Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

My son is soooo looking forward to starting.  He has had some martial arts training so I am guessing he will like landing on the sand instead of a cement floor covered with a mat!  They move into Devil Doc Hall tomorrow!!!

momma2....he will love the socks from what I have heard!

Thought I would share a giggle.  My son said he is in a holding company or as they call it PSI.  I thought pounds per square inch, right? Nope. In Navy-speak, PSI is Pre-School Instruction.  I thought he had been outta preschool for about 19 years that I know of...apparently not!!

Gettin' nervous...they are moving into Devil Doc Hall as I write.  I was just looking at all the requirements.  Whew.  Why am I so nervous? HE'S the one who has to do all of that!

Hi Ladies!  Just wanted to introduce myself...My husband graduated HM School a way's back on May 07th with class 080.  He's been on hold since then working in the ER at Camp Pendleton's Naval Hospital.  Whew, this has been a long and bumpy road!  Well, hello to all from Philly.  Hoping to get some useful info along the way, from what I hear these next two months are going to be worse than boot camp.  Hmmm, curious to know if I can make some cookies for these guys?  I know when they were in Great Lakes, that was a BIG NO NO.  Anywho, my husband just called to let me know that he and his whole class are moved into Devil Doc Hall.  He said they'll be doing actual assignments for their racks on Monday.  He also did say, that the yelling has begun!  Lol. 

Also! Wanted to add another quick question!!!  How soon is too soon to order plane tickets to their graduation this September??  Since it will be me and his sister and we're flying from Philadelphia I wanted to make travel arrangements soon due to the prices only going up!  Any info would be lovely!  Thanks Ladies!

Hi MarissaLeigh! I was looking at those flights myself last night.  My son confirmed that graduation is September 28th.  I haven't booked a flight or hotel or car yet but I think that is on the agenda for this week. 

Good question about the cookies! I am hoping to actually SPEAK to my son (instead of TEXT!) tonight so I will find out if we can send them things like that.

I am in the Great Northwest so hello from there!

I actually SPOKE with my son tonight!

They have moved into Devil Doc Hall (rack assignments to follow on Monday as MarissaLeigh said). And yes, the yelling has begun. As far as I can tell, it's okay to send cookies. 

He is excited to get started with this phase of training.  It was just soooo great to talk with him.  I feel like boot camp all over again when we got those rare phone calls or letters!

Kathy...I found out about sending him something when he requested I sent him a couple of things he forgot at home on leave.  I sent it on the 20th. It's been sitting at the base post office and should get to him sometime next week he was told.  I did send it with a confirmation number so that it could be tracked!  We only had a PO box number so I couldn't send it via FedEx.  Hopefully later this weekend he will text me his address at Devil Doc Hall.

I am most likely going to book my flight with Southwest.  They do not charge for a change in flight.  I had an awful time with US Air when I had to change my flight home from SA.  They were going to charge me a large fee plus the change in what the fare would've been.  I explained that it was due to a change in my son's orders. They said they would forgo the fee one time and I needed to bring a copy of his orders with me when I checked in on the flight home.  I went through all of that and brought the orders...which I didn't need! Soooo...gonna go with Southwest this time!

Alright Ladies!  Day ONE of FMTB!!!  WoooooHooooo!  I got a text from Andy this morning at 6:30am my time, so it was 3:30am his time...Yikes that's early!!!  He talked to his brother last night pretty late but said he was the Corpsman for his Platoon..uhm, aren't they all Corpsmen???  Lol.  If anyone can shed light on that, that would be most wonderful.  I'm so nervous, it really does feel like Great Lakes all over again!  Good to know about sending stuff like baked goods.  I was going to make candied bacon, I guess I wont be sending that now, lol.  I booked my trip over the weekend through Priceline.  Like Great Lakes, I made sure that the tickets were refundable.  Not a bad deal though, with the car, hotel, and flight it came out to less than $500.00. 

My hopes and prayers are with these guys, they're going to need it.  I know Andy was excited to begin FMTB, I'm excited that he's excited but my nerves are a wreck!  I can't wait to hear from him again and from everything I've read there will be days that we don't talk to each other.  I know, that this is prepping us for the possibility of him being deployed...which makes me that much crazier!  Gah!  When I talk to him tonight, I'll send an update on here.  If anyone else hears anything, please do the same. 

