Camp Lejeune and FMTB-East Moms, Families and Friends

Camp Lejeune / Camp Johnson / Field Medical Training Battalion moms, family and friends - Welcome!  Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is home to more than 47,000 Marine and Sailors from around the world.  FMTB, the eight-week training course for corpsmen, is on Camp Johnson, adjacent to Camp Lejeune.  

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  • Margaret_ProudTexasMomof2Sailors

    Glenda, thank you for such wonderful information! I was so blessed today in that when I went to our local parade, I saw our local Blue Star Mom's group. They told me about when and where they meet. I need to join.
    Yes, my son is being assigned to a Marine Unit. He said that joining the Marines was the whole reason he joined the Navy! He wants to be deployed, but I don't!!! I am just so thankful for this site and for the Blue Star Moms! I need to be with other moms who understand why I will be fine one minute and holding back the tears of fear the next. My son checks in next Minday, so, after that I will ask all the details about which division he is assigned. Then I'll look for that groups to stay in the loop.
    Again, thank you for all the great advise!
  • mikes mom

    Its a good idea for him to have his car.. "M" had his . Its a HUGE Base . I have been there only once but have had two children there... I'm really confused .. Why is he going to a Marine base ?

  • Doreen(07/272)

    Closest airport is OAJ, in Jacksonville. It is less than twenty miles from CL. 

  • mikes mom

    Lori I am so confused I almost FB your son to ask him what is going on !? Green side ? What !

  • mikes mom

    Sweetie that's why I haven't and I wouldn't let him know I was just going to say "hey I hear your going to CL.. I would never let him know about our conversations

    : )

  • Doreen(07/272)

    Moms---question: my son is stationed at CL. I wanted to know if anyone knows if their address is their bldg number/room number or do they have a Box number?

    I want to send him a care package, and need to know how to send it.

  • Margaret_ProudTexasMomof2Sailors

    Doreen, thanks for asking. I was wondering the same thing. I did find out that my son is 3/2 India. His company is out in the field and won't be back until tomorrow. He has been reacquainted with many of his buddies from A school, so he feels better. He had been stationed in New Orleans for 2 years, so this is his first reassignment. He said checking in was rough. He had to be in his dress whites for two days. Now he has a bunk and some old buddies! What more does a man need?
    Again, thanks ladies for all your support!
  • Tamme

    If they are at CL for FMTB, be careful with the care package.  They have to do push-ups for them everytime they receive them.  My son said it was worth it though.  My daughter was so upset when she sent her brother two CD's of over 80 baby pictures when my grandson was born while our sn was in FMTB and they made him do 80 push-ups.  He said it's all part of the game but we were so worried. 

  • mikes mom

    The Baymount hotel its in the discussions it like on page two I think.. Tell the kids to drive safe and enjoy

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    lol here's the info on the Baymont Inn & Suites, scroll down to "For Attending FMTB graduation" - the link to the hotel is there; also car pass info and maps are there too - FMTB & Camp Lejeune/Camp Johnson info, links, where to stay

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Could be something great!  Fingers crossed he gets the orders he's hoping for.

  • mikes mom

    Wow Lori ! Hugs to you
  • sharonscar

    URGENT

    My corpsman needs direction.  He has a start date of today.  What building does he report to?  He is on base, but no one seems to know where is to report. 

  • mikes mom

    OMGosh this is his first day ??? Yikes.. Isn't there a main building that they ck into first the one right by the maim gate

  • vettespace

    sharonscar, Reception Center Bldg 60

    CampLejeuneMap.pdf

  • vettespace

    sharonscar, Actually it's Bldg 59 next door to 60...

  • vettespace

  • mikes mom

    Sir Vette to the recue : )

  • vettespace

    Hi Princess, I'd call my son to show him where to go but they'd probably end up at a bar and never make it to the reception center...LOL

  • mikes mom

    LOL

    My son left in May and is now in Washington State.. YAY!!!!

  • vettespace

    I know, I know...it must be such a hard adjustment for both you and him!  :-)

  • mikes mom

    : ) I have a big smile on my face .. Soon I will have all three of my kids in Washington : )

  • vettespace

    sharonscar, I got to thinking (scary) is your son checking into FMTB instead of the main base?  If so, here's the link to FMTB:

    http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/fmtbn-e/Pages/welcome_aboard/welc...

     

    It's a different check in location...

