Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

Thank you for welcoming new moms...I have lots of questions:)  My son started FMTB in Pendleton on Monday.  I am so happy for him and proud of his accomplishments.  I have not talked to him since he started but on his facebook post last night he put "Corporal of third platoon......Whoo rahh marines."  Does this mean he got a rank advancement?  Or are all Corpsman considered Corporals when they start FMTB?  Either way, it sounds like he is happy, which makes me happy.

Also, I was planning on sending him a care package so I am glad I read your comments before doing so.  More questions to come!!!  Thanks moms.

Thanks JLC and Carol.  I looked at the website....

Hmmm, he was an E3 last week, so corporal would be E4 and a rank advancement for him....but, do Corpsmen in FMTB get ranked as Marines? He did write "corporal" on his Facebook page.  I am confused...but as I said, it all sounds good so am also happy:)  I hope to hear from him tonight to clarify.

My son called last night.  He was tired, sunburned, but very happy.  They've been assigned either platoons, been issued equiptment, fitted for fatigues, and have learned to eat, run, and march very fast LOL.

On a side note, a co-worker told me to thank my son for his service as a Corpsman.  Her nephew (a Marine) almost lost his life last week.  She said that if it wasn't for the Corpsman's quick actions and knowledge, he wouldn't have made it.  He's got a long recovery ahead, but his spirits are high.  I'm passing on her "Thank you".  Be proud of our young men.  And thanks to their families :)

Wow Proudascanbe!  That is a great story!  Our Corpsmen are definitely worthy of praise...but they do not take it well:(

I just spoke to my son and he clarified his facebook post!  The sentence before he wrote "Corporal of third Platoon," was a quote by the Corporal of his platoon!  LOL...he just didn't specify that it was a quote, by using quotation marks.  Anyway, he says that they are all exhausted and dying for sleep...but they do not see any in the near future.  Strangely...he is enjoying it so far!

I have a lot of questions!  My husband just started HM school in Great Lakes.  When he graduates, does he head to FMTB training right away?  I was told all males had to go to FMTB, is this true?  He has not chosen a specialty school, he's just going HM for now..

And he also told me that if he goes to FMTB (lets say in Pendleton) that he will be get stationed in that area & therefore, we can move near him when he starts FMTB. (but he wont live with us)  Is that correct or is it like A-school where they wont move us?  Any info would be appreciated!  Thanks in advance!

Carol is right TB1983, my son went from A school graduation to coming to CP where he worked in the hospital until FMTB training started. When he finished that last month he is now in Fallon NV working in the clinic for 2 years.

Proudascanbe that is great to hear that. It is so strange to being talking medical things with my son that I never thought would happen. My husband was wearing his devil doc shirt from FMTB grad and was thanked by people and had to tell them that it is his son that is the devil doc. Just makes a Mama's heart swell with pride for what our kids are doing.

well folks, just about done with the first week of "FMTB newbies" congrats to all!! now just 7 more weeks to go!!! time will fly!

TB1968- also chances are, if he is just going to the training for FMTB then the Navy will not pay for you to move. even if he is on hold for a little bit. because it is far to short of training for them to move you. so wait till you get to the last week of a school or so before you really start even thinking about moving anywhere cause it can always change.

I spoke with my son last night.  He said the fun has begun.  They were woken up at 2:45 am on Thursday to the sound of cannon fire, loud music, and very loud seargents yelling and screaming at them.  They were up and doing PT by 3:00 am.  They were at it all day until 7:00 pm.  He said that they stand at muster and it takes a long time.  He's learned to imagine diffrent shapes on the back heads of the guy in front of him.  That way he's able to stand still LOL

we are all here for you carol! and to all the other people out there with loved ones not at home with them!!... i think that is just about everyone!

Carol - no words, just Navy Mom (((((HUGS)))))))  Hang in there.  

Linda - Oh my goodness - so glad your ok.  We're right outside of Atlanta and although we didn't have any damage, places up North are so much worse.  Stay safe, these storms are so brutal here lately.

Mariann - no FMT just means you go where the Marine's go. And they have bases everywhere!  The odds of a deployment to Afghan are pretty high, but you'll be stationed at one of the bases around the globe.  Hope that help.

If it helps, my Corpsman deploys to Japan in October, that's as far ahead as I can think. The word at this point is that troops will start to pull out of Afghanistan in July this year. 

