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:
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:
**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
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
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: 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
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 Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on August 15, 2014 at 1:06am
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Frogger1, three weeks and "only" every other day? heehee like Carafid1 said, enjoy while it lasts! Are you going to graduation?
mmaleigh, thanks for that! Sounds like a great deal to take advantage of.
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Comment by mmaleigh on August 14, 2014 at 8:29pm
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Just a heads up for those who are planning a visit, if you go to priceline there are rooms for $48 a night in downtown market square area at the holiday inn. It's under the express deals =)
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Comment by carafid1 on August 14, 2014 at 6:47am
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I would kill to be able to see my son he is in Japan and it will be quite along time before I see his sweet face again. Be thankful for the time you do have it goes fast and off they go!
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Comment by Frogger1 on August 13, 2014 at 9:36pm
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I have not been here for awhile, been a crazy summer, a school has been kicking my son's butt. Have not been able to see him for 3 weeks and only only calling every other day. I'll be glad when graduation gets here.
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Comment by DramaSoul on August 11, 2014 at 11:47pm
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Marcy....LOVE the infographic! You always are spot on with this great information. Also the article on the green side Corpsman at 29 was awesome. Oorah! It was kind of entertaining to hear my Corpsman explain to his great-aunt on how he joined the Navy to be in the Marines.
Wendy...it's a great ride and you are just starting out! My son is an 8404 (Field Med Corpsman) who went through FMTB West in Camp Pendleton and has been on a Marine base for a couple of years.He loves his Marines! My suggestion is just read all of the great information that is on this site and ask questions.
Are you going to PIR?
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Cool infographic about "hospital at sea" USNS Mercy, based in San Diego. Her sister ship is USNS Comfort, based at Naval Station Norfolk. For starters: USNS Mercy is manned by up to 59 Navy hospital corpsmen when in reduced operating status, and up to 1,200 corpsmen in full operating status. Not mentioned: that they started out as oil tankers! Infographic: http://navylive.dodlive.mil/files/2014/07/Hospital-at-Sea-USNS-Merc...
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Welcome Wendy! If he goes FMF, he would initially go to Field Medical Training Battalion at either Camp Lejeune, NC or Camp Pendleton, CA for an additional eight weeks of training, then things depend on where he is assigned. One caveat - the expression "the needs of the Navy" can trump everything, so one learns not to count on things until hard orders are received.
There is a lot of information available at the links posted at the top of this page. Graduation dates are periodically updated on the BMTCP Facebook page, and I then put it together and post above - look for the list and the blue caduceus :) When your sailor begins school, he'll give you his class number. The latest batch goes to November 14, 2014.
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Comment by ProudNavyMom on August 11, 2014 at 12:28pm
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Hi everyone.
My son is graduating boot camp 22-Aug-2014 and then going to Fort Sam. I have a couple questions.
First, does anyone else have an SR doing the same thing, especially from the same PIR or even from Division 258?
Second, he is then planning to be in FMF. I am wondering where he will go from Fort Sam to do that, will he go straight to another school, stay there, or serve for some time before going on to that schooling?
Also, HM A schooling is 14 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly, that put's his graduation just before Thanksgiving. When will those dates be posted so I will know for sure?
I am very open to friendships and private messages. I find them easier to deal with. :)
Thanks for any help in advance.
Wendy
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A look at a "green side" corpsman at 29 Palms - "Corpsman supports troops at LSE-14". Growing up, HM2 Brian McKenna says, he was drawn to the medical field. “I guess I always felt I was compassionate...I like helping people.” Sound familiar to any moms here? :)
'Green side' corpsmen are assigned to Marine units: training, learning and working with them as a revered "doc" to their Marines.
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My 2 cents regarding missing classes: They are hard enough as it is...even when your Sailor is a great student. There is no way to replace what is missed in the interaction that takes place in a class setting. My son worked hard and he still had times when things were a lot harder to absorb.
I miss him....all the time. However...he is doing something he LOVES doing. It's been 2 years since he completed A school and FMTB.
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