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

**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:

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


Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

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

HM (Hospital Corps) "A" School in San Antonio

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 & DadsCorpsman MomsCorpsman 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

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

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

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

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

Comment

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

Comment by MerC on June 30, 2017 at 5:37pm

My son graduated from PIR today and we are pretty confused by the travel instructions.  The only thing he knows is his flight, do they meet him at the airport?  HELP!  The numbers the gave him for COD is not working!

Comment by Lynn77 on June 30, 2017 at 9:43am

My son is at Fort Sam A-school- just entering Phase 3.  We have plans to visit him later this month.  One visiting family member is going to be a complete surprise.  Does he need to have all names of visitors approved in advance to get on base like we did at PIR?  I hate to ruin the surprise, but not sure if visitors must be on a approved list.  From my understanding, he can meet us at the front gate, and as long as he is in the car with us, we can go on base?  How does that work if we are dropping him off after our visit... Can we drive him to his barracks or we have to drop him at the gate? Thanks for any clarification.     

Comment by mikes mom on June 27, 2017 at 11:05am
HM247365
That was so sweet of you to do that ....
Comment by HM247365 on June 27, 2017 at 10:39am

Our Sailor had PIR 6/23. She flew out of Midway Sunday afternoon. We researched likely scenarios and elected to not purchase airline tickets to return until after our Sailor reviewed her orders and knew the 'what, when and where' Southwest Airline was not an option so........all other options for flights kinda sucked. Our sailor flew out of Midway at 1600 and we flew out of O'Hare at 1610. She was arrived at Midway at 0230. We arrived at Midway at 0700. Midway's protocol was, 'go to the ticket counter of the airline providing the flight. Tell airline employee you would like them to call the USO and have your Sailor come get you and escort you through the passenger security area so you can be with your Sailor. Give your photo identification to the airline employee and they will generate tickets that get you through the security gates'. We told our Sailor Friday after PIR we would be willing to collect other sailor cell phones at the Great Lakes NEX Saturday evening and bring them to the airport Sunday morning. Three Sailors told her heck yea on Friday night. On Saturday night at the SR NEX (store) we collected 15 cell phones (lol). we arrived at MIdway at 0730 and were able to sit and visit with several of the Sailors till about 1100. The drive From Midway to our rental car place just outside O'Hare late Sunday morning took just under an hour. If you and your Sailor are up to the task, think about helping out the sailors with their phones. Every one of the Sailors had ear to ear smiles on their faces and called or texted someone immediately.

  

Comment by T's mom on June 20, 2017 at 8:37pm

My son is currently in boot camp PIR July 21, then heading back to Texas for HM. Looking forward to him be a few hours closer.

Comment by chcabr90 on June 18, 2017 at 7:25pm

My Sailor arrived at Ft Sam yesterday for A school. We are from central Illinois. What do I need to know?

Comment by mikes mom on June 13, 2017 at 8:13pm
Antsmom,
Welcome to the group ☺
Comment by mikes mom on June 13, 2017 at 8:07pm
Well said Marcy ☺
Can't stress enough regarding the safety of our Sailors ....
Comment by Antsmom on June 13, 2017 at 7:18pm

My son just flew out of San Diego, I hope, this morning. I'm in Florida so I'm not sure what his schedule was. His girlfriend will let me know when he arrives in Great Lakes for boot camp.

The good thing about him going to San Antonio is my sister lives there and works in Brooks Army Medical Center as a nurse. We'll be staying with her when (if) he graduates. But, taking one day at a time for now.

That's it for my first day with the group, glad to meet you all.

Antsmom

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 7, 2017 at 4:41pm

While I'm thinking about it...Some question why NAVYforMoms.com vs. Facebook groups?  

First and foremost, your Sailor's privacy and safety is of utmost importance here.  NAVYforMoms.com (N4M) does not allow members to use last names or post photos of uniforms with names.  Everything you post on social media is out there and can be seen by instructors and chain of command and can reflect on your Sailor and affect them.  Yes, instructors etc. are in FB groups.  

On N4M we stress the importance of Operations Security (OPSEC) and make sure our members follow it.  USS Bataan once had to suspend communications between Sailors and home during a deployment because of OPSEC violations and bickering on its Facebook page.  Please check this out from the Navy:  Four Things to Know about Operations Security

Finally, NAVYforMoms.com was created by the U.S. Navy, and is overseen by it and The Navy Partnership comprising its agency and administrators as a means for experienced moms to safely share information with new moms, because our connection with our loved ones serving is unique.  

So please don't be a lurker!  Ask any questions (there is no "dumb" one) and share what you learn.  The Navy family is as strong as we keep it.  GO NAVY!

 
 
 

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