Right now, he's in 29 Palms for a couple a weeks. He's been on "field-ops" for up to a week at a time. He's safe, but still not at home.

Prayers for all our boys at FMTB...they are heading into the field for a few days. My son called to tell me that I won't be hearing from him until this weekend.  He sounded excited and nervous.

Hang in there JLC.  My husband wouldn't even go to the airport with us when Jamie left for Italy.  Very exciting for them and yet very hard for us!  Good luck to him.

Good luck to the FMTB class!  Hopefully this is only the three day tour out in the field!  Preparation for the longer one.

good luck to all of thoes going out into the field!! i am sure they are nervous but looking back at it my bf loved it!!

prayers go out the all those that are leaving the country and starting their new chapters!!!

linda- what ward is your son working in? my bf is stationed there and working in orthopedics.

I have sympathy for you at 29 Palms, it is a long way out there. We stayed at a place in Indio when we picked up my daughter from college and met her boyfriend/fiance now stationed @ CP. We went to disneyland and seems everything was like a 2 hour drive.

Good luck to all in their new adventures. My son is going crazy in Nevada as there is nothing to do where he is also. It is kind of middle of nowhere also and like an hour out of Reno so not much to do until the weekend. He is hoping to get his jeep lifted so he can at least play in the sand dunes.

I am new to the board. My son has been in 3 years, serving in San Diego, but is right now in the FMTB. He is due to graduate on June 24, 2011. Anyone else out there have someone graduating that day?

Thanks for the welcome. He has been at a Naval Operational Support center, doing medical records type work and working with reservists during drills.

And I did indeed get some useful information from this feed. Since there is nothing on the FMTB West website about graduation, I was able to know where to book a room at least! So thanks to all of those posters.

Hi mom22 and proud as can be:  My son will be finishing FMTB the same time your sons are.  He apparently had a good time in the field this week!  This kid started out liking to get dirty, and apparently will continue that way forever!

Thanks Eurekamom. My son thought the meals, ready to eat were really good. He seemed pleasantly surprised by that. I have just one son in the Navy at FMTB, my other son is an Army reservist who has always liked the meals., ready to eat : )

My son brought some of those MRE's home after FMTB and made us sample a few.  Boys will eat anything! 

JLC - glad he made it safe and sound.  It will take him a few weeks to get his bearings.  You've got a really bad time difference to deal with having him there!

here we are at another friday!! we must be like have way done with this session of FMTB right? congrats to all!! and prayers and strenght for the rest of the time!!

finally got the offical word for transfering to my new store. june 17th will be my first day! i cant wait! means i get to drive 40 less miles each day for work! i hope it goes fast! i would really like to stop filling up for gas every 4 days. now it is going to be every 7 days!! yay! almost 1/2 the savings!! hope all is well with all of you!!!

Hey Jess, on the 10th of June we are moving to Pendleton, kinda of your opposite problem, solved. 

I guess my son was lucky then as he went straight from A school to few weeks off before starting FMTB. He loved it and now is at a clinic bored. He is looking into taking classes for his RN while he is stationed there.

Glad to hear all are doing well.

JLC - sounds like your son is getting his bearings!  Just wait until he starts exploring!  Mine took some leave and flew to Paris this past weekend.  Wow!  He's only been in a year and he has been to Chicago, San Diego, all over Italy and now France.  Amazing.

Gloria - I'm sure your son is like all of ours and will love the adrenaline pumping craziness that goes on in FMTB!!  He sure has seen a lot and been to a lot of places.  I really enjoy this group although my son finished FMTB last December!

so many new things and new places to experience! sounds exciting!

another friday down! yay to all the FMTB who are another week closer to finishing!

is it just me though or is this round of loved ones a lot less talkative then the last. oh well not a bad thing, just noticed it. maybe we just have more questions about it. hope all of you are having a good day and have a happy and safe memorial day!

Ya, we were a chatty crew. 

I always want to remind that I am at Camp Pendleton almost everyday and will be moving about a mile from Devil Doc Hall in a week. I can deliver items or help out with anything. Please don't be afraid to ask. 

On base housing we get regular mail, our address doesn't even indicate that we are on base. We move in on 6/10. Package delivery would be fun. My husband said," Get that Doc his cookies!"