Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

KathyproudCorpsmanmom....THank you for the info - and good luck to your Son as well !!! I am SOOOO enjoying having "my boy" home ..... its going WAY too fast ..... Mothers Day was so awesome - I had both my daughter and my son home !!! That is a VERY rare occasion these days....so grateful for this day !!! Love and prayers to all you loving Navy families ....I am so thankful for this N4M's site !!!!

Just curious, why is he looking for a place to live when school is only 8 weeks long?  Where is he going after school? 

If he is assigned to the hospital, waiting to class up, wouldn't it be wiser to live in the barracks?  If he found a place off base, wouldn't he have to pay security, sign a lease, etc?

corpsmanswifeschu is exactly right with Oceanside being the closest community to Del Mar area where FMTB is located on Camp Pendleton.   

Thank you Corpsmanwifeschu and docsmom! My husband has orders to be stationed on camp pendleton on hold for over a month. Then he has orders for that school for 8 weeks. Then he has orders there for something else (i forgot what :( ) So in the end he is going to be at Camp Pendleton from the begining of June 2012 to the end of Dec 2012. Right now we live in San Diego and want to get out of the appartment we are living in. Since we figured it was only a 45 min drive up to Camp Pendleton, and we want to leave the place we are in anyway, we'd just move up there for that time. Idk, it might be a bad idea but he's been in School in TX for four months, and after Camp Pendleton is FL for 4 months and I'm just tired of being far from him. Plus we have the money to move.

ddsweety, well, that does make a lot more sense to me.  I thought it was just him.  That drive would be a long commute for him when he is able to come home.  I am assuming, since he has orders, it won't be a problem for him to break a lease.  My son had orders to Camp Pendleton for after FMTB but his wife was still stationed in San Diego so she had to pay to break her lease when they moved into Camp P housing.   

It would be a good idea to find out where his second class will be, as well, if it is for a significant period of time.  I know a lot of corpsmen live in Fallbrook but that is quite a drive from FMTB but closer to the hospital. 

Have you come up to Pendleton and taken a drive around this enormous base?  Everytime my son takes me for a scenic tour, I see something surprising.  The cows were probably the biggest surprise but the lush green golf course situated in a valley surrounded by browning shubbery was, too.   

I e-mailed my husband to see if he can get more information on where in the base he will be, so hopefully he can get that information sometime soon.

No I havn't been up to Camp Pendleton yet, but this weekend I'm hoping to make the trip :) Some of my friends don't want me to move up there so they tell me bad things about that area.... I hope it isn't so bad.

I think Camp Pendleton is a very nice base.  I grew up with the Air Force, lived in Army communities for many years as an adult, and now live in a Navy town.  I did not have high expectations of a Marine base and was very wrong.  Brand new MCX, new hospital being built, good commissary, very nice base housing (my husband and I would have been so excited to live somewhere like this when we first married so many years ago), great beach, lake with water sports, and much more.  This base is HUGE!  There is even a tiny Navy base attached to it.  Oceanside is a nice town.  Quite spread out.  Easy drive to lots of interesting places, including San Diego.  

Does anyone know if we (as family) can stay on the base any, when we go down to visit, or would you recommend staying elsewhere??

Hi all ....just wanted to say my son arrived at CP yesterday and got all situated. When he called he was "stoked" ....could not believe the base had a lake on it !!! He said people were swimming and fishing ..... also said the place was very close to the beach and could not wait to head that way !!! Not sure how things will all play out ...meaning do they start work this week or does it take time to get going?? Just curious!! 

kimberlydale - There is a lovely small lake on Camp Pendleton.  You can rent boats and camp there.  There is also a small mini golf course.  I don't know that I would go swimming in Lake O'Neil but I live in Florida so I stay away from most lakes.

The Pacific Ocean is about 6 or miles from the hospital but it is a very nice beach.  I love the view from the playground at the end of my son's street - Pacific Ocean to the west and mountains to the east.  There is just so much on this base.  Counted seven sleeping, black cows today.  I will never get over cows on the base. 

Hey navywifenewlywed! I messaged you.

Hello all! Our son got home from Afghanistan last Friday and we were at CP for the return! He had 96 hours liberty and I am still on a cloud! 

