Corpsmen Moms and Dads

Drama, my sailor doesn't like (putting it mildly) the peanut butters, wishes they'd bring back the "Johnny Cashes" (all black, very cool looking) and the traditional working whites, too - tradition!

Regarding the "pickles" - perhaps they were referring to FMF corpsmen and Marine utility uniforms (desert or woodland)?

Marcy...that's what I thought.  I kept asking him "Are you sure the Navy is going to that look?"  He told me they were.  It doesn't seem to make sense to me if you are on a ship that is grey to be dressed in something called pickles.  I thought the idea was not to be seen.  What are the working whites?  The "Johnny Cash" look sounds really cool.  I think they all hate the peanut butters 'cause they are sooo uncomfortable. 

confused, lost and questions. My son is grduating apperantly Feb. 21. Though he was ? Also looking at the fb page how do you know wht group they are in, his 020 charlie.

Huggy, I was a little confused by your question but see in the A school group all is well, congratulations on his orders!  

Freezing cold here in Scottsdale AZ last night and for a few more - brrr.  Hope everyone's staying warm (it's 72 in Norfolk VA today, they stole our weather!) and that their corpsmen are doing well wherever they may be :)

Marcy, it was 25 here this morning with no rain...which would've been snow anyway. We were kinda hoping for snow although my friends in Israel were surprised with snow last week.

I'm still f-f-f-reezing!  Hope you've warmed up, Drama!  I have a heated throw and I'm about to wear it out :)

Funny!! I'm going to propose that as the theme for our next Navy Ball this summer - which is predicted to be extra-hot - summer that is, not the Ball :)

LOL!

We're warming up here Mary...finally!  Hope you thaw out soon too.  Glad you like the theme idea, wouldn't that be fun?  Gives me time to work on my Carmen Miranda look :)  

sons class did IVs today he got it the first time. His great grandma would be so proud.

DaniHMSchoolMom - I would recommend going.  My son graduated top of his HM class in San Antonio and spoke at the graduation.  He said we did not need to be there and his speech would be recorded (if it was we don't have copy).  I regret not getting to see him graduate and would go if I had it to do all over.

VelvetLace - My son's in Jacksonville too.  He just got their in November and his wife joined him right after Christmas.  They've bought a home and now the nightmare has begun with all the problems with their house.

Diana, when you say HM class are you referring to HM A school graduation or surg tech C school graduation?  

Right, got that.  I think Diana222 was referring to A school, not C.  Dani, you might also ask about surg tech graduation in the A school group too.  

Marcy - I was referring to HM A School. 

life sure is not fair sometimes. Tony just got back from his first deployment and it was rough. He gets back to base this week and they tell him he is going back again with another battalion.We would appreciate all of your prayers.

Greg and Angela....really? They can just turn around like that?  Sending lots of prayers. 

If it's any consolation, I did hear from a Corpsman in country who said things are calming down a bit.

Greg and Angela, you know Tony will be in our prayers all the way - you, too.  Goes for you and yours too, Kathy - we're all here for each other.

Hi Greg-and-Angela, your family is in our prayers!  My cub in heading back to the sandbox for his second deployment soon and I'm not too crazy about it as well!  We're here to offer support for "Parental PTSD"!

Thank you everyone. We have seen prayer work and Tony said it save him a few times during the last deployment. We will add your son's to our sandbox prayer list and keep them all safe. We are grateful that things are getting quiet, both there and here in Iraq. We love the support you all give and it really helps. Bless you all.

talked to son lastnight. He grad. Feb 21, and doesn't have to report to Rhode Island until 27. Get to visit with him for little bit.

Well I told you God answers prayer. Someone in command thought it was a bit to soon to send Tony back and put a stop to the transfer. He will stay with his same unit and stay at home. Thanks for your prayers guys, They work!

Tell Tony we all said Hi and we're glad he's staying put!  

