My son just left for RTC today. You would think I would be use to this, since my oldest Son graduated from RTC in May 2006. But Blaine is my youngest and we are really close. He will make a good Corpsman.
Welcome Loralee, and sending hugs your way :) Please also come and join this group - HM (Hospital Corps) A School in San Antonio for moms of corpsmen-to-be. Happy you found us, look forward to getting to know you and your son!
My son will be going to RTC June 17th then A school in San Antonio and then to C school to become a battlefield HM. I'm very proud of him and hope there is other parents on here that there child has gone through the same thing my son will be going through.
Hi carfruit , Good luck to you son . Is your son going to California or North Carolina for FMTB ? My son will be going to North Carolina. They don't have a very active site on Navymore4Mom site foe east coast FMBT. I went to west coast FMBT Navy4Mom site and was able to get more information about FMBT there
Michelle & car fruit, the official site for Field Medical Training Battalion East at Camp Lejeune has more info than its Camp Pendleton counterpart; go to http://www.tecom.marines.mil/fmtbn-e/UnitHome.aspx then -> Students -> Welcome -> FMST.
There's also info in the 'Discussions' part of in the Camp Lejeune Moms group, i.e. this one with info, maps, where to stay for graduation, etc.
Please join us in this group for A School moms and be sure to go through the links at the top of that page, lots of information!
One more thing, there isn't a C School for 'battlefield HM.' FMTB is an additional eight weeks of advanced training in combat medical care, small arms training, and exposure to Marine Corps culture that almost all corpsmen go through sooner or later, and isn't designated a C School. There's a link to all the C Schools among the links at the A School group.
I didn't think that FMTB was a C school, either, and asked my son about it. He says it is a technicality. They earn a new NEC and it is listed in the CANTRAC as a C school. Sometime between Vietnam and Gulf War, it was an elected C school but not now.
He said at the end of FMTB, you are not considered a battlefield medic and that title would be earned if in actual combat situation. His personal feeling about FMTB is that you focus more on PT than actual life saving combat care. Assume that is very important if you are expected to keep up with physically fit Marines.
He did not go to FMTB until he had been in the Navy for 8 years and he had already completed year long C school for Independent Duty Corpsman. He said he learned more combat medicine during IDC school but I know he was not as physically fit as the new corpsmen arriving from A school so it was tougher on his old body!
Whatever FMTB is officially, it is a long eight weeks and they come out more fit than when they went in.
Learning a lot from reading the comments here. Awesome group. My son arrived at RTC this week, so he is just beginning. I am trying to learn as much as I can. You would think I was new to the Navy, but I am not. My oldest son graduated RTC in May of 2006, but he didn't become a Corpsman so I am in training all over again.
Loralee...from what I understand, things have changed since 2006! What was your oldest son's rate?
IDCmom#1...My son said the same thing about FMTB training. He was in pretty good shape when he got there but much better shape after. It's only the basics of combat medicine. He has learned a lot more at his duty station (29 Palms working in the hospital and then a clinic). He just became a certified ACLS instructor.
DramaSoul; I don't remember my oldest son's rate. Does Engineman should like a rate? Anyway he did his 4 years, changed over to Army and now stationed in Germany.
Mamawalrus no duty site he is going to be in the reserves. He is going to FMTB and then it sounds like more training in North Carolina afterwards because recruiter said he will be there about 4 months unless he had it wrong . My son wants to do some missions in the reserves then maybe decide to go in the Navy full time at a later date.
I'm new in this group. My son just finished his A school last Monday and going to C school for dental assistant. Is there a group for dental assistant mom & dad? Thanks
Welcome Raqi'smom, and congratulations on your son's new Navy career! As far as I know, there isn't a separate group for dental assistant moms and dads. Hopefully you'll meet some here though!
Just an FYI for anyone with a corpsman at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Virginia) - there was a non-injury fire in Building Three at the hospital today, started by an air compressor related to the building's renovation. Building Three is mostly administrative, and again, there were no injuries. http://wavy.com/2014/03/19/fire-reported-at-portsmouth-naval-medica...
