Corpsman Moms

AKC - I literally just laughed out loud!!  I'm sure MA Navy sounds so much better than PA Navy! 

Welcome to the Corpsman Rate Cindy!  Does that mean your son will extend his contract?  I know my son said he was enlisted for 5 years because of the cost of Corpsman schooling.  Not sure how true that is.

Firemansmom - My son graduated A School at the end of September and two weeks before Grad the majority of Sailors had their orders changed to go to FMTB before going to their next duty station.  He chose blue over green, but knows that eventually he will be deployed with a Marine Unit.

Firemansmom, my son, who is also a reservist, told me that reservists go to the FTMB that is closest to thier home.  He is from AZ so he will be going to San Diego.

I can totally relate to your excitement. I am still sitting here asking myself, 'is that really my kid?'  My son, who received terrible grades in school and kept a messy room, passed his 7th Corpsman test yesterday!  He also passed his 3rd surprise room inspection.  He is studying his head off and is succeeding!  Several kids in his class have already been set back for failing grades, or kicked out for doing stupid things. I am still asking for tons of prayers for him, but I am starting to believe that he is going to be a Battlefield Medic!  His graduation date is March 22nd if all keeps going as well as it has been, and then he will go FMTB in San Diego.  That part, I am not worried about as he has been a disciplined wrestler his whole life, and has always admired the Marines in his life, (Grandpa, cousin etc.)

Thanks to all the Navyformoms, moms who have supported me through my worries!

I'm not the one to ask about graduations, the distance and my son prohibited us attending any but PIR. The one chance I had to do anything like that was when he was promoted a couple of months ago to E5, and the ceremony was at 6 am in San Antonio. He said 2 wives made it to the ceremony.

I do relate to sons who did not apply themselves in high school but excelled in the military. He did just what he needed to do to pass. Just pass. And that was to stay in the extra curricular activies, don't pass/don't play. But in corpsman school, I asked him about it. "you can't tell a bleeding Marine you didn't read that page."  I also think it's something about the military that makes each man want to know if he can do it. The challenge of doing what thousands have done before and be part of that team. I am glad that I talked to him about waiting those 2 years out of high school, getting that college and some more physical growth and emotional maturity under his belt. I hope I can be that successful with my grandson if he chooses this same path. I think it's important.

Jacqueline - My husband was the same - four years in the Army, but that was back in the '80s.  He, too, has said parent/family involvement is so different.  I really felt bad for him because he said he didn't get anything from his family while he was in bootcamp, school or Korea and he has a five brothers and sisters!!  So I have made it a point that my son will not feel that way and I may go broke sending packages every week or two, but I never want Jamie to think we forgot about him.  Technology is helping with that also.  Skype, cell phones - it has eased the transition for us.  I have to admit though that I miss my hugs! 

eurakamom - your mother was indeed a very wise women. 

It's amazing how our kids can surprise us!  Jamie didn't have a problem with high school, testing in A School or FMTB, but he is getting his butt kicked with his EMT class he's taking.  He's really had to buckle down and study.  Good luck to all!!

It's now on and off again...sometimes I get notifications of my own posts and sometimes I don't, and only from this group. Must be a glitchy day for Ning.

My son sent me the book Flags of our Fathers.  I have read the first couple of chapters and am amazed that a Corpsman was the only one that led a full life after the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima.  Very interesting book and I'll have to watch the movie soon.

http://www.flagsofourfathers.com/

Hi Salosbor...welcome...you might check with the moms in the group: A School Corpsman Mom Group for more information. First off, I don't remember! and second some things might be changing as the school moves from the Great Lakes to San Antonio. The women in that group are little more up on the details,I'm sure.

Feel free to take a look at all the links posted above for more information about the Hosptial Corpsman program, and how many different ways they serve with our Navy and our Marines. Welcome!

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2105870&spid=

My Sailor son just called me. So very sad. Send your Sailors love!

No words, blessings to the family of this young sailor and to those with he trained and served.

Such a sad and devastating story.  Prayers to the family..

My son just got to BC and he is hoping that his A school in SA. I hope he gets to go there because that would make him happy , the only thing is that we just moved to VA from TX !!!! ..

Interesting link....

METC Facebook page

Does GL have a METC site like the one on FB for SA? Thanks TexasDocMom

I have no idea, Regina, since they're going to be fully moved to San Antonio by Sept, maybe not.

 Snapshot - 19 Programs, 49 classes and 1179 students in session:

 Radiographer – 7 classes; 203 students
• BMET – 12 classes; 180 students
• Dental Lab - 4 classes; 26 students
• Pharmacy- 2 class; 99 students
• Dental Assistant- 5 classes; 94 students
...• ADV Dental Lab – 1 classes; 2 students
• Diagnostic Ultrasound – 1 class; 5 students
• Histopathology – 1 class; 12 Students
• Patient Admin - 1 class; 67 students
• Medical Laboratory – 3 class; 191 students
• Surgical Tech 2 class; 48 students
• Behavior Health – 3 classes; 136 students
• Cytotechnologist – 1 class; 12 students
• Respiratory – 1 class; 15 students
• Nuclear Med – 1 class; 14 students
• Nutrition & Diet Therapy – 1 class; 17 students
• Nutrition in Prevention – 1 class; 12 students
• Physical Therapy – 1 class; 36 students
• Electroneurodiagnostic – 1 class; 10 students

ty for sharing TexasDocMom! I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out! lol My son just started GL, his first class for HC was on Tuesday. At what point do they move onto the programs you listed?

If you check the links listed above, you'll find links on a lot of information that will answer most questions, please share any new ones you find! There is also a group on N4M for Moms with sailors in Corpsman A School, and a list of the C schools above, check them out! The A School group can answer all your questions I'm sure better than most of us, it's bee a while for many of us to have a corpsman in school, and things are changing rapidly with the move to San Antonio.

If you're  a member of the group of moms with kids deployed to Iraq and Afghan, please check the group, we have a mom with an injured corpsman on his way home. Support is critical and prayers and positive energy welcomed.

My son is in corpsman training at GL. There is a corpsman that was just injuried in Afganistan by an IED.  I don't know if they only send the ones that go through the MFW (I think thats what they call it. It's additioinal corpsman training with the Marines. I know when I was with my son last weekend he said he might have to go through that training which is 13 weeks.

Texasmom, please take some time and look through all the links above so you'll know what to expect. One aspect of being a Navy Corpsman is FMTB training, training with Marines to serve in battle areas and war zones as medics. FMF corpsman hold more honors and medals for bravery than any other single rank in the military for this work. Almost all Corpsmen will take this training, some never serve with the Marines (called going greenside), they serve in other areas with the Navy itself (called blueside).

My son was out with a Navy seal unit in the desert of Iraq once...you just never know.

Welcome!!