Corpsmen Moms and Dads

Ok moms I am new to this, whaht is the difference between blue and  green. My son leaves for in a few weeks for b/c and than is off to school. He is thinking about going as a field medic. I am very confused. What can I expecet as a parent? I appreciate all the help I can get. I know medic mom tried to tell me once and I was lost.

Hi zach's mom.  Welcome.  Blue and green refer to Navy and Marines.  If a corpsman's assignment attahes him to a Marine battalion, he is said to be "green side". 

After Boot Camp, your son ill besent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX for Hospital Corpsman "A" School.  He will study EMT, Fundamentals, and Nursing (patient care).  At some point during the school, he willbe allowed to select orders based on the available billets. 

If FMTB is available and he choses it, he will be assigned to Camp Pendleton (CP) or Camp LeJuene (CL) to train with the Marines and become attached to thier battalion.  Then they deploy, he will deploy.

Hope this helps.  Best wishes and gratitude to your family and your sailor-to-be.

Tally Navy Dad Thanks for the info, it does help. I am excited and scared all at the same time. Knowing that all of you are here with me helps.

Thanks Carol for sharing. I look foward to getting to know all of you.

Welcome Zach's mom!  Here's a link to a good description of the Hospital Corpsman rate: US Navy Hospital Corpsman

marine_navymom, yes they can wear these and yes to choosing tan; I think Carol has a link to a good site for ordering?  

Love the coin!  I added it to the How to Communicate discussion up top - it's  "ongoing" communication!  :)

Congratulations to your sailor, Donna!  Found this and couldn't resist :)  Where is he headed after graduation?

Hello Ruthella and good morning Princess!

Ruthella, my cub is at CL now and will probably have another deployment in the not too distant future...so, I may be back in that area again with another chance to visit you and Earl!  :-)  I'll call ahead so you can get the coffee ready!  :-)

Hi Ladies- I need some help finding a cp doc whos shared a storage locker with my corpman, They are in the field and unable to contact. The problem is that a payment is owed on the storage locker. If payment is not received they will keep locker contents. We cleaned out our son's things after grad from FMTB on June 23.

I would hate to see his friends things confiscated, so I thought I would take a chance that maybe he has family on this site. They are attached a Marine unit out of Camp Pendelton. I am unsure of rules and don't know if I can list the actual unit attachment. Thanks

Carol - Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try!

Hi Mariann;

Here's the link for the signs (wasn't sure if you already had it):

http://www.buildasign.com/troops

Make sure you're on the FRO's communication list (emarine.org) for your cub's unit.  I had all of 5 days notice last year on my cub's homecoming, but my cub was able to give me a good idea of the dates a few weeks ahead, but you'll definitely need to be flexible in your arrangements.  My cub came into Camp Lejeune...so let us know if you have any questions.

Mariann, be sure to order from "buildasign" way in advance, otherwise that "free" offer goes way way up :)

Hey Ruthella!  Still checking the mail for my "admiral" delivery lol

Ruthella, sounds like you just need to take it easy and recharge your batteries.  Seems like right now a lot of folks are experiencing a dip in energy - the heat & the humidity aren't helping. 

I was talking with some friends about the summer Olympics and how we're feeling pretty apathetic about it - no one even knew when the opening ceremony is....

Opening ceremony is Friday : )

Hey if your 35 Ruthella that makes me ??? Hmmmmm Sweet I like that...

Also like Marcy said wheres our guy you were suppose to find for us ??? This is what 3 years later and WE are still waiting ! LOL

Mariann, will your homecoming be at Camp Lejeune?  And you do know how much we like our homecoming parties here, right?!?  

Ruthella, Marsha is apparently our connection to All Things Olympic this summer, she knew when the opening ceremonies are (this Friday 7:30pm ET) and has worked it into a date, no less!!  Giving her a "10" for that LOL

Taking a little poll here, anyone here involved in Molly's Adopt a Sailor project?  Because I have a surprise announcement coming up August 1st!  :)  Such a good N4M group that adopts a ship or unit each month, everyone sends a care package, feels good to be sending mom ♥ and support to our Sailors and Marines.  PM me if you want to know how it works!  and/or go to http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject

YAy for Parties !!!!