My o from personal experience as a nurse. They do not need a cardiology stethescope. I found it harder to listen to lung sounds with a cardiac stethescope. A general one is fine, and big tip,most stetehscopes come with interchangeable ear pieces. Have him use the one that expand, as ifto close ear. I can look at scope brands and let you know a sdpecific, but lithman is good.
As mom of both an IDC and RN, I can tell you that their choice is Littman and my daughter's favorite was her pink Littman one that her brother gave her when she graduated from nursing school. I just asked her what "style" it is and she said she doesn't remember.
But, both of them use stethoscopes provided to them by their work place. My son said it isn't worth having your own in the Navy because they disappear too easily. He has been in the Navy for ten years and I think he has only had one personal stethoscope and it is long gone.
Our daughter has had two, both Littmans. We had the little piece they come with engraved with her name but the nametag is easily removed. Since she is a NICU nurse, she uses the hospital's stethoscopes specifically made for tiny babies. She doesn't have a clue where her personal ones are, somewhere in her house.
I just texted son and asked what he would recommend and he said, "Littman Classic II" and "The opportunities are unlimited to "acquire" his own from his place of work but if he asks his supply PO nicely, they may just give him one." Also says junior corpsman regularly "steal cheap crappy ones out of the BP kits."
Thinking about gifts for our corpsman children, I know my son likes t-shirts with corpsman sayings on them just as my daughter loves NICU related t's. Have also given daughter mugs related to NICU.
Asked my son what the best gift a mom could send corpsman child and he said, 'socks." Took me aback because he always got a huge package of white socks for Christmas growing up. He clarified and said the socks I sent him when he was in deployment training. They are the ones moms mention all the time on here.
Foxsox.com
Wick Dry® Maximum Style #6074 Price: $12.99/pair
or
Stryker Style #6078
Price: $12.99/pair
If in a Navy command, black ones. If in Field Med, green or brown. He says he wears his green and brown ones with his regular Navy cammies and no one notices.
Think he was hinting so I am going to order some more for him. Not easy to buy for him so I am jumping on this suggestion.
My son sent me a big text thank you for his Littman II which I got him 2 years ago. He said he can hear so much with it. This thank you came out if the blue. He had a patient that morning with congestion and he could hear much better than his friends using the standard stethoscopes in the clinic.
My son would have killed me if I had gotten another color other than black!!! It does have his name engraved on it so it's his and anyone using it will know that! Now if it were me...I would want purple tubing!
Socks were also a request when he was going through FMTB and I imagine when he is deployed with MEF in Okinawa that will be a regular inclusion in his goody box.
Just Another Mother....I only said MY son wouldn't be caught dead with a colored tubing because he told me he wouldn't. I asked him...didn't tell him I was getting him one...just asked hypothetically as I was contemplating things to get him for his graduation.
So far I have gotten him the following things for graduations or birthdays or Chanukah or...
1) Littmann II stethoscope (black tubing/engraved with his name)...he uses this EVERY DAY in the clinic
2) Stryker socks...loves these
3) Kit that included 2 sizes of bandage scissors, suture scissors, forceps and pen light (he uses this a lot)
4) Mosby's Complete Guide to the Physical Examination (for his clinic work and because he will eventually be going to school to become a PA) and Rapid EKG Reading Guide (for his ACLS training)
5) Otoscope (used daily in the clinic!)
He said his friends (and one of his superiors) wants to know if I will adopt them. He was asked where he got all the cool equipment and he told them his mom sent them to him. I got things that he said he wanted when pressed. Usually I ask him and he says I don't need to get him anything so I have to push him to tell me what he needs/wants. I usually get him to tell me a couple of things and then I pick which one I can afford! For his birthday I got him the otoscope but his list included an M5 medical bag which was $345. Yeah...didn't get that one! Hope this helps!
Just Another Mother...It was an EMT lit I found on Amazon and I bought an extra pair of bandage scissors so he had 2 sizes. It's black and something that fits in a scrubs pocket.
