issuance of a vehicle pass:

- Current state inspection (any state inspection)

- Current registration

 - Military ID Card

 - Current drivers’ license

 - Copy of Insurance Declaration Page to show adequate liability insurance of not less than $30,000/$60,000/$25,000 coverage

 - Driver’s Improvement Course Card (all military under 26 years old)

Use only hands-free cell phones while driving; traffic & driving regulations are strictly enforced by the military police.  

Student materials:

The classroom curriculum is covers a huge amount of information in a short time.  You can follow along with what your corpsman is studying by viewing it here:

http://www.operationalmedicine.org/TextbookFiles/FMST_20008/FMST_20...

Video "The History of FMTB East" duration 8:18 -  http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/PVZ32iOKjb?pid=IFUQvxXE...

FOR ATTENDING FMTB GRADUATION...

This is from the FMTB-E Facebook page, check it (and with your corpsman) for changes and updates!  

The graduation starts at 9:00 A.M.; we recommend that you are seated by 8:30 so that you will be able to watch the class march in. A photo slide show of the training will be shown at 8:45. Graduation will start promptly at 9:00 and will last about 45 minutes. Graduation will be held in building M104 on Camp Johnson. You can use your GPS to find Montford Landing Road, Jacksonville, NC; this is the road that leads onto the base. The photo will show you where to go once you enter the base. Camp Johnson is not very large; from the main gate to the graduation is less than one mile. If you do not have base decals on your vehicle, you will need to obtain a base pass prior to getting to the Camp Johnson gate, this can be done at Camp Lejeune or New River Air Station visitor centers the morning of graduation. You will need to show your driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. Please allow yourself time for lines and traffic.

Where to stay:  

Lots of hotels near the intersection of Western Blvd and Marine Blvd, where there's a handy Walmart too and plenty of restaurants and fast food.  Baymont Inn Jacksonville is good for those on a budget and includes breakfast, a pool and a small fitness room.

On base is Inns of the Corps Lejeune,  You'll need a gate pass and same rules as Navy Lodge, your sailor has to check you in.  http://www.mccslejeune.com/inns/.  Rooms start at $80 with two queen beds and includes continental breakfast; suites also available.    Reserve as far in advance as you can and you'll need to provide your sailor's name, rate and phone number.  Reservations 910-451-3041 ext. 181.

Car pass:

You need a temporary pass to be able to drive into Camp Johnson the morning of graduation, and have access to Camp Lejeune.  The Visitor Center is on the right side as you approach the Camp Lejeune main gate. Best to get it the day before, as graduation starts at 8:45 am.  Your sailor will need to call the Visitors Center to notify them the same day you are picking up your pass.  They are open 24/7 and the phone number is  910-451-2197.  They will give you a pass for several days, so just tell them how long you need it for.  You will need to provide your driver’s license, proof of insurance and car registration or rental car form. 

(Note:  I received my pass without my sailor calling, but there's no guarantee that will always happen.)

Here are maps of Camp Lejeune and Camp Johnson; they are also attached as pdf's at the bottom of this Discussion.

Graduation is held in the gymnasium.  Cleck with your corpsman for start time.  Get there early so you can photograph your sailor as they march, line up and enter the building.  A slideshow starts fifteen minutes before the ceremony.  It goes quickly so have your camera ready, they call off the names fast while handing out folders with certificates. 

Afterwards, they head for Four Corners near the front gate where their seabags are packed and ready.  Many/most say goodbyes and get right into waiting taxi vans and head to the airport.  

if you can, take a minute to appreciate all the Welcome Home banners posted along the fences leading to the Camp Lejeune entrance.  They are taken down each Thursday to make room for the next group.  A lot of love and creativity, quite something to see.  