  • bpa1955

    Can anyone tell me anything abouty this FMT?  I heard it is pretty rough.....basically Marine Boot Camp!  Does anyone know if this is true?

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Field Medical Training Battalion - FMTB, or Field Med for short.  They receive advanced emergency medical training, small arms training, and learn basic battlefield tactics while becoming familiar with the basics of Marine Corps life.  It pays to be in good shape when you get there, as a new student can be held back a class if they fail the Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment by more than 3% or fail the initial physical fitness assessment.  If held back, they do Marine Corps PT three times a day, be put on a nutrition program, and risk having their next orders changed.  

    They start with five blocks of coursework before going into the field.  It's challenging, and they seem to like it!

  • bpa1955

    Thank you Marcy!  I feel better now.  You know how people can talk and make things worse.  Although it is still more than I expected, he is a grown man and I have every confidence in him to do great as he has so far.  I know we are suppose to let go at some point, I just have not figured out how!

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    They always need us for support and cheering on.  We also have the advantage of time - when they're too busy - i.e. fourteen weeks at FMTB - we can be researching their next duty station, looking after bank accounts, whatever.  Your sailor is going to enjoy (yes really) FMTB and be so proud at graduation.  Ask him how much mail he wants, as there are push-ups required to get mail :)  My son just laughed and said send it but I only sent a few things. Since they can make phone calls and have access to the base MEX and Jacksonville, they can buy what they like.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Hi all - posting this for "Grasshopper" in the Norfolk group.  Raleigh is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Jacksonville.   

    Hi Mom's & Wives!!  I need to ask you all a favor!  Any of you that have Sailors stationed in Norfolk and that are not on deployment, I'm looking for a Sailor to help with a fundraiser in Raleigh, NC.  Funds are for a charity called Active Heroes which is a group that helps Military Families that need financial assistance.  I worked with Troy Yocum in 2011 when he was walking across America and we did this event.  It's a Stand at Attention Competition and we have guys from each branch of the military compete to see who can stand the longest.  We did this last year at a local mall and raised right at $10,000.00 and were able to help 3 families that had lost everything in tornadoes that weeks earlier had torn through our area. 

    We have someone from Army, Marine and Air Force but I need a Navy representative now.  It will be on Sept. 15th in Raleigh.  We are having a Gala on Sept 14th also and would like the person to come as our honored guest to the Gala as well.  Just learned that one of the men from the movie/documentary Restrepo is going to be our Key Note Speaker.  This movie is intense but really shows what our guys in war go through!  Hard to watch as a Mom!  Anyway, last year the guys stood from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm.  They do get a 5 min break each hour and a 30 min break after 4 hours.  For the folks that came out to the mall it was a very emotional day!!  The guys were glad they had done it afterwards! 

    Please, if any of you have a Sailor that would be willing to help us out contact me immediately!  

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Hi everyone! My son arrived at Camp Lejeune on Labor Day weekend. He will start classes on 10/22 and is on holding until then. Wanted to get an idea what to expect. I checked the other posts but they do not seem that recent. Will he keep the same room he is in for holding when he starts training or will he get moved? Are there stores close enough to walk to or does he need to get a cab for things like food, laundry detergent, gym, ect? What will an average day be like? PT, work, liberty? Just trying to get an idea. Thanks

  • matt's mom

    Hi ! My son arrived at Camp Lejeune on Sept 5.He also will start training on 10/22.My son told me they will not keep the same room once they start training. They move to the otherside of the camp. He told me the stores from his room are pretty far away. He said there are cabs but they cost alot. he does have PT. Thats all I know. You know how guys can be I have to ask him a hundred questions and then he starts getting annoyed at me. He was home for 2 weeks after he graduated from San Antonio it was so wonderful to have him home. It was the first time he was home since he left for Boot Camp In February. He did tell me there was not much to do there especially without a car. The base is very big and the commisary was 6 miles away. He was able to catch a ride withe one of the other sailors who had a car.  He was also confused about his meals he thinks they have to pay for all their food. I hope not!!! I think it is a little strange for all of them since they are at a Marine Base.

  • mamawalrus

    Hi all.. my son is a CL guy since Feb.. can I help you all.. PM message me if you want or here,  and I will try and get your questions answered. 