Just another mother, If he is over 18 and signed a contract, it is most probably binding. He needs to get a copy of the contract and make an appointment with JAG to find out if there is anyway to legitimately break the contract. It is possible that the martial arts training studio might want to let him out of the contract for the goodwill with the military but they have people sign contracts so that they can make money.
The picture below is a picture of my son's baby girl born on March 21st. My corpsman's wife had to have a ceasarean section which my son was able to be present. The baby girl's name is Angelina! She is so beautiful in person!
velvetlace...What a beautiful precious bundle of joy! So cool that your Corpsman could be there. What a little Angel! Mazel Tov (as we say in my family)!!!
Ok need some advise...My son is in A School in San Antonio in Corpsmen school. He has never been a great student more a low to mid C student. He got an 89 on his EMT test and he thought that was pretty great. Then his group was changed because so many failed the EMT test twice. He had new instructors that were less than teaching material we will say. So he failed MOD 2 twice – and was phased down to a new group where he said the new instructors he has are awesome. He retook the test and got an 87 on it :). Yesterday he took mod -3 and got a 76 he said he really over thought the questions. That score brought him down in the dumps he said he studied really hard. He currently has no roomate so he has a quiet place and is taking the extra study time and doing some online tests. Any suggestions as to what else might help him he is worried about the Mod-5 which is the "KILLER"
Jeter's Mom, he needs to get with the EPO (education petty officer) in his class for help. My son said it also helped to study in a group situation. My son was the class EPO and it was his job to help his classmates. They are there to help! Good luck to him!
familything thank you, I will tell him. He loves his current instructors he said they are awesome he feels he is his own enemy overthinking everything because he is so worried about failing again.
Hello Ladies! Is there anyone here who's son or daughter went to C-School in Yorktown, VA for the Optometry program? My son just got his "soft" orders this week and will be going there after graduation from San Antonio A School in May.
Have a ? My son is currently at RTC. He will be going to San Antonio for A school. Got his papers and it says he's in for 4 years. I thought HM was minimum 5 years?
My son will graduate C school soon and will be assign to Naples, Italy. Is there a group for parents whose child is stationed in Naples, Italy? I feel like i have the same feeling as when he left for the bootcamp...
My FMF Corpsman is currently studying Standard Arabic. He will complete the course next week and return to 29 Palms. He expects a deployment eastward in a sandy location this coming autumn. Hopefully he will have home leave prior to this adventure. i have asked him to teach me the swear words for entertainment. :)
My son will be attending A school in San Antonio . He's currently in RTC. I know I will be plugging into this group the most. I never felt so many emotions at one time, joy, fear, pride. Still waiting for my first phone call from him. We have a long road ahead. May God watch over our nation and our men & women who selflessly serve.
mamawalrus
Carol.. sorry for delay.. my notifications did not alert me. How does he like it?
Mar 4, 2014
mamawalrus
Marcy... I thought it was something I had done to my page. LOL I def do not like this set up..
Mar 4, 2014
Loralee
My son just left for RTC today. You would think I would be use to this, since my oldest Son graduated from RTC in May 2006. But Blaine is my youngest and we are really close. He will make a good Corpsman.
Mar 4, 2014
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Welcome Loralee, and sending hugs your way :) Please also come and join this group - HM (Hospital Corps) A School in San Antonio for moms of corpsmen-to-be. Happy you found us, look forward to getting to know you and your son!
Mar 5, 2014
Michelle
My son will be going to RTC June 17th then A school in San Antonio and then to C school to become a battlefield HM. I'm very proud of him and hope there is other parents on here that there child has gone through the same thing my son will be going through.
Mar 5, 2014
carfruit
Mar 5, 2014
Michelle
Hi carfruit , Good luck to you son . Is your son going to California or North Carolina for FMTB ? My son will be going to North Carolina. They don't have a very active site on Navymore4Mom site foe east coast FMBT. I went to west coast FMBT Navy4Mom site and was able to get more information about FMBT there
Mar 5, 2014
carfruit
Mar 5, 2014
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Michelle & car fruit, the official site for Field Medical Training Battalion East at Camp Lejeune has more info than its Camp Pendleton counterpart; go to http://www.tecom.marines.mil/fmtbn-e/UnitHome.aspx then -> Students -> Welcome -> FMST.
