This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
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FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:
Choose your Username. For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either). Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username. While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!
Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!
Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.
Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
OPSEC - Navy Operations Security
Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.
DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.
DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."
Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.
Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.
Format Downloads:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com
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HM (Hospital Corps) "A" School in San Antonio
Information
Sailors becoming Hospital Corpsmen at A School in San Antonio, TX - best rating in the Navy! The Hospital Corps is the Navy's only enlisted Corps and the most decorated in the Navy. Families, friends and loved ones, join in!
Location: San Antonio, TX
Members: 799
Latest Activity: Nov 19
WELCOME!
Please say Hi and introduce yourself in the Comments section.
ALL the info at these links is relevant to your corpsman.
About the HM Rate, HM Rating Card/navy.mil, Overview from navylive.dodlive.com, and Navy Medicine Almanac 2015 p. 28-29.
PROGRAM DURATION: The actual time that a Sailor physically spends at the HM school in Fort Sam Houston, TX is 96 days. The Sailor is in the seat, learning, Mondays through Fridays for 70 actual instructional days. The course covers emergency medical technician training, nursing skills, knowledge specific to the Navy Hospital Corps, and clinicals.
Program Overview: METC/Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program
Liberty Phases at A School: Liberty Phases
Before posting a Discussion with a question, please ask it in the Comments section, and look through the Discussions - you may find what you need, plus a lot more. This is a good one: Info for those new (or not so new) to Hospital Corps A School. For some questions, your best bet may be to call the quarterdeck or campus support center at METC.
There is a graduation ceremony, and families and loved ones are invited to attend. If you go, here are Hotel recommendations for San Antonio/Ft Sam Houston from corpsman moms, and this pdf with Directions to Ft Sam Houston/Walters Gate/Anderson Hall. Anderson Hall (MIF 4) is on Cpl Johnson Road between Garden and Womack, and there is a parking lot on Cpl Johnson Rd across the street.
Navy Medicine Training Support Center, San Antonio, TX - see tabs "Visitor Info" and "Student Life." For your sailor heading to A School: "NMTSC Welcome Aboard."
The METC Online website for Medical Education Training Campus at San Antonio has a live-chat function. Campus Support Center phone number: 210-808-6382 (210-808-METC). Click here for the METC brochure and a brief overview.
This METC Program Catalog includes course descriptions for Basic Medical Technician/Corpsman A school (page 10) and C schools (see Index). Video - "METC sailors marching to chow hall"
METC on Facebook: Medical Education Training Campus on Facebook
GRADUATION SCHEDULE: your sailor is your best source for date, time and any changes. Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program on Facebook is NOT an official page, but they do post some photos of graduations.
Read this to find out What is Field Medical Training Battalion (FMTB)? (They have a great graduation ceremony for families to attend, too!) Most corpsmen attend FMTB sooner (straight from A School) or later. It does NOT mean that they will necessarily be assigned to a Marine Corps unit.
VIDEO: What to expect at Fleet Medical Battalion-East. https://www.dvidshub.net/video/455508/fmtb-east-command-video#.VvdFmMdH0_V
Field Medical Training Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, NC official website then -> Students -> Course Description
Females go to FMTB-East only. Otherwise, it's up to the needs of the Navy as to which location a Corpsman is sent to.
FMTB West Camp Pendleton CA official site, and Camp Pendleton Moms on N4M. Video: "What's FMTB-W REALLY Like"
Corpsmen serve in a variety of settings. "Blueside" corpsmen serve in hospitals and clinics and on ships. "Greenside" corpsmen are with forward-deployed Marine units and where one can earn the hard-won and highly valued Fleet Marine Force (FMF) qualification. There is nothing like the love that Marines have for their "Doc." Seriously.
Hospital Corpsman Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs) - There are 38 - thirty-eight! - specialties within the HM rating, from Search & Rescue (8401) to Dental Lab Tech/Maxillofacial (8765). Here is a list of HM NECs and C school locations.
Rating/Rate in ascending order:
HR: Hospitalman Recruit (E-1); HA: Hospitalman Apprentice (E-2); HN: Hospitalman (E-3); HM3: Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (E-4); HM2: Hosp. Corpsman 2nd Class (E-5); HM1: Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (E-6); HMC: Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-7); HMCS: Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-8); HMCM: Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (E-9).
How to read a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) (your sailor accesses his/her LES by logging in at https://mypay.dfas.mil)
IMPORTANT: Read and follow these Operational Security (OPSEC) guidelines. N4M is an open website that can be read by non-members; and not all members are necessarily what they seem. Be smart and keep yourself and all our sailors safe. Keep YOUR safety in mind too. It's human nature to trust and want to share, but don't provide personal information to others. Great and lasting friendships are made on NavyforMoms.com, but use common sense and caution before proceeding. Online chat safety tips
Once your sailor graduates from A School, more NavyforMoms.com groups include Corpsman Moms & Dads; Corpsman Moms; Corpsman Wives, GFs, Moms; and FMF Corpsman Moms plus the FMTB groups listed above.
