Welcome to
Navy For Moms

This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.

FIRST TIME HERE?

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:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

Add an Event

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

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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Navy Speak

Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms! (Hint: When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)

N4M Merchandise

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Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

Navy.com Para Familias

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!

WELCOME!!

Location: San Antonio, TX
Members: 795
Latest Activity: Sep 19, 2023

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

and Camp Lejeune Moms on N4M.

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

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Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of HM (Hospital Corps) "A" School in San Antonio to add comments!

Comment by MariNavyMom(Ship11 Div 199) on June 22, 2011 at 8:21am: Hey Papercrafter, Yay 180!

Comment by MariNavyMom(Ship11 Div 199) on June 22, 2011 at 8:08am: “The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8

Good Morning :)

Comment by TickledTink on June 22, 2011 at 2:03am: Does anyone know about how long it takes them to get to Phase 3 there? DH has PIR July 8th (same div as Rackie's hubby) Southwest currently has a special on very low fares only $80 each way so it would save me a lot of money to book the flight to see him right away, and phase 3 we would get the most of our my visit. But since this special is for a limited time, I would have to book very soon guesstimating about when he'd be Phase 3 instead of waiting until I know when it'll be.

Comment by joel's_rackie on June 22, 2011 at 1:45am: My husband is still in BC, PIR is this July 8th(ship12/div224) His parents are attending his PIR all the way from the Philippines!

Comment by joel's_rackie on June 22, 2011 at 1:43am

1 Chronicles 29:11-13(KJV)
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

Good evening everyone.. We always have to count our blessings: here's mine for this WONDERFUL day:

1. Daddy Roel my father-in-law was granted a tourist visa today!

2. Last night after working at the hospital(7pm-3am shift) I drove to Naval Air Station-Lemoore (for 4 hours), I arrived safely there and back. Was very nervous especially on the way there since it's a really dark and winding road (Pacheco Pass and I-5). I prayed and sing praises the whole way, glad to have K-LOVE radio.

3. I was able to get my military ID..finally..

4. I went to NFCU to "fix" the account and now I have access to it! I prayed so hard that I'd be able to talk to someone who would help me. Brenda (bank clerk) was really helpful and very patient to answer all my question and needs. She made everything so effortless!

5. Meeting all of you helpful ladies here in N4M who help me navigate to this new lifestyle. (Amanda, thanks for the form!)

6. My GPS broke down and I was glad that my co-worker Dolores printed out directions just in case.. I got there and back safe.

7. All the helpful people in the NAS. Who was patient to me who is so bad with directions. I met an officer who handed me a detailed map of the area and even highlighted the DSP, NFCU, starbucks, gas station and how to get to I-5.

8. The icing in the cake, seeing my husband in the picture! (Angel whose husband is in the same ship12/div 224 won the Tuesday trivia on the facebook page of RTC.

9. For all of you here, thank you so much for the support and prayers.

Remember, with Jesus Christ everything is possible! God's mercy and blessings to to all of us, and our families!

Comment by pianomom1 (ship 11/div 203) on June 21, 2011 at 8:02pm: hi! does anyone have a week by week listing of what each sailor has to do/go through while they are in A School in San Antonio--or maybe you know the link to where i could find that?

thanks

Comment by CalifMom on June 21, 2011 at 7:29pm: Welcome Papercrafter

Comment by teach2(ship 11 div 200) on June 21, 2011 at 5:10pm: Hey Gnome- I hear your hubbie has a new job! How's he like it??

Comment by gnomesweetgnome Ship 11/Div199 on June 21, 2011 at 4:00pm: I hope we run into each other, Mari! If not, I'll see you sometime later in July. :) Hi papercrafter...180 WOOHOO!!! :)

Comment by Olivia (Ship3Div143) on June 21, 2011 at 3:32pm: mamawalrus---

he really wants stay stay as close as possible. We live in Chicago, so Great Lakes is ideal but a stretch. As long as he's in the U.S. I think i could live with it. He keeps saying something about him traveling with the Marines and going to the middle east. That would probably be the hardest to deal with..