There's also info in the 'Discussions' part of in the Camp Lejeune Moms group, i.e. this one with info, maps, where to stay for graduation, etc.
Please join us in this group for A School moms and be sure to go through the links at the top of that page, lots of information!
One more thing, there isn't a C School for 'battlefield HM.' FMTB is an additional eight weeks of advanced training in combat medical care, small arms training, and exposure to Marine Corps culture that almost all corpsmen go through sooner or later, and isn't designated a C School.
There's a link to all the C Schools among the links at the A School group.
Mar 5, 2014
IDCmom#1
I didn't think that FMTB was a C school, either, and asked my son about it. He says it is a technicality. They earn a new NEC and it is listed in the CANTRAC as a C school. Sometime between Vietnam and Gulf War, it was an elected C school but not now.
He said at the end of FMTB, you are not considered a battlefield medic and that title would be earned if in actual combat situation. His personal feeling about FMTB is that you focus more on PT than actual life saving combat care.
Assume that is very important if you are expected to keep up with physically fit Marines.
He did not go to FMTB until he had been in the Navy for 8 years and he had already completed year long C school for Independent Duty Corpsman. He said he learned more combat medicine during IDC school but I know he was not as physically fit as the new corpsmen arriving from A school so it was tougher on his old body!
Whatever FMTB is officially, it is a long eight weeks and they come out more fit than when they went in.
Mar 7, 2014
Loralee
Learning a lot from reading the comments here. Awesome group. My son arrived at RTC this week, so he is just beginning. I am trying to learn as much as I can. You would think I was new to the Navy, but I am not. My oldest son graduated RTC in May of 2006, but he didn't become a Corpsman so I am in training all over again.
Mar 8, 2014
DramaSoul
Loralee...from what I understand, things have changed since 2006! What was your oldest son's rate?
IDCmom#1...My son said the same thing about FMTB training. He was in pretty good shape when he got there but much better shape after. It's only the basics of combat medicine. He has learned a lot more at his duty station (29 Palms working in the hospital and then a clinic). He just became a certified ACLS instructor.
Mar 8, 2014
Loralee
DramaSoul; I don't remember my oldest son's rate. Does Engineman should like a rate? Anyway he did his 4 years, changed over to Army and now stationed in Germany.
Mar 8, 2014
mamawalrus
FMTB is basics as mentioned and some training but lots PT. Michelle, is your Corpsman designated "green" side or have duty station yet?
Mar 11, 2014
Michelle
Mamawalrus no duty site he is going to be in the reserves. He is going to FMTB and then it sounds like more training in North Carolina afterwards because recruiter said he will be there about 4 months unless he had it wrong . My son wants to do some missions in the reserves then maybe decide to go in the Navy full time at a later date.
Mar 11, 2014
Libra's mom
Hi there!
I'm new in this group. My son just finished his A school last Monday and going to C school for dental assistant. Is there a group for dental assistant mom & dad? Thanks
Mar 12, 2014
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Welcome Raqi'smom, and congratulations on your son's new Navy career! As far as I know, there isn't a separate group for dental assistant moms and dads. Hopefully you'll meet some here though!
Mar 19, 2014
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Just an FYI for anyone with a corpsman at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Virginia) - there was a non-injury fire in Building Three at the hospital today, started by an air compressor related to the building's renovation. Building Three is mostly administrative, and again, there were no injuries. http://wavy.com/2014/03/19/fire-reported-at-portsmouth-naval-medica...
Mar 19, 2014
Bobbo
Thought this was a great article on the Navy in general.
http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2014/03/11/americas_navy_n...