Well, I am sitting in a Starbucks in San Antonio getting some work done before my husbands graduation tomorrow morning, and then he is onto Pendleton.

I am a little confused after reading some of the below comments. His orders state that his classes wont start until Nov, so he will be working in a hospital there for a few months. Pendleton is about 2 hours away from our home. (Thank you Jesus!)

I keep reading that it's like GL. Is this because it's very demanding or is it TRULY like bootcamp? I am wondering for Liberty sake. We planned a little get together for him but maybe he wont make it now!?

Amac23:  When I spoke to him about Liberty for FMTB, they are currently at Phase II.  They will have to earn their phases, just like San Antonio.  The activities and PT are just like Boot Camp, actually I heard it was worse than Great Lakes.

If he's on holding until November, when were you planning the get together?  While on holding, Andy took leave to Philly twice.  Once was for a week and the other was for 11 days.  I'm sure your hubby has accrued Leave, so if you're planning anything I would recommend that you do it before his FMTB starts.

Hope this helps.  : )

Marissa...where did you find that price for airfare/car/hotel???  And can you change the flight if you have to without any fees?  

First day of FMTB!! Waiting to hear from my son about rack assignments and an address to which I can send the socks. I am sure PT is a lot harder than at GLRTC.  My son was kinda disappointed (?!) in the PT at boot camp.  He thought it wasn't hard enough.  Don't think he will be saying that now...

Thanks, MarissaLeigh!  I haven't talked to my son since last Friday night.  He is in Platoon 1.  I will check out Priceline. I know there is some place to stay on the base, I think.  I will look into that as well.  If you need to change your flight, is there a penalty or fee? 

It makes sense they're in Phase 1 since they have officially started FMTB.

Hi ladies!  My son started the other day also.  He's in Platoon 1.  I look forward to learning about everyone and their sons.....and their days.  My oldest has been in since 2007 and is HM3.  I also have a younger son that is PO3 and is an aircrew rescue swimmer stationed in Norfolk with a special operations squadron.  My sons are third generation Navy.  Hooyah!

TexasMomof2...my son is in Platoon 1 as well!  I talked with him today.  He was on the beach helping out with a triathlon.  He is excited that next week MCMAP begins next week. 

DramaSoul, hi there!  Which squadron is he in?  I need to ask my son which one he's in.....I think there's 4 squadrons in each Platoon.  Your son was on the beach huh?  San Diego is so pretty!

Hi All! Quick question: does anyone know the contact information for the pay office? There are some questions about my husbands pay check (is it normally for them to deduct 600-800/ mo for meal?) and I dont know who to contact, and he is never out in time to make it to an open office...

No- this charge has been on every check..they are also taking out double child support :/ I am just not sure who to get in touch with...

Hi All...I am looking into hotels for the graduation on 28 Sept.  I thought there was something on the base.  I have to arrive on the 26th because the 27th is a Jewish holiday and I don't want to travel on that day.  Also, I am staying through the 1st.  Any ideas?

PO3 Clayton Beauchamp is the younger brother of another corpsman, Chris, who was in Afghanistan with him.  Chris is good friends with my son who is currently at Camp Pendleton in training and my son's heart is broken as he has spent time with the Beauchamp family and had met Clayton.  Chris has escorted Clayton back home.  There aren't funeral arrangements yet but when they're arranged, I will post.

Lots of prayers are needed for the family.

TexasMom...When I read it on Thursday I was heartbroken. I haven't spoken with my son about this yet.  Sending lots of prayers for his family.

Hi Everyone!!  I am new to this group and have a few questions.  My son is currently stationed in Guam but will be leaving there in the end of March. He has to report for duty no later than April 27th for FMTB training @ Camp Pendleton.  Is there a graduation ceremony like there was for Basic? Do family members attend? I wasn't able to attend his A-School graduation, so I would like to go to thisone if possible. Any information on FMTB would be appreciated. Thanks:)

Kathy...I am beginning to get excited since in a month I will be going to graduation!! Guessing it will be warm.  Since they are not in dress uniforms, I won't be getting quite as dressed up as I did for his other graduations...