LOL a 10 LOL no lets give it a 6 after all (as you know Marcy ) this guy just isn't it ... But hey 10 would be nice : )

Send me the address please so I can get packages out : )

Sent you the address for July's adoptees in Afghanistan.  

Really, only a 6?  On a separate note - sort of lol - here's a quiz: which Olympic sport is judged on six different categories - forward, back, reverse, inward, twisting and armstand?

LOL your such a smarty  pants... Diving

LOL just an excuse to post this LOL

And if you're so disposed, you can click on the picture to bring it full screen :)

Ohhhhhhh yeah !!!!

Mariann, it probably depends upon what time of year he returns...my cub was out at 29 Stumps for CAX training during the month of Nov. and said he froze at night when they were sleeping in some concrete block buildings...LOL

Marcy, where did you find that old picture of me diving???  LOL 

Mariann - I'm new to the group but being from So. Cal and sometimes having claims (I'm an insurance adjuster) in 29-Palms it is awfully hot (100 plus) out their right now.  It's desert and will cool down at night.  Due to it's cra---- location the motels are pretty reasonable out their. 

Question for anyone else - my son got home last week from Camp Leguene and left today for Pentleton for the next few months.  Anything special I should know?

Welcome to our group Diane : )

OMGosh Carol we will soon be at 600 !!!!!!

Thanks for the welcome.  Carol I have no idea of what company.  He is in training and completed school in San Antonio (top of the class) and then Camp Leguene (received Top Dog award) and now to Pentleton for I believe I have this right ReCon school.  He seemed really nervous about CP and scared he has not worked hard enough but thats just his nature.  He's one of the old guys as he graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before the Navy.  I'm from So CAL born and raised and only 1.5 hrs from CP if anyone ever needs anything here I'm lucky to have a job that has me all over the the bottom half of CA.

Recon - yes cool but scary for a mom.  It's worked so hard to get ready for this I'm praying for him.  He was in the Ceremonial Guard as a Casket Barrier - what a humbling job but it was so great to see him on the news all the time.  He was even choosen to do Betty Ford's Funeral.  I'm from the Inland Empire - Yucaipa.  It's a smaller town next to Redlands.  Been here for over 30 years and can't wait to get out and with plans for Northern CA - San Luis Obispo area sometime in my future.  If anyone is ever out this way I would love to meet you.  I'm a widow, work my tail off at a job I love but has endless hours.

Ruth - I don't know what school it is but believe he will be in
CP until early Dec. and then back to Camp Leguene for a year.  And he was in the Betty Ford funeral in Palm Springs - it was crazy that I hadn't seen him for over a year as he was in DC and they flew him out for the funeral so I got to see  him all over our news.  Sounds like you son is on a crazy ride too - good luck to him.  He must have made an impression on the Navy and I know how hard he's been working.

The Olympics Opening Ceremonies were really magnificent.   It was wonderful seeing the spectacular performances.   I hope everything goes well at the Olympics.  

We are doing our PT in Costa Rica for a little R&R. Son gave us the news he will not have to go outside the wire any more this deployment and is happy to be working in the BAS. Happy Dance!!!!

Hello from Maine...Greg so happy you are a Red Soxs fan. Just saying. Carol my son is on the CP range and also received his expert. Makes those Corpsman so happy. OK word for the day is RIVRON. Son has been pointed in this direction. Comments?

BTW still planning AT though hike beginning in March. Son will join me for a week or so somewhere....

I want to go : ) Costa Rica 

Hi Carol !

Yes Riverines- Brown Water Navy. Creeps me out but seems like a good fit for the "kid". Not sure where Corpsmen fit here. Stay tuned.