Mar 20, 2014
squid
My o from personal experience as a nurse. They do not need a cardiology stethescope. I found it harder to listen to lung sounds with a cardiac stethescope. A general one is fine, and big tip,most stetehscopes come with interchangeable ear pieces. Have him use the one that expand, as ifto close ear. I can look at scope brands and let you know a sdpecific, but lithman is good.
Mar 20, 2014
IDCmom#1
Just another mother,
As mom of both an IDC and RN, I can tell you that their choice is Littman and my daughter's favorite was her pink Littman one that her brother gave her when she graduated from nursing school. I just asked her what "style" it is and she said she doesn't remember.
But, both of them use stethoscopes provided to them by their work place. My son said it isn't worth having your own in the Navy because they disappear too easily. He has been in the Navy for ten years and I think he has only had one personal stethoscope and it is long gone.
Our daughter has had two, both Littmans. We had the little piece they come with engraved with her name but the nametag is easily removed. Since she is a NICU nurse, she uses the hospital's stethoscopes specifically made for tiny babies. She doesn't have a clue where her personal ones are, somewhere in her house.
I just texted son and asked what he would recommend and he said, "Littman Classic II" and "The opportunities are unlimited to "acquire" his own from his place of work but if he asks his supply PO nicely, they may just give him one." Also says junior corpsman regularly "steal cheap crappy ones out of the BP kits."
Thinking about gifts for our corpsman children, I know my son likes t-shirts with corpsman sayings on them just as my daughter loves NICU related t's. Have also given daughter mugs related to NICU.
Mar 20, 2014
IDCmom#1
Just another mother,
Asked my son what the best gift a mom could send corpsman child and he said, 'socks." Took me aback because he always got a huge package of white socks for Christmas growing up. He clarified and said the socks I sent him when he was in deployment training. They are the ones moms mention all the time on here.
Foxsox.com
Wick Dry® Maximum
Style #6074
Price: $12.99/pair
or
Stryker
Style #6078
Price: $12.99/pair
If in a Navy command, black ones. If in Field Med, green or brown. He says he wears his green and brown ones with his regular Navy cammies and no one notices.
Think he was hinting so I am going to order some more for him. Not easy to buy for him so I am jumping on this suggestion.
Mar 20, 2014
DramaSoul
Mar 20, 2014
DramaSoul
My son would have killed me if I had gotten another color other than black!!! It does have his name engraved on it so it's his and anyone using it will know that! Now if it were me...I would want purple tubing!
Mar 22, 2014
DramaSoul
Socks were also a request when he was going through FMTB and I imagine when he is deployed with MEF in Okinawa that will be a regular inclusion in his goody box.
Mar 22, 2014
Echo3
IDCmom#1 Thanks for the ideas on socks. I want some for myself too!
Foxsox.com
Wick Dry® Maximum
Style #6074
Price: $12.99/pair
or
Stryker
Style #6078
price: $12.99/pair
Mar 22, 2014
DramaSoul
Just Another Mother....I only said MY son wouldn't be caught dead with a colored tubing because he told me he wouldn't. I asked him...didn't tell him I was getting him one...just asked hypothetically as I was contemplating things to get him for his graduation.
So far I have gotten him the following things for graduations or birthdays or Chanukah or...
1) Littmann II stethoscope (black tubing/engraved with his name)...he uses this EVERY DAY in the clinic
2) Stryker socks...loves these
3) Kit that included 2 sizes of bandage scissors, suture scissors, forceps and pen light (he uses this a lot)
4) Mosby's Complete Guide to the Physical Examination (for his clinic work and because he will eventually be going to school to become a PA) and Rapid EKG Reading Guide (for his ACLS training)
5) Otoscope (used daily in the clinic!)
He said his friends (and one of his superiors) wants to know if I will adopt them. He was asked where he got all the cool equipment and he told them his mom sent them to him. I got things that he said he wanted when pressed. Usually I ask him and he says I don't need to get him anything so I have to push him to tell me what he needs/wants. I usually get him to tell me a couple of things and then I pick which one I can afford! For his birthday I got him the otoscope but his list included an M5 medical bag which was $345. Yeah...didn't get that one! Hope this helps!
