Corpsman Moms

Thanks everyone...He got his papers officially yesterday,,, he will be leaving GL April 22nd.  Thankfully he didnt have to wait around to long and was thankful the job was open the day he went it. He is transferring over from  Spec Opps, he said his heart was not into that as much as he thought and HM was actually his first job before he re-did contract with the Spec Opps so his heart brought him back to where he started. I told him the path he took was all for a reason and him being on that path, validated his desire for HM even more.  

 So does everyone have 14 weeks of A school and 8 weeks of FMTB?  

Hi Ladies,I am new to this page. My son is in BC right now. I was wondering if any of you know where they ussually send corpsmen after A school. Or what happens after A school. Like I said I am really new at all this. I've never had anyone in the military in my family before now. He is my only child and I am just trying to get used to all this. I figured  ya'll have been where I am right now and could maybe help me. I dont know  what the steps are for him.

Any help would be great.

Thank all of you ..

KellyinKaty

Hi, Kelly! welcome! Please take a moment to look over the links posted above, we've tried to post other groups, or links to the different programs and information about corpsman. There is an A School mom's group, and you might find more up to date information about what is happening directly out of A school right now. My son (and most corpsman) will go to FMTB, which prepares them for serving with the Marines (known as going greenside). It does not necessarily mean that will be their course of action, but most corpsmen are prepared to be able to be called up if necessary.

Tamme, we all appreciate the corpsman who gave you a list of items needed and certainly his service. I have to emphasize that the USPS and the US military will not allow a package to enter a military installation with a generic address on it. It has to have the name of a person stationed there who will take responsiblity for it's content. It is a basic OPSEC reg....safety first for all at that base. They are very security conscious, it keeps our guys safe. That is why websites like anysailor.com, anysoldier.com, anymarine.com came into being, to help moms like us find the people to send packages where they are needed. I can't afford to pack a package that won't make it to one of the many hospitals and/or bases in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Texasdocmom, Thank you for the info. What is FMTB? All this new lingo.. And I will join A school moms. I just have so much to learn about. I feel clueless...But, being on here really helps a lot!

Thank you for the info..

Kelly

"Friends and family can create a free Rocketlife 20-page (60 photo), cargo-pocket size personal photo book and the USO ships it to any APO, FPO or MPO address, all for free" ~
http://www.uso.org/uso_rocketlife_photo_books.aspx
or go directly to http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com

Does everyone got to FMTB? Do you mean they get to pick east or west? and how long is FMTB?

Please understand when the Navy says "pick"...it's based on the needs of the Navy first...then the Corpsman. It's not literally a enlisted man "picks" his areas/schools, whatever. It sound good, but it's the military and they make the final call. And things change pretty often, and quickly.

A majority of corpsmen go to FMTB. I forget how long it is, I'm sure it's up in the links posted above...please look there!

Texasdocmom, Oh, ok. So It's A school then more schooling. I hear that most Corpsmen go to Afghanistan, is that true?

Welcome Kelly in Katy!!  My son has only been in the Navy for 11 months and I have learned so much that it makes my head spin sometimes!!  Once your son graduates bootcamp, he will then report to his A school - but as of right now, it's in the air whether they stay at Great Lakes for A School or go to San Antonio.  They are closing GL Corpsman A School, but the exact date that happens is unknown.  I've seen chatter on the A School Group that most in bootcamp right now are getting their orders to San Antonio.  A School is a total of 14 weeks.  Some go on to a C School after that, but some will go directly to FMTB, and again, some may go to their duty station and attend FMTB at a later date!  As TDM says, it depends on the needs of the Navy.  I can tell you that when it came time to "pick" orders, my son was "given" options of where he could go.  Those that had families or dependants could not go overseas for their first duty station.

Here's the link to the A School Group:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/sailorsinaschoolforcorpsmen

TexasDocMom:  If you ever decide to run for office, please let me know.  You've got my vote!

Yes this is a lot to learn.. And Thank you all for the info. I need to learn the lingo on here. I understand better now what to expect. Kind of..:)

I sure miss my son..He's my only child.. Today just seems harder..depressing..

O'well, keep keepin on...

I hope all you have a great day !

Kelly

Ladies, please take advantage of the links above, there is one from METC San Antonio, with a comment I posted from John. The METC will have the most up to date and accurate information about classes forming for Corpsman's A School.

As of 4/17, all Corpsman A School will be in San Antonio, and there are some classes there now.

The Navy makes the decisions. If they foresee the need of greenside corpsmen, FMTB is not a choice. Women corpsmen do take FMTB. One of our moms has a daughter who has been an instructor at GL for the last few years, with the closing of the school there, she took FMTB out of A school and now leaves to serve with a Marine unit out of CA, then will be deployed to Afghanistan. There is an all women Marine unit in Afghanistan, as well as all women Army units. They work with the Afghani women inbetween their other duties. Marines deploy women in their battalions, if they don't discriminate in their own ranks, I'm sure they don't in corpsman.