Will pass on the greetings. Amen

Don't remember where I saw it does someone have a son that will be grad. A school Feb. 21 that is going to RI.

The HM A school group - she posted a response to you today  :)  You might have to go back a page.

:( found out today may not all the time we were orginally going to get with son.

Sorry to hear, Huggy.  Hopefully you can see him in RI soon, no time pressure then :)  

Great news Greg!

Something cool - the Navy Medicine Almanac 2013, with a great overview and update on the HM rating, pages 42 - 47.  Some of the interesting info included:  

The HM rating has 25,481 on active duty.  Of these,

-  over 6,500 hospital corpsmen are supporting Fleet Marine Force

-  more than 5,000 corpsmen are serving on ships, submarines, with SEABEES, and at other sea duty platforms

-  more than 700 hospital corpsmen are serving as Individual Augmentees

-   2,700-plus hospital corpsmen are in training at any given time.  

There are 38 occupational specialties within the HM rating, requiring additional training via C schools.

The rating is manned at 97%.

Thanks Marcy yes interesting info.

3% of corpsman jobs are unfilled; these are corpsman jobs that require specialized training and need filling.  “Hot fill” jobs are those that the Navy wants filled ASAP; in 2012, that list included 8401 Search and Rescue Med Tech, 8402 Submarine Force Independent Duty Corpsman, 8403 FMF Recon IDC, 8410 Bio-Med Equipment Tech, 8485 Surface Force IDC, 8487 FMF Recon Corpsman, 8432 Preventive Med Tech, 8493 Medical Deep Sea Diving Tech, 8494 Deep Sea Diving IDC, 8541 Respiratory Therapy Tech, 8752 Dental Lab Tech (Basic), 8753 Dental Lab Tech (Advanced), 8765 Dental Lab Tech, Maxillofacial.

I assume there are more needs than just the hot fill spots, but it's interesting to see what those are.  At any rate, better from our perspective to be undermanned than over!  :)

even if just barely :)

My corpsman will finish C school (Surg Tech) soon.  He is going to Italy.  Does anyone have son's or daughter's in Italy?  Any advice?  Feel free to personal message me.

Dani, my son is there and very happy with this assignment - sent you a PM :)

I'm thrilled right along with you!  Love that kind of positive mentoring.  

Just an FYI...USNS Comfort, now based in Norfolk, is among ships whose upcoming deployments 'have been cancelled due to budget limitations imposed by sequestration' - Navy.mil

Bravo Zulu to the HMs at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth!  NMCP Hosts 3rd Annual 'Walk a Lap in Her Heels' "The idea for the event was taken from the nationally recognized Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Foundation, which began in 2001. Its mission is to give men an opportunity to raise awareness in their communities, to take sexual violence seriously and work toward eliminating it."

Tuesday is the official end of my son's deployment as he flies back to his duty station at Camp Pendleton, CA.  I thank God that he wasn't sent to the "sandbox" (I do keep those sons, daughters, and spouses in my prayers each night) but being where he was scared the bejesus out of me. 

In the past week, since returning to the States, he has passed 1st class and rescue swimmer tests, the EXW written test, and, today, the "murder" board for the EXW (Expeditionary Warfare qualification) pin.  So very proud of him, HM1 (EXW).   

Soon, my home will be a great deal more empty and quiet as he his little girl returns to Camp Pendleton to be with her daddy.  It has been a long nine months for her.  Wish Florida was closer to California!    

A note to all:  Tell your loved ones to keep on top of their records because my son's records did not include the 3rd and 2nd class swim tests he has taken in the past so he had to retest and they stuck him in the advanced class.  Thank goodness he is a strong swimmer or all his studying would have been for naught. 

docsmom - Celebration!!  Congratulations on all his accomplishments, wow!  Your home will be quieter, but you still have your friends here, and you surely have a lot of experience to share :)  And that's great advice to keep track of records regularly; passing that on to my corpsman!