Mar 22, 2014
Michelle
IDCmom#1 Thank you for all the great information ! I sent you a message .
Mar 23, 2014
DramaSoul
Mar 23, 2014
DramaSoul
Mar 23, 2014
IDCmom#1
Just another mother, If he is over 18 and signed a contract, it is most probably binding. He needs to get a copy of the contract and make an appointment with JAG to find out if there is anyway to legitimately break the contract. It is possible that the martial arts training studio might want to let him out of the contract for the goodwill with the military but they have people sign contracts so that they can make money.
Mar 27, 2014
velvetlace
Mar 29, 2014
velvetlace
The picture below is a picture of my son's baby girl born on March 21st. My corpsman's wife had to have a ceasarean section which my son was able to be present. The baby girl's name is Angelina! She is so beautiful in person!
Mar 29, 2014
Diana2222
Velvetlace - How precious and lucky you are.
Mar 29, 2014
DramaSoul
velvetlace...What a beautiful precious bundle of joy! So cool that your Corpsman could be there. What a little Angel! Mazel Tov (as we say in my family)!!!
Mar 29, 2014
Michelle
@velvetlace what great news and congrats on your new grandchild ! Glad your son was able to be there !
Mar 30, 2014
NHBBALL MOM
Ok need some advise...My son is in A School in San Antonio in Corpsmen school. He has never been a great student more a low to mid C student. He got an 89 on his EMT test and he thought that was pretty great. Then his group was changed because so many failed the EMT test twice. He had new instructors that were less than teaching material we will say. So he failed MOD 2 twice – and was phased down to a new group where he said the new instructors he has are awesome. He retook the test and got an 87 on it :). Yesterday he took mod -3 and got a 76 he said he really over thought the questions. That score brought him down in the dumps he said he studied really hard. He currently has no roomate so he has a quiet place and is taking the extra study time and doing some online tests. Any suggestions as to what else might help him he is worried about the Mod-5 which is the "KILLER"
Apr 3, 2014
familything
Apr 3, 2014
NHBBALL MOM
familything thank you, I will tell him. He loves his current instructors he said they are awesome he feels he is his own enemy overthinking everything because he is so worried about failing again.
Apr 3, 2014
abbi'smom
My daughter is currently in BC and graduates may 23rd...she wil be heading to A school in San Antonio...I am so excited for her!
Apr 4, 2014
MOMom44
Hello Ladies! Is there anyone here who's son or daughter went to C-School in Yorktown, VA for the Optometry program? My son just got his "soft" orders this week and will be going there after graduation from San Antonio A School in May.
Apr 5, 2014
bikerbabe55
HI Ladies! My daughter graduates from A School May 8th and we are planning to go. Is anyone else going?
Apr 8, 2014
Murphy122
Have a ? My son is currently at RTC. He will be going to San Antonio for A school. Got his papers and it says he's in for 4 years. I thought HM was minimum 5 years?
Apr 9, 2014
abbi'smom
Apr 9, 2014
familything
Apr 10, 2014
velvetlace
Happy Easter to all of you! I hope everyone is well!
Apr 19, 2014
Libra's mom
My son will graduate C school soon and will be assign to Naples, Italy. Is there a group for parents whose child is stationed in Naples, Italy? I feel like i have the same feeling as when he left for the bootcamp...
Apr 20, 2014
GrannyRachel29Palms
My FMF Corpsman is currently studying Standard Arabic. He will complete the course next week and return to 29 Palms. He expects a deployment eastward in a sandy location this coming autumn. Hopefully he will have home leave prior to this adventure. i have asked him to teach me the swear words for entertainment. :)
Apr 24, 2014
LisaPNM Ship11 Div204
My son will be attending A school in San Antonio . He's currently in RTC. I know I will be plugging into this group the most. I never felt so many emotions at one time, joy, fear, pride. Still waiting for my first phone call from him. We have a long road ahead. May God watch over our nation and our men & women who selflessly serve.
Apr 28, 2014
familything
May 2, 2014