The one thing I learned about recruiters during my son's experience and from other stories on Navy For Moms is that they can't be trusted any further than you can throw them.

I do get them impression that to move up in the ranks past E5, a corpsman generally has FMTB and earned his/her FMF qualification.

Again, it all depends on the needs of the Navy, there are no guarantees, there are some times your wishes might be considered (if you're good at what you do and they want to keep you) but what might happen with one sailor/corpsman might not happen with another.

Toriimarie, first of all a "Navy" deployment depends on where/what the job is... corpsman, seabee, IA corpsman( serve with Army/air force), whatever. The woman corpsman going to Afghan I spoke about is going to be gone about 11 months in her job. Marines serve 7 months generally so of course their corpsme do as well. I know an IT Navy sailor going for 8 months. Depends on the needs of the miltitary.

And yes, when you sign that dotted line, there are no guarantees about where you will be sent. They will expect you to have thought that out and figured out care for your children. The US Military is not a "mom job." Every single sailor/soldier/marine/airman can and probably will be asked to be a warrior. When you are a greenside corpsman, you train as a Marine. The training for all of these jobs is intense and long hours, no home life to speak of during training. If that recruiter is promoting this as a "mom job" as you call it, someone needs to kick his butt.

Please explain to me why a "single guy or gal" should be expected to lay their lives on the line over a "mother of two"? They all sign the same dotted line, get the same money to do the same job. Plenty of parents over in Afghanistan, including dads and moms of children.

When we went to my son's PIR, we met a female corpsman, her husband was an instuctor for the A School. She had been in Iraq twice, they were just then starting to live together as she had left the Navy, they had been married several years, but never stationed together. Great lady. She invited my son to their home for Thanksgiving that year.

There are plenty of female Corpsman, just maybe not as many with people on this forum.  If I've learned anything in the last year of my son being in the Navy, it's you have to be very flexible.  Looking on the bright side Toriimarie, there are thousands of females in the military that have families and are able to juggle the job and the kids.  I'm sure it's hard, but its part of being in the military just as it is being in the civilian world.  I have a four year old that I've constantly had to shuffle my schedule around for the last couple of years!  Frustrating I know.  Good luck to you and I hope you find the right fit for you. 

My son "officially" started in his clinic in Italy on Monday and had the greatest week!  He will rotate working at the clinic and the main hospital, but right now it's 8-4 Monday through Friday.  

I would love to be more encouraging, but I cannot, Torriemarie. I was raised in a Navy family. My older brothers never went to the same school more than two  years in a row, we were all born 6 years apart on different NAS bases. I was a single parent, non military, and it was tough enough working a "mom's job" to be there for all the school activities, sports, etc without the demands of the US Military on me as well. My son tells me I won't have any more grandkids until after he's out of the Navy, because the military life is too hard on families and marriages. The only way I see single parents making it in the military is if they have family that can safely take on the full time job of raising that single parent's children and provide a safe, supportive loving home while that single parent is in a full time military career with it's own pressures and problems, a lot of stress.

I agree with John, this is not for anyone who puts being a mom over their military career...there is nothing wrong with that, being a good mom is VERY important...but the military may not be the place for that to happen. Good luck with your decision....

toriimarie:  I was raised in an Army family.  We moved almost as often as a Navy family moves.  We went where the Army sent my dad.  The Army did not, and the Navy will not make distinctions as to what your own personal situation may be.  That is not their concern.  And it should not be their concern.  If you sign a contract to do a job, you are making a personal commitment.  Your argument sounds a lot like "a man should make more for doing this job than what we'd have to pay a woman, because he has to support a family."  As you may know, Walmart is in quite a lot of trouble right now because of some (and I know it hasn't gone to trial yet) people spouting that theory.  Once you join, you are the same as every single other sailor signing up.  You will not get preferential treatment (which is what you are asking for) and should not.  Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the Navy has an old adage, "if they wanted you to have a wife, you would have been issued on with your seabag."  Of course that was back in the day when only men were in the Navy, but to the Department of Defense, a sailor is a sailor. 

I should also point out that I LOVED being an Army brat.  My parents made every move exciting and fun.  As soon as we got to a new base or post, we would scout out the library, the schools, the playgrounds.  I was a shy child in the beginning but quickly learned that if I didn't speak up to make new friends, I wouldn't have any!  This was a strength which has served me well.  I also bless my mother daily for being such a strong woman.  She truly made our home (wherever it was) truly a home. She dealt with arctic temperatures, jungle climates, big cities and rural areas.  She learned to drive on the "wrong side of the road" and most importantly, taught us that we were a family unit.  To this day, I actually feel a little sorry for people who grow up in one town, go to school there, marry and stay in one place.  When I watch the news at night, I can feel a little connection with almost every continent, for one reason or another. 

