Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

They don't graduate until 12/15.  Monday is PRT.

Does anyone have the details of graduation? I hate being in the dark about these things.

I believe it is at 1000 hours and in big area in front of their school house.  Just sent my son a text asking and told him to reply because the info was for another mother.  Maybe that will get a quicker response.

They were supposed to do PRT today but because of the rain it was cancelled.  This might be right down to the wire since rain is forecasted tomorrow as well! 

Here is a link about graduation:

http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/fmtbwest/Pages/Graduation.aspx

Thank you docsmom. Do you know if there is a limit of who can attend? He did not ask for a list like they did for PIR, so I was wondering if anyone can attend and if we had to give a list of names of attendees.  Any info would be appreciated. 

Cali-Mom, when my son graduated at CP there was no limit to the number of attendees and no advance list was required.  Just drive to the main gate and they'll point you in the right direction!

It is just a big open asphalt space with bleachers set up.  I don't think they expect as many family members as they do after boot camp.  Ooh, makes me shiver to think of waiting in the cold to go through that one building at Great Lakes just to go across the street to another building.  Seems my son likes to graduate from things in December. 

Heard graduation is at 10:00 am.

Graduation update.  Guys have to be in formation at 0945. 

Graduation was great, other than they were missing a page of names in their program and the company leadership listed was for the last class not ours. Met some nice young men. Hunted down Gloria and she talks faster than I can think.  What a handsome son she has.. 

Hello, my son graduated today!!  I was not able to attend so was wondering if anyone who was there took pics and can you upload them??  He will be stationed at 29 Palms after.  Anyone else have a sailor/marine going to 29 Palms?

Congrats on to all Devil Docs who graduated last week.  I was able to attend with my husband, daughter, our aunt & uncle.

DSmom, I took pictures and will be posting them this weekend. I also took video of the ceremony, hopefully I can successfully upload them all. We bought the DVD and watched it on Tuesday.  It was great to see all of them endure and succefully complete this trainings.

DSmom I do know someone going to 29 Palms and I'm good friends with his mom. She is also part of N4Ms and she goes by stingyb21 Ship 12 Div 158.  I took pics of her son and sent them to her. It's great when this site can create these types of friendships.

We took his liberty buddy that Thursday to the airport and My son left on Sunday night to Portsmount VA. It was very sad but he looked so good in his dress blues. Delta gave us (me and his dad) passes to be with him until his plane departed, which was real nice. He's working in L&Delivery. I kind of take pleasure in that. LOL. It will be our first xmas without him....secretly I've looked at the price of airline tickets but they are too expensive ...wishful thinking only. His A school at San Antonio roomate and another buddy is at the same location so he is not completely alone. Makes me more at ease and he is already posted on FB tagging his friends with him. You know they are ok when you see them posting on FB.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays. Thank you for the support.  Look for the pictures coming soon. Good luck to the newbies wishing you a successful training beginnning in January.

Cali-Mom, Sorry we didn't make a connection at graduation.  It was a nice ceremony.  Wish they had done a better job on the program they handed out.  The HQ company listed was for last class and I know at least one sailor who was "demoted" on the program and a whole page of names was missing another family pointed out to me.  I think I will scan the program, correct the part that listed my son and promote the other sailor back to his rank.  I am sure FMTB doesn't realize these little boo boos bother family members.  My son says he doesn't care; he has the pictures to prove he was there.  

My granddaughter was born at Naval Hospital Portsmouth three and half years ago.  I was impressed with them when I got there a day earlier and spent a couple of nights sleeping there with my d-i-l and our new baby.  One of the best times of my life. 

My son's name was mispelled on his travel docs and on one of his certificate. He is "Damain" instead of Damian. He was letting everyone know how he was "the main" (insert our last name).  He too was ok with it and found it funny and wanted all of us to refer to him like that the rest of the day. LOL.

As for the programs leaving a whole page of names out that's awful....was it the colored program or the black and white one?

The colored one ends with "S" and starts again with "Y" so "T" through X" are missing.  Did you get a black and white one?  Were all pages included?

Company First Sergeant should be HM1 J. Palomares and Company Gunnery Sergeant should be HM1 Harmon. Don't know who Company Guide was.  .

I will have to see when I go home and report back my findings.  We have both colored and black and white programs.  That's a shame but nothing can take away their accomplishment. I was very proud of all of them, they will go off and do a great job wherever they are assigned.

lida-glad to hear your son got there alright! and i am sorry that you are without your son during the holidays! i know how hard it is to be away from the ones you love, especially around this time of year. at least you can take heart that he is around people he knows!! glad to hear he has friends there with him to help take care of him!

so glad to hear about the last graduation!!! but hearing about the mishaps with the programs is not good! i am sorry for those of you that did not get to see your loved ones name in print on it! i know that it is not the end of the world, however it is a little frustrating for the family! i know i personally take a pic of the front of the program and then one of the list where his name is, so i know how nice it is to see his name!! but congrats to them!!!

