Corpsman Moms

He said there were "a ton" of people, they walked up and got their envelopes and only two family members made it there at 6 am.  He said last night there would be a photographer, but I forgot to ask him this afternoon.

He left there and then went to Camp Bullis to teach his class, or whatever his assignment is this school go round.

AK, I will confirm a photographer when I have photos!!  Thanks to all of you for your support!

Hi, I'm new to this group.  Our son will be "choosing" orders (based on class ranking) Monday.  He has it narrowed down to three he's pretty excited about.  Any advice based on your son's/daughter's experience?

He's color-blind so there are lots of "fun" assignments he can't have.  What he's hoping for is attached to Riverines, Seabees, air wing (if he can), FM or hospital ship.  I have mixed feelings.  I want him to be challenged and feel fulfilled, but I fret a little too..... what a whiner!

eurekamom - Our son is also color blind and your right, he is limited in what he can do in the Navy!  However, that's not going to stop him for spending the next two years in Italy working at a small clinic outside of Naples.  His choices at Graduation were Hawaii, Japan, Italy, FMT, or Jacksonville, FL.  He was 9th to pick.  Currently he is finishing up FMTB at Camp P and will graduate this Thursday.  He comes home for the holiday and then heads to Italy on Dec. 27.  He plans on touring Europe as much as he can!! 

Cheryl - HC is a fourteen week course.  12 weeks of intense study and then two weeks of clinicals.  The FMTB is 8 weeks of hell!!  Just kidding - it's really not that bad.  The Marine's are very intense with their training of the next "Doc," but it's all part of being a corpsman.  Jamie said there were several Fleet Returnees in his A School class.  Sometimes it helps being a little more mature.  Jamie just turned 21 and still gets homesick, but he's enjoying everything.  While he's been at Camp Pendleton he has toured San Diego and Los Angeles.  He never would have done that had he not joined the Navy.

Eurekamom - it's very hard to cut those strings!  They will definately need moral support in A School.  It's a pretty advanced course that takes a lot of initiative and studying.  And on top of that, they have to keep their barracks spotless.  Which isn't the easiest thing to do when you have three or four Sailors sharing a space.  Jamie failed two room inspections the first month he was there.  Needless to say, he took the bull by the horns and made sure he passed from then on out. 

Hi all! My fiance is still in DEP but he got his job recently at MEPs. He wanted a mechanical job but hopefully this works out for him. Or at the least something else comes up.

Praying for all your sailors! Hope you can spare a pray for mine =)

Only four more days until we see our son!  Can't wait!

Good for you Eurekamom! Have a Merry, merry Christmas!!

Hi everyone! Haven't been on here for a long while.  My son came home for the Christmas holidays on Friday!!! I was so happy to see him. He looked wonderful. I haven't gotten to spend a full day with him but it will come; He was off to see his friends and today to see more friends and his dad.  He moved in with me before BC so at least I get to see him at night! I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas!

I just love hearing all about these sailors coming home!! Have a great holiday!!

Remember those in war zones this week...including those in the waters and boots down in Korea....any moms with kids in those areas, please feel free to stop by our group for those deployed in Iraq/Aghanistan...we welcome all of those with that knot in your stomach that comes from a child in a war zone. You are not alone.

Our son made it home last Thursday and will be with us through Christmas.  He just finished his FMTB training with the Marine's.  So glad that's over!!  This may be the last Christmas for us to spend together.  He leaves for Italy after the holidays and will work in a clinic in Naples (Capo) for a two year duty.

Hi everyone. I have a question about graduation from A school. My sailor said that he should be graduating either March 1st or 2nd. I read that it is about 1/2 an hour and I plan on attending.  What happens after graduation? Do they go back to their base or can they spend the day with us? Do they ship out to their next destination, which mine will go to San Antonio. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Hubby can't go with me to graduation so I'm going solo!

Hey, Linda, where and what will you son be doing in San Antonio?

Linda - My son's graduation ended around 11:00, but only becuase they had to be briefed on what to expect next.  He didn't get his orders for leave until two days after graduation, then it was a mad rush to get flights changed to return home.  He'd been gone since April and it was now October, so he was very anxious to come home for a visit.  Yep, that lasted about three days before he started missing his structured life!!!

Which C school is he going to in San Antonio?  I know Surgical is there.  Just wondering!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years everyone!

TexasDocMom,Pam-Corpsman Mom and JLC Corpsman Mom, sorry I haven't responded sooner. Just enjoying my sailor home with me!  He is going to San Antonio for Psych Tech training. I guess my question really is, when he graduates in March,does he get overnight liberty or does he have to stay at the base. I ask this because even though it's a couple of months away, I want to prepare for how long I need to stay. If he's going to leave the next day, I'll fly out then as well.  Thanks for all your help.

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Hi to All MOMS! :)

My son is in his last few weeks in Chicago in training then off to CA.  anybody have any advise for what I should expect during his time with the Marines out there! LOL

Nancy, the links above the discussion forum include links about FMTB and FMF. Be aware...FMTB is training. FMF is a classification and is earned while serving greenside, and not everyone gets it. My son has drilled that into my head, he lurks here occasionally and when he spots it, he tells me once again!

My son loved FMTB...after it was over...he went from my lanky sailor to a big man, hard legs from carring a 250 lb dead weight at a full run around for endless hours. Field corpsmen do live in somewhat of a no man's land...not Marine, not "real" Navy...but the Marines with my son on his first MEU handled the sailor that thought he could screw with their Doc because he wasn't a "real" sailor. He wouldn't give my son an email address to use onboard ship...only "real" Navy got those, he told my son. The Marines with him told the CO. He got an email address and a apology.

Most corpsmen coming out of A school take the FMTB course, enabling them to serve greenside with the Marines if needed. It's the training. If they go blueside, serving as corpsman in Navy facilities, they do not have the opportunity to earn the FMF classification (altho I'm assuming there are other classifications they earn...) Only corpsmen that serve with Marines EARN the FMF classification. Not all qualify for it.

"Being book- or street-smart alone isn’t enough to make it as an FMF corpsman. You have to be both because being with Marines means always thinking outside the box, way outside the box. " quote from the FMF web site posted above.

I have websites posted above about the FMF classifcation and FMTB training (both east and west coast sites). Please take a moment to read over them.

Someone asked me what my son did in the military and when I said "field corpsman" he almost choked...and said "Those guys are the toughest mofo's around"...that's the difference between a new corpsman and a FMF Doc. Battle experienced, tough sob's. It's hard to think of my sweet little blonde boy like that, but I've learned. He's a miltary professional, and he's a tough mofo. Who knew?

Hi TexasDocMom - thanks for the info. I did my reading as you suggested. This helped a ton!

So my son is assigned to Camp Lejeune, he will attend FMTB training, if he qualifies he will be assigned to a battalion, and if he does all of the qualifications earn the FMF classification?