  • mikes mom

    Welcome to the group
    Gosh its been a while for me my son was there for almost 4 years and just left last May : ) He is no longer greenside which (I just found out ) doesn't mean he won't get deployed : ( he can request and he has...
    CL is huge
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Matt's mom my son will start training 10/22 also. I was trying to get more info on what they can expect too. What their days will be like? Do they need a car while at CL? When does their day end? Will we still hear from them liker we do now? How do people get around if they don't have a car? My son said the taxi charged him $10.00 to get to MEX/Commisary and then 10 to get back! Can you PM with your last name? Would love to know if our sons know each other. Also how do they receive mail? I heard it takes forever for it to reach them

  • mamawalrus

    Car would be great as CL is huge. I went out there in March and was surprised. It is very vast.  My sons room was very far from the Main gate and far from the  MEX.  If they can get a car or bike it would help alot!  Plus many like to leave base and go into town. Plus there are many other places they go to.  My son would hitch a ride with some of his new Marine buddies from time to time but he hated asking for rides.  Most of his rides were to Walmart when his roommate went so he could stock up on food for his room to microwave and water. His roommate was a nice young Marine as well so they got along well.  Now in training are you talking about FMTB? 

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Mamawalrus thanks for the great info! Yes FMTB. He is rooming with a Navy guy now who is stationed in NC at CL. His unit is getting deployed do he is leaving soon and will be replaced by someone else. My son doesn't start training until 10/22. Right now he is working in sick hall and does PT. He wants to make sure he will be ready when trying starts. He thinks the room he is in now may just be for holding and he will get moved when training starts. Do you know if the new room he gets is any different from the room they get when they ate in holding? Will they get weekend liberty like they did in SA? What do they do for FMTB training? Sorry this is long just want an insight as to what he will be getting into. And thanks again
  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Once their class begins, to say they'll be busy academically and physically right up until graduation is an understatement.  Take advantage of the FMTB-East website to see what they'll be doing.  To get to town or the MEX occasionally they share taxis or ride with friends (my sailor had his own car and many others have theirs, too).  Weekends are spent on study and rest.  Know that their needs are met re food etc; they will be living communally; and the time races by.  After graduation they head for the airport or drive to their next location immediately.  They get their mail regularly, but don't overload them.  This is the real start of serious, hard training.  Yes they can use their phones and laptops, but you may not hear from them much because the demands are great.  Trust that they are meeting the challenges with their peers and allow them this - it's an intense program. 

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    To learn about FMTB at Camp Johnson/Camp Lejeune, go to this site: FMTB-East official website, click on "About" then "Welcome" in the drop down menu and keep reading the info in the subsequent links.  The website has photos, too.  

    More info in this discussion about Field Med and attending graduation:  http://www.navyformoms.com/group/CampLegueneMoms/forum/topics/fmtb-...

    This video gives a sense of FMTB -  

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Marcy I went on Foxsox.com and they have several styles. Which ones do you recommend? 

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Marcy also thanks for posting that video

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Katze -Stryker, Maximum and Fatigue Fighter styles from Fox are popular.  My corpsman buys his socks from the NEX (well, that would be the MEX at CL) which has a pretty good range of boot socks.  They can buy online from the NEX as well at https://www.mynavyexchange.com

  • mamawalrus

    Katze...FMTB is actually in Camp Johnson I believe and not directly at CL.  My sons duty station is not CL but Cherry Point which is about 45 min away. When he finished FMTB he went to CP until they needed him at CL to prepare for deployment. He had his room at CL for quite awhile until he left.  His roommates were Marines for some reason but he did not mind. As Marcy stated.. they will have plenty to do in FMTB and lots to study. They do generally have fun though and make new friends.  Why dont you PM me 

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Thanks Marcy. I want to get them for him as stocking stuffers
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Mamawalrus I just sent you a friend request and will pm u when accepted
  • Vipergirl

    Hi. I am new to this group. My son is graduating from FMTB at Camp P on Thurs and will be stationed at Camp Lejune with the 2nd Medical Battalion.

  • Vipergirl

    Mamawalrus, I also sent you a friend request. I would appreciate some information on having a sailor stationed at CL. Thanks
  • mamawalrus

    Viper and Katz.. got the request.. :)))

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

  • jennyemt713

    My daughter is a Hospital Corpsman and is heading to Camp Lejeune this coming week.

  • Tamme

    My son is a HC as well and is presently at Lejeune training with a Marine team for deployment.  He was previously there this year for FMTB.

  • Cathy...Corpmen Roxy's Mom

    Jennyemt713, it's so good to see someone else with a daughter at Camp Lejeune.  My daughter probably arrived about the same time yours did and will start FMTB in January.