If you're going to CL in summertime: ONSLOW BEACH website: Onslow Beach

"The Onslow Beach Recreation Area, located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean aboard Camp Lejeune, is maintained by the Semper Fit Division of Marine Corps Community Services, for all active duty, retired military personnel, civilian employees, and their family members. The island features rental lodging units, an RV campground, an MCCS convenience store, pavilions with changing rooms, volleyball courts, a playground, and guarded swimming areas from Memorial Day to Labor Day." 

For the future - create a free photo book for your sailor via the USO

Here's a great project to put together for your sailor to have in the days and months to come.  Get started on creating a free 20-page photo book with up to 60 photos - they're shipped free, too, to military (FPO/APO) addresses:  http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com  

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Look up units at http://www.marines.mil/units/Pages/category.aspx , find yours and click on it, such as http://tinyurl.com/2ndMarineDivision (I made it smaller at tinyurl.com), and find links for news, family info etc.

Read the Camp Lejeune newspaper online (has classified ads, too): http://www.camplejeuneglobe.com .

You can also receive email alerts when there's news about a topic such as a division on Google Alerts http://www.google.com/alerts (remember to put quotation marks around multiple keywords, i.e. "Second Marine Division".) There's a Google Alerts FAQ link at the bottom of the page too.

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Bookmark local TV stations to keep up with news and weather, get alerts sent to you:
http://www.wcti12.com
http://www.witn.com
http://www2.wnct.com

[Dan's Dad (John)]

Just wanted to post this info from Uli here so I can retrieve it later.

The Navy flies them in to Jacksonville Airport, via Atlanta from the East coast, best thing for Sailor go to the Travel office at CL, they will make all changes. As far as they are concerned, John, you do not exist, Sorry.
If Dan flies in to Jacksonville, I am sure he is not the only arriving, take a cab and keep the receipts which he will get reimbursed for. Bringing a car for FMTB, is going to create extra work and running for him, no permanent sticker for CL gates, since he is a temp at CL, FMTB is Camp Johnson, but since he is not at Camp Johnson when he arrives, no sticker for that either. So once a week at least he will have to go to the main gate get in line and get a temp sticker. Depending on the man in charge at the time he goes to get his sticker, some only give it for 3 days. They do have Bus transportation. Now another kicker, does your state have emission control checks once per year? if so, before he can get a sticker, he has to go through the NC control, for gods asks do not ask me why, we where warned about that from our Civilian friends that work on Base, and Marines, having had a car from VA. James gets it done on Base, he has a NC registered car, BUT, if they are registered in another state, they have to go to Jacksonville to get it done, again, not a clue why. He also needs a paper filled out by a superior, while ours has fantastic Chief now, his first was anything but, that made things very difficult.
Hey have fun at Graduation.

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

In re bringing a car, there is also info via the link above or this - http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/fmtb/fmst.shtml#auto

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Today April 16, 2010) FMTB-East is having a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new training facility, Doc Bradley Hall, at Camp Johnson (part of Camp Lejeune).

The new facility is named for John “Doc” Bradley, a corpsman during World War II and one of the six men who helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima.

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Check out MarineParents.com - here is the link to their "Connect and Share" page with chat, support groups, message boards for Navy parents, & more - http://www.marineparents.com/connections

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

For graduation in May 2010 I stayed at the Baymont Inn & Suites and it worked out well. Breakfast is included and there's a pool, too. The room was well decorated and the beds comfortable. It's on Western Blvd, close to shopping (Walmart's nearby) and restaurants (Chilis, etc). Only takes a few minutes to reach the main gate of Camp Lejeune or graduation at Camp Johnson. I booked it through Hotwire.com and got $40 taken off the rate - $55 vs $95. On Hotwire, search Jacksonville, NC and choose the 2.5 star hotel with pool (there aren't any hotels higher than 2.5 in Jacksonville). Their website: http://www.baymontinns.com/Baymont/control/Booking/check_avail?&...