Regarding hotels at CP: There are a lot of places to stay in Oceanside, and there are also two hotels on the base. Where the corpsmen will have their FMTB graduation, you are closer if you stay at a hotel in Oceanside. However, if you want to stay on the base (I did, because I was traveling alone and just felt safer on the base) you can go to the CP website and get info. I stayed in Ward Lodge and I was right in the middle of things. My son had to go over and show his ID to prove that I was coming to stay for a legitimate purpose before they would confirm my reservation, but it was a very reasonable price, and nice place. It was on the other side of the base from FMTB graduation, but that didn't bother me.

Here is some info about lodging on Camp Pendleton.  The South Mesa Temporary Lodging Facility is closer than any off base hotel or the other on base hotel. 

When you drive through the main gate, you would turn left at the light to go to FMTB.  If you turn right at the light, Wire Mountain Road, you drive to the first stop sign, turn left on San Jacinto Rd, drive to the end of the street and you are at the lodge.  

I am assuming that making reservations is similar to making reservations on base at Great Lakes, that unless you are military affiliated or have paperwork saying you are attending a function on base, that your sailor would need to make the reservations for rates based on his rank. 

Hi Does anyone have a loved one going through FMTB graduating on the 29th of this month?

Hi everyone,

I don't know if there is an answer to this question but I am still struggling with getting accurate information on the training at camp pendleton. My SN, who is a reservist wants to pursue physical therapy. We know he probably wont get C school for it, being a reservist and all, but he wants to move into a PTA program.

They want to see what 'classes' he will be taking there and evaluate them for transfer, but heck if I can get any concrete information on how to find this info out!

Amac23, I have looked at the ACE Guide to see if there is any academic credit recommendation for FMTB but can't find any.  My son is going to check his transcript to see if any credit was awarded.  If anything is awarded, he doesn't think it would be significant. 

My son will at the graduation this month, picking up some of the graduates who will be assigned to his clinic.  He said he would be glad to speak to anyone with questions about what is ahead for their graduate.  He is an HM1 Independent Duty Corpsman and will be with another HM who has considerable experience with "green side."  Message me and I will give you his phone number.  

For family new to the Navy, you might not know about the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) that shows recommended college credit for military courses your sailor has taken.  Most colleges accept the ACE recommendation for college course equivalency. 

I personally find the ACE Guide NON user friendly so recommend that you ask your sailor to download a copy of his SMART to tell you what equivalent number of college credit he/she has already earned.  

I know there is a glitch in the system for corpsmen who have attended corpsman school in San Antonio and their credit recommendations may not show on their SMART.  The Navy and ACE are working on getting this corrected.       

Amac23, the answer to your question about FMTB credit is that ACE recommends 5 semester hours for Basic Emergency Care and 5 semester hours for Advanced Emergency Care.  

Proudmom and KathyCorpmanmom...my son will graduate that date also. 

My son is graduating that day too.

Kathy, no we are not able to come to the graduation.  I am absolutely sick about it, but we just can't afford it.  He's heading to Okinawa next, so I don't know when I'll get to see him again.  At least he was able to come home between A school and FMTB school.  Hope you have a great trip there!

Five graduates are going to Edson Range on Camp Pendleton.  Any of your young men going there? 

Kathy...sent a friend request.  Would love pictures if you are able! 

He showed us pictures of one guy's foot after their hike; it was nothing but a blister.  I feel for the guy!  Thanks to this site, I was able to get my son info on how to best take care of his feet and it worked.  He hasn't had any problems with them, not like some of the others.  He said next week will be a tough week, but he has loved every bit of this training. 

Hi All  My son and his friend sure could have used the info about blister prevention. These two young men along with all who serve are a testament to the fine young people serving our country! My son's feet are covered in blisters and his friend has one blister that is the size of a baseball!! They have been using their HM skills on one another and their blisters are healing!!

@docsmom Hi I think my son might be going there. I know he is staying at CP and he said 4 others went to same spot. with him. 

@docsmom  I think mine is going there.  He is staying at CP too.

Hi All.  My son is graduating from A school in San Antonio on 2 July and will be reporting to Camp Pendleton for FMTB on 16 July.  He is very excited and I am excited for him...and nervous.  Looking forward to learning all about this as we go along.  I am just happy he's on the West Coast because all of our family is on the West Coast!

My son graduates Friday too. Have not heard from him this week. Does anyone know if they get off after graduation?

The graduates who are reporting to jobs on Camp Pendleton might be picked up, taken to their clinic for a quick tour, and then checked into their barracks.