Hey there - just curious how the guys sent this pic to you?? cell phone or what?

That picture did turn out rather odd putting it on here... My husband took my camera to their first field days. He took tons of pictures. He didn't send them to me. I have the camera card and all the pictures are on my computer.

ddsweety ....  I think it is a great picture. I was just wondering if they could have cameras while they were out there, for some reason I didn't think they could.  It is awesome that  he has pics/memories from all of this!! Thanks for sharing ;))))

Thanks! I don't know if they are allowed to have camera or not. It probably isn't very safe for the cameras to go on trips like that. I know they aren't supposed to have their cell phones.

I asked this over at the FMF Corpsman page and probably should've asked it here.  I sent my son those Fox River Mills socks 5-6 weeks ago.  They arrived within 3 days of me sending them.  He still doesn't have them because training doesn't end until the post office closes.  Is there a post office PO who can pick these things up for them?  I have a confirmation/tracking number (as does my son).  Normally they would've been sent back to me when they weren't picked up after 2 notices were left.  However, my post office informed me that the military NEVER sends anything back.  Are these 4 pair of socks ever going to get to my son?  Is there anything I can do about it?  Just wondered.  I haven't even sent him a letter because I don't trust that he will get it.

Hi everyone! My husband graduated A school in A a few months ago and has been working in hospital on pendleton waiting for FMTB to start. He officially starts FMTB tomorrow. I am feeling a little lost again, like I did when he first went into bootcamp! How will this experience differ from GL for us? Just as intense? More? Does he lose all contact with me again? Sorry for the newbie questions, but I never get some perusing time around here!

Hey Amac23! My husband graduated FMTB a couple of weeks ago, now he is in the BRC program. Don't stress about this, like Kathy said, you get most weekends and nights to chat on the phone. There are some times you won't be able to talk after work but it isn't like bootcamp. If you want to message me and just talk about whatever go ahead :-) School might be harder for him but sunday nights are study nights for them usually.

Thanks, ladies! Pendleton is an hour and a half away from me so it's nice to know I may be able to see him at some point. I appreciate the input.

By chance, are either of your sailors reservists? My husband is a reservist and I am having the hardest time getting some real answers about what his options may be when he is done.

Amac23 - Yeah I live in right by the base and we spent every weekend together unless he had duty. Nope, my sailor isn't reserve. Good luck with your other questions about it.

My son is also there.  He originally thought graduation was Friday the 14th but informed me last week that it is actually Thursday the 13th.  He's looking into hotels for us.  We're driving down from Salt Lake City.

NormaH, there often isn't a rhyme nor reason, that we are aware of, to what happens.  The Navy will assign our Sailors to where they are needed. The barracks apparently needed work; hence, moving a group of them. 

TexasMomof2....I agree...no rhyme or reason!  The lesson I am continually learning is to just go with the flow (not MY style at all!!!).  My son absolutely LOVES the Navy.  It brings a smile to my face because of the lessons I am learning as a result of his choices. LOL!!

Does anyone have any 12/13 grad info? I still don't know what time it is, or if we need to submit a guest list, etc. Maybe no one knows. And maybe my husband is just not a details person ;)

Amac23...   I asked my son about the time just last night.  He said it would be between 1000 and 1300, so he expects it to start around 1100 (of course, he isn't a details person either, so take that with a grain of salt.)  Also, he said there is no guest list and no limit to the number of guests he can have.  I tried to look at the FMTB West website, but it no longer seems to exist.  I have a call into the FMTB Public Affairs office to get the correct time and other info., so I'll let you know once I hear back.

Well, I did get some answers. I was told 9am on the 13th and its open invite, but I am not sure exactly where on base it is. And it's a big base! 

Amac, it is absolutely a breeze to get there.  Come in main gate, turn left at light (right after you come in gate), and follow signs to the school house (think signs will say FMTB graduation or something like that). 

Congrats to your loved one on graduating this physically tough course.