[MEsailormom]

I just got back from graduation on 7-19. I wanted to add a few comments hopefully to help the next group. My Corpsman did not know much about the event details so N4M is where you will get info! I stayed at Baymont Inn as well. Clean and convienent albeit a bit small. I would probably get a suite if I did it again. The pool was immaculate. I had to wait around a lot for my son so I was glad fo that! I went to get a pass at Main Gate Camp Lejeune (immediately on right when you go in the exit) around 4 and there were 50 people in line (outside) hot!! My son's group had been told they don't need to call as they know there is the graduation. WRONG! Nobody seemed to know anything and I got sent back awaiting his call. I quickly called him (5 times). Their platoon was still working (cleaning?) and he seemed a bit panicked. He did call and I got in. Car rentals people only need license and rental agreement. There were other parents being turned away all with the same story. FYI the traffic in Jacksonville is really BAD at rush hour. Avoid it if you can! I was able to go to Camp Johnson afterwards and visit with the Corpsman informally for an hour or so and met a bunch of his friends (who were all packing up). I had difficulty finding it but eventually figured it out. So...To get to the bases from Baymont you have to cross Western Blvd and do a Uturn to reverse directions (or right and around and around to light). At the end of Western Blvd (Lejeune Pkwy) go right to Camp Johnson and left to Camp Lejeune. Camp Lejeune Main Gate is well marked and heavily travelled. Camp Johnson is less travelled and smaller....follow signs to Beruit and Vietnam Memorial. BTW I went early nervous that I would not find the base easily and killed some time at these memorials. They were breathtaking and enjoyable in the cool early AM. A must see. Parking and event location at Johnson were easy...small place and well marked. It was filled to capacity and people arrived early. Very cool historic Corpsman  info and display in the building. Ceremony was short but perfect. A few awards and one speaker. Afterwards the troops all "ran" and bugged out! We had to go get my son's orders which of course had changed a bit so I got a tour of the base.

[MEsailormom]

Aargh...I guess I typed too much for one message. We ate dinner that night at Takuru (sp?) Japenese Steak house. Fantastic sushi (son's favorite) and tableside hibachi. Family run which is unusual in the land of chain restaurants. After he left I drove to Emerlad Island area to hit the beach. Stayed at Best Western Silver Creek which was very clean, bright and pleasant! Found public access to beach near the Islander Hotel. Last day I ventured out to Hammocks Bay State park via ferry through the intercoastal waterway again for the beach. This is a magical quiet place with dunes and beach as far as you can see. Turtle nests everywhere...one hatching! Nice bathhouse which was great as I showered there heading for the airport. Bad accident detoured and delayed me heading to airport...give yourself time. Not a crowed airport but a VERY thorough security check!! I had a great time even though it was 100+ degrees the whole time. I hope this helps......

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

From vettespace on 12/21/2013:   "every time I've gone to visit my son or welcome him home from deployment I've rented a condo on Emerald Isle from Bluewaternc.com. This is the off-season so you can rent a place for a good bit less than a hotel.  A visit to historic Beaufort, NC along the water is close by as well.  Have a fun visit!"

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

From Tenn Navy Mom on 12/21/2013:  

"A lot of people recommend the Baymont Inn and Suites that is in Jacksonville near Camp Lejeune.

Every time we have gone to visit our Son at CL we have stayed at the Best Western Plus Silver Creek Inn in Swansboro. It is  about 15 minutes outside of Jacksonville closer to Emerald Isle beach. Very clean with a decent free continental breakfast also it is a smaller hotel. Swansboro is more of a beach area and quitter then Jacksonville. Beautiful area.

My Son loves to eat at a place called Icehouse Waterfront Restaurant in Swansboro. It is in the historical district and is right on the water surrounded by different small shops  Makes me think of a small beautiful fishing village. The food and service are excellent. I do not eat seafood but my Husband and Son said the seafood was good.

Jacksonville is a big area with plenty to do. Or at least it is to me due to I live in a small town. There are numerous restaurants and a mall on North Marine Blvd."

[Bronco14]

Hi all, I notice that not a lot of discussion has happened recently. I am wondering if my sailor can live off base during FMTB if we're married? Thanks!