Cute story.  While my son was the resident "yeller" at this past FMTB, I have a very attractive daughter.  Several of the FMTB classmates have "friended" my son on Facebook and, I am assuming, they are checking out all  his pictures because two have already sent friend requests to my daughter!.   

gloria- sounds like you had your hands full and over flowing!! glad you got to have your son home for Chirstmas!!! sorry you missed the plane and had to throw away the mattress. but i bet that woman was sooo thankful for all the things you gave her! that was really nice! sounds like in the end you pulled on your super mom outfit and pulled everything off! great job! now take a rest! you more then deserve it!

Gloria forgot to mention the electricity being turned off in her son's apartment while she was showering in the a.m. before graduation.  Think she did her hair and makeup in the complex laundry room.  She really is a great story teller.

Aaronswife - Did you read the message I sent you a couple of weeks ago?  Lots of info there.

Yes, your husband will eventually get to come home.  He will be pooped!

My son was so relieved to graduate.  He was one sore sailor! 

corpsmanswifeschu - just sent you copy of message I sent.

Oh, yes, Gloria, you are exactly right about sunscreen (and also chapstick).  My son had such a farmer's tan.  He definitely was a "redneck" with sunburn.

schu, did he buy a mouth guard?  Real important for when they are doing the martial arts because he does not want to share with someone who has cold sores...just a rumor that it might have happened before. 

For my son, who was eligible for "brown bag" status due to his home being local to CP, he was able to come home after two weeks. He didn't always do so due to the planned activity and the need to study (more difficult with a 3 year old and infant!). There are run rules around the time to report in the morning; be aware your sailor will have limited time to "spend" with you, even if they are "with" you. Laundry, study, uniform prep all will consume some of this "off" time. There's a link to a book with the experience and what to expect - I'll see if I can find it for you today.

Let the next journey begin.

Your husbands and sons will end this course with muscles they didn't know they had.  My son had doubts he would be able to finish the course because he was older and not as in shape as younger corpsmen.  I was a nervous wreck during the school, expecting a call telling me he was coming home.  How proud I was to watch him lead the sailors out at graduation.  It took a great deal physically and mentally to make it through the class.  Still no s'mores but maybe some kumbayas after graduation.

all week I've heard how tired my hubby is...just talked to him right now and he sounds exhausted but he was laughing and joking with the other guys..made me feel a little bit better..this is WAY better than boot camp the 1st time around!! Can't wait for graduation though!!

My son is the current group and it has been really confusing as to what they are doing.  Thanks for the information.  It is really helpful.

Thanks Ruth VH

hello...my son is currently going through FTMB,  Not sure what is really going on...how long is the class and when does graduation usually occur?  any information would be greatly appreciated.

TxNavyMom2011 - to get a really good idea of what your son is doing, watch this youtube video.  Each class is being filmed during FMTB and will have the opportunity to purchase a CD similar to this one at graduation.

They spend hours upon hours running (from class, to meals, for PT, etc.), hike up hills that I call mountains, crawl through the mud in obstacle courses.  As they progress, their packs get heavier, I think 70-80 LB of equipment.  The last field exercise is an 8 mile hike up and down horrible terrain, staying up for 36 hours straight.  They have several written tests that they must pass.  They stand barracks inspection at least once a week.  They usually get the weekends off unless they are pulling duty. 

Here is the link to the video.  I strongly suggest you watch it and then imagine that it is even worse than what you are shown.  But, they are so proud of themselves when they graduate that I think it takes all the physical pain away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR50BCff6So

Graduation is posted as 22 March.  Think the actually ceremony begins at 10:00 am but suggest you be there by 9:30 a.m.

This is the official FMTB website.  I did a lot of reading here while my son was in the last FMTB class.  http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/fmtbwest/Pages/Graduation.aspx

P.S.  Tell your son to purchase a mouth guard so he doesn't have to share one with other students during martial arts training.  For real!!!!!! 

Thanks corpsmanwifeschu, for telling me about the Facebook link.  Took me forever to get to it because my computer is not cooperating.  I don't know if we are allowed to post links here but I will take a chance since it is the official FMTB Facebook link.

https://www.facebook.com/FieldMedicalTrainingBattalionWest?sk=photo...

I found pictures of my son and even my granddaughter, d-i-l, and me.  Think Gloria is also in the picture but my eyes just can't focus.

My son graduates A school March 13 and will head here next before going on to Okinawa.  So glad for all the info...especially the stuff about feet.  He had pretty bad foot issues in boot camp and your info should help to control it here. 

kacketfan24, my son hated the first week when they are still wearing their Navy boots and running everywhere.  Said the Marine boots were much, much more comfortable.  He had moleskin with him but still ended up with blisters.  I admire these sailors who keep going with these horrible blisters.  I would be sitting on the side of the road crying and whining!

Son also had shin fractures.  Thinks they first started while in the Navy boots.  Is still healing.