Bookmark this for the future! Navy Credentialing Opportunites Online (Navy COOL) for HM
METC brochure, click to enlarge:
5/17 Video: Intro to Medical Education Training Campus San Antonio
NAVY MEDICINE
Discussion Forum
Death in the family
Started by Worldtravel4ever. Last reply by Worldtravel4ever Jul 31, 2019. 5 Replies 0 Likes
My mother just passed away today, and of course I have to let our sailor know. I am worried though because I just don’t want to derail my sailor in A school. I notified the Red Cross and am waiting to hear back from my sailor. Has anyone had…Continue
A School Graduation in San Antonio
Started by wfhcs. Last reply by mern May 30, 2019. 3 Replies 0 Likes
My son graduates on June 5th from A School. I am trying to verify the time of the graduation so I can book a flight in and out that day. He understood it to be at 10am or 12pm. I was trying to see if it is a set time. Thanks again,Continue
Photographs from Graduation
Started by m3mmarianne May 16, 2019. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Does anyone have access to the photos from graduation yesterday or know where we can search? Thank you in advance.Continue
Intro
Started by AmyBeth1991. Last reply by NavyMoeder May 4, 2019. 4 Replies 0 Likes
I think I sent everyone a message, when I thought I was posting. Please forgive me. I didn't see this until after. I have a son at HM school who will graduate next month. Any advice appreciated. I will be flying to San Antonio. My husband is a…Continue
Comment Wall
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Comment by Californiamom on January 21, 2019 at 12:52am
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My son finished corpsman school a couple of weeks ago, they are provided all meals (bfast, lunch, dinner); however, the class is near the eating area so for bfast and lunch it is near. By dinner they are a bit far away because by that time they are in the barracks and must walk to chow. So it is up to them if they want to walk back either way they can eat if they chose to. Remember they are technically not allowed to have a car while in A school so they do walk to and from and use uber/taxi/public transportation during liberty days. You can not keep a rice cooker, foreman grill etc. in your room but do get a microwave and mini fridge ( I think he and his roomy went half on the fridge , can't recall) you can have your own tv, comforter, pillow sheets, plates, game counsel, sound bar, electric tooth brush, etc. My son goes weekly to the store to stalk up on some foods so he can eat in his room when he feels like it (eggs, cereal, snacks), He is still there for C school (13 more months). I do know that in school they have coffee (coffee maker, sugar) they all pitch in a couple of bucks a week so they can have that while in school. Hope that helps you all.
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Comment by diane on January 20, 2019 at 11:09pm
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My daughter went through Corpsman school a couple of years ago. They are not allowed any kind of hot pad for cooking or anything else, only the microwave provided. My daughter would get salad stuff and have that for dinner. Some nights she would make scrambled eggs in the microwave.
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Comment by Catherine on January 20, 2019 at 11:08pm
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@mayawolf, good point. I texted my son and he said he didn't know but would ask. A Foreman grill would give them lots of options!
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Comment by mayawolf on January 20, 2019 at 10:59pm
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Hi, From what I heard you can't have anything electric to cook on only the microwave they provide. Let me know if you find out if that is for sure true.
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@JulieAnn...yuck, Hot Pockets! I spent all summer and fall breaking him of that junk food habit and I'd hate to see it start up again! Panini maker is a great idea. I thought about an air fryer too for making chicken. He said it would be about 2 weeks until he had a mailing address.
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My Sailor made it to A School last night! A very long day at the airport with all the weather delays. He had his briefing and tour today. Classes start next week. He said they are provided 2 meals a day and have a microwave and fridge in the living quarters. What do the other HM's do for supper? He is used to cooking but not necessarily using a microwave...high sodium foods and preservatives! He doesn't want to eat out all the time. Suggestions I can pass along to him? He is excited to get started!
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There are stages of liberty. The final stage they can put request in to leave for the weekend but must be pre approved and 150 miles within the area . Liberty 1 they can go out with a battle buddy but must return by midnight. Liberty 2 overnight with a battle buddy (preapproval needed).
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Might be 50 miles, but don’t quote me.
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Is there a limit to how far sailors can travel on liberty for weekends?
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When my son graduated A school, we were in our rv- we drove from California and found a nice park not far from base. We arrived about 5 days before graduation and we were able to see our son each night after he was finished at school. We had dinner and just spent time together. When day of graduation came his 2 friends that came had time to be with him and we didn't feel like we were competing for time. After graduation and he could leave we went to the river walk for dinner. His C school wasn't for a while so he was still in San Antonio when we had to leave.
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