The military life is unique.  The benefits, enrichments and joys are fabulous.  The challenges and stresses are real.  It is nothing like "Survivor."  It is not for everyone, and I hope you will think realistically before making a commitment.  Good luck!

My dad retired when I was two, so we moved from Newfoundland back to their favorite station, Corpus Christi...so while I did not have the travel, I did grow up in a Navy town...as a Navy dependent. The diversity in the Navy community is amazing, from all locations in the US, different traditions, educations, races ....really a learning situation, just going into the homes of friends and seeing where that family had traveled.

I want every single recruit, every single corpsman, every single sailor/soldier/marine to have the commitment to the job that my dad had, that my brother had, that my son has...because there can come a situation where it is just too dangerous for everyone if one person is not 100% focused and committed to the job. It is not for everyone, Plain and simple. It's a hard job. But I know those chiefs figure out who can and can't and move those that can't out...I have faith in that system, seen it work many, many times.

I just deleted my other posts because apparently they were too easy to misinterpret. Yes, I realize it's the needs of the Navy over all else. I already signed my contract, and yes I know what a huge responsibility I've taken on. I do feel I joined for the right reasons. My husband's unemployment ran out and he can't find a job and I can't support the two of us as well as our two children on my $2.65 an hour waitressing job. We need the money, we need the benefits, we need to get out of Michigan. I want to see more of this world than Mid-Michigan and I want the same for my children. I hope my children will look at their childhood the same as Eurekamom!

I realize that the military is hard on families, however so is struggling with low income and having to depend on welfare. Which would you prefer? I'm trying to be the best mom I can be and I know I can balance that while being the best sailor I can be! My only concern was missing huge chunks of my daughter's first years and the possibility of being sent to a war zone where I may never make it home. My apologies if I'm not allowed, I didn't realize.

I appreciate MOST of the input, and I suppose I'll find out the rest for myself soon enough! :)

The Navy "voluntells" for you...ha!

Toriimarie, we all wish you the best, but you came here for advice and that's what we gave...if it's not what you want to hear, we can't help that. I thought from your posts that you were a single parent, so with Dad around, perhaps you won't have to worry so much about your kids as we thought. Good luck to you.

Deborah, who the heck knows? I hear some places that people aren't being moved because of economic reasons, I hope that's true, because right now my son is safe and sound in the  US as an instructor. That works for me. Maybe not for him, but really, moms matter, too....

I probably should hunt down some of the links I've read and we've shared in the past about the proud history of the Navy Corpsman and their link to the Marines. I'll try to get that done in the next few days, because as you new moms come on board, we forget to share with you the depth of that relationship and how important it is. Navy Corpsmen are the most highly decorated rank in the military because of the their jobs and how well they do them. They save lives, and they do it every day. They are very well trained medics, and professionals at it...and they, as they earn the FMF qualification while serving greenside with a Marine unit, become very well trained Marines as well. Sometimes it seems like they walk in a no man's land between Marine and Navy, but they are one of the most respected members of the US military, bar none.

Early on on this board, a corpsman's wife shared a story...she was at some demo at a Marine base, with Army soldiers there to participate. They had one of those things of ropes, where the soldier/marine crawls under it for a long way, I forget exactly what it was. Well, a couple of soldiers get stuck out there in the middle, with an injury, and holler "medic"...that Army medic gets out there and hollers for another medic...and that medic got out there and took one look and stared yelling "CORPSMAN!" Just took one corpsman to get the guy out. (I have no idea if that is true or not...but that's the story!).

When my son went in as Corpsman, his best friend, a young Marine who grew up in Scouts with him and whose family lives across the street, called me to tell me not to worry..."don't worry, Mrs H, 200,000 Marines will take a bullet for the Doc"...I didn't know how to explain to him that either one of them "taking a bullet" wasn't an option for me...one of my first times of spontaneous tears. That young Marine is now a soccer high school coach in PA, married to a smart young lady sailor, now a recruiter.

My son was called up early for FMTB when he first went to Lajuene, to fill a class. I have to tell you, he loved that training...it was hard, but he LOVED it. A lot of it is picking up 250 lbs of dead weight and running as hard as they can...their thighs will be huge! My long lanky kid is now pretty solid. They learn the difference between hospital techniques (establish breathing first for example) and military techniques (stop the bleeding, pick them up and run). This is over simplification...so don't quote