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]

My son says he can live off base as long as it's with his spouse and he shows up for fomation on time.  Note that it's been a while since he went through Field Med, so your husband should definitely check with his chain of command.  It's only eight weeks, are you sure you want to move for such a short period?

[Bronco14]

Great, thanks for the info. I am from Southern California and my family lives in Oceanside. So it wouldn't be a problem for me to move at all. His training after FMTB will likely remain in San Diego also. Thanks!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Wow, you're staying right in the neighborhood!  What happened to 'Join the Navy, see the world"?  LOL  Glad it works out for you.

[Bronco14]

Lol right? We have seen quite a lot different places so far, between visiting him in Great Lakes and a job reclassification we have been a couple places now! But San Diego is my biased favorite :P I think his plan is to go FMF, but I am kind of confused as to what comes after FMTB. Do they get assigned for more training somewhere else? Will they know their pipeline before leaving for FMTB? What did your son do?

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

My son went from 'A' School to work at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Virginia for two years, then to FMTB for eight weeks and then to a Fleet Surgical Team based in Norfolk, VA as an anesthesia/ICU tech. 

[Bronco14]

Oh wow okay. So did he choose all of that and did he know where he was going ahead of time? If my corpsman chooses FMTB during A school will he likely get it? How far into A school will he know where he is going next? And how far into FMTB will he know where he is going next?

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

In the 2007-2008 period in which my son joined, there was a high demand for corpsmen to be deployed immediately with the Marines. The Navy came up with a program called National Call to Service (NCS) that allowed service members to join and serve on active duty for 15 months guaranteed: 'A' School -> FMTB -> deploy with Marines; and after 15 months, they would serve the remainder of their five year contracts as Reservists. If you did not choose the NCS option when you joined, as my son did not, the quotas were often filled when you reached 'A' School and greenside was not an option. Those corpsmen were assigned to hospitals, clinics and ships.

Today, things (thankfully) are much different. There are no regular deployments with Marines to Iraq or Afghanistan. Your husband will have to confer with his 'A' School detailer and chief instructor about securing a position for a greenside position following FMTB if available. I take it then that he is not interested in pursuing a C School specialty?

[Bronco14]

Oh okay gotcha!! He is not interested in pursuing a C school specialty, as he is pretty dang set on wanting to serve on the greenside. I will just push for him to get more information on it all, I hope that he will be able to know for sure if he is going FMTB or not within the next month. He graduates A school at the end of March.