Thanks. Proud of all the graduates of FMTB!

DramaSoul...my son graduates tomorrow and he LOVED this training.  We're on the east coast, though.  Hope your son does well. 

Congrats to all the graduates tomorrow!

Great graduation ceremony.  Congratulations to all the "Docs"!

Kathy, Congratulations to the "Devil Doc"!!!!

Those pictures brought back fond memories of my "doc's" graduation at CP two years ago!

Son and daughter at graduation 6/29/12. Happy times.

Hi to All - we just got back from visiting our son at CP. This is the first year the "Navy" guys were asked to be a part of the 4th of July parade in downtown Oceanside. It was a gorgeous day and they looked amazing in there dress Whites  marching in formation!!!! 

We stayed for 4 nights in Carlsbad. If I could give any advice I would recommend this cute , quaint little beach town it was fantastic. A lot of little shops and eatery's - with a great view of the beach. Also beach combing/walking is user friendly:) 

We were able to tour the base and see where our son is living and working for now-(until FMTB starts) Then he took us to see where they move them too for this training. "Devil Doc" Hall. It is down closer to the beach (Del Mar) on base. What a great beach!!!!  Went shopping in the commissary with him and then to yogurtland for a treat. The base is quite LARGE.....I just thought I would throw all this out there so you can kind of get a picture of what things are like there for your sailors. 

Does anyone know anything about ricon(sp) corpsman and if so can you fill me in??

Thanks, Kathy!  Loved the pics you posted.  Where is your Devil Doc off to now?

Kathy...my son will be going to 29 Palms after FMTB! And he has been doing P90X while home so far.  Yeah he is really aware of not slacking off on PT.  As soon as he got the FMTB orders he started doing two-a-days while at Ft. Sam.  It is one of the reasons when he was asked to sing in the choir for graduation, he bowed out. He couldn't do everything he needed to do to complete the course work and add the extra PT as well as their duties and sing/rehearse with the choir.  He said there weren't quite enough hours in the day.

I will definitely make sure he orders the DVD.  We have the one from PIR which is just the ceremony and we have The Keel.  Again congrats on your son's accomplishment!!!

Kathy - congrats to your Sailor on graduation!! Also thanks for all the good info you share. I read most all posts from my phone but I don't like to respond from it ...so I just do a lot of creeping ;):)LOL 

Dramasoul - congrats on your Sailors corpsman grad and so glad to hear your trip was good. I agree with you about it being a worthwhile grad to attend. I hope you enjoy your time with him while he is home, it goes by so fast!! Sounds like he will be heading to work at the hospital where my son is? I am sure they will meet up. I did tell my son about meeting you - and told him your son would be there around the 16th - he wanted to know his name. 

Hi All.  Just heard from my Sailor.  He arrived on the 17th and has been doing hospital duty.  He is scheduled to move into "Devil Doc Hall" next week.  He was home for 14 day leave which went by VERY FAST.

Does anyone have the link to what they are doing in FMTB?

DramaSoul...glad to hear. He will have fun. He will be exhausted for awhile but he will have fun. My son has been at CP since January. Did his FMTB training and is now paired up with a Marine unit. It is an experience. Tell him to take care of his feet. Blisters are a BIG problem. My son got these socks that I cannot remember what the name of them are and he swore by them. I am sure someone else here remembers the name of the them. He said he got one blister and then got the socks and they helped a lot. No more blisters and dry feet at the end of the day. Enjoy the ride.

Thanks for the info.  I just sent him a box of things he needed (and forgot at home) including a lot of moleskin!  I will get the socks.  Any suggestion as to where to get them? I really appreciate all the good information!

I just ordered the fox river socks from amazon.   :)   

Kathy, I ordered the socks but my son told me he talked to someone and they said either sand or green! So I ordered two of each.

argggggggggggg.... time to order more socks. lol  live and learn.

momma3many...maybe he can use the brown ones as well.  My son got his info from one of the Marines.  Since they will be wearing marpat (the Marine patterned working uni's which have green, brown and tan in them) the brown may work. 

@drama.  he said "send it all" ha ha.  so i will.  Black and Sand.    If they aren't right maybe he'll love them and buy some for himself.  or ask for more.  that'll be fine.  :)     

wow.  I'm kinda nervous about this new school all of a sudden.   ha ha