Can't believe G&A went and didn't invite us :(

Riverines - yikes, interesting though.  My sailor has a corpsman friend there, he likes it a lot.  Love the cheerleaders, so glad we've been doing our sit-ups :)  

I have an awesome announcement about helping our sailors this month!

This month's adoption is of the 625 junior enlisted sailors aboard USS IWO JIMA currently in the middle of an eight month+ deployment in areas of the Middle East, Africa and Europe.  You can see her two dozen corpsmen in the medical department in the video at 3 min 30 sec in, by the way - these are the corpsmen who are serving right now on the Iwo.  

It’s a daunting number of sailors this month so your help is super-appreciated.  Visit / join Molly’s Adopt a Sailor group and then see the August details and Wish List here.  You’ll be invited to join a private MAS group for the mailing address.  We’re mailing the last week of August.  The goal is to send USPS large priority boxes packed with personal care items the ship store runs out of, homemade treats, and games.

Molly’s group adopts a unit or ship each month, so you can nominate yours for future adoptions, too.  If you organize a packing party your mailing costs will be covered; and I can also get you a donation letter to help with soliciting items.  

It’s a longer than normal deployment, so thank you for sending ‘a touch of home’ to our deserving sailors - including our corpsmen  :)

USS Iwo Jima August 2012 from Marcy Scott on Vimeo.

Hi All.  Just found you (thanks Marcy).  I have a Corpsman at FMTB West.  Just started a week ago. 

Welcome DramaSoul : ) This is truly one of my Favorite groups and has been for 3 years... If you have any questions please feel free to ask..

mikes mom...thanks! I have joined Molly's Adopt a Sailor so I can feel like I am 'doing' something.  My son is really the happiest I have ever seen him.  He is focused and confident and seems to really have a purpose. I am truly proud that he chose to be a Corpsman...and also scared to death because he chose FMTB.  I know several Marine Viet Nam vets who speak in glowing and reverent terms about their 'docs'.

OH YES so true the Marines love their "DOCS" : ) I have had the privilege to have met a few of my sons Marines that had gone to Afg with him .. Truly an honor for this mom

Carol, yes I did see the video. Thanks. I talked with my son yesterday and he sounded great.  He was volunteering at a triathlon on the beach in San Diego where it was 75 degrees.  It was 102 here in the NW!

mikes mom...what a privilege to meet those Marines!

DS - Yes it really was ... My son did his training at Camp Lejeune

Welcome DramaSoul!  So glad you found us.  Mine did Field Med at Camp Lejeune too, fortunately it was springtime, before the heat.

Pendleton is so pretty, rolling hills.  102, really?  Thought it was just us baking!  109 today.

People think it is just cold and rainy here in the Great NW. Not true!  Although it will drop into the mid seventies tomorrow.  We broke a 4 year old record with our 102 yesterday!

Crazy weather.  Nothing in our future like that for a while, but it sounds so nice.  Our only solution for now is falling into the pool. 

Marcy...it's why I live where I do.  I actually do better in cooler wet weather even tho' I grew up in SoCal.

I'd like to spend half the year back on the east coast someday - can't give up these winters though, i'm too spoiled :)

WELCOME, DramaSoul!   I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I also grew up in Southern California!   We had a small amount of rain the last couple of nights.   The temperatures have been in the high 50's into the mid-sixties.  It has been a cooler summer than normal with more fog.   We have had some nice days  of close to seventy with sun!   That has been nice!   My corpsman son is stationed in Jacksonville, FLA.  I will be doing a happy dance soon because he is coming home this month.   I have not seen him for a year!    Anyway, welcome!

Mary from McKinleyville,CA

So, Corpsman/FMTB  moms (and dads)....I watched the video of their training again and I have to say it scared the daylights out of me. The whole Marine 'KILL" thing really was disturbing.  I guess I just have to focus on the fact that my son wants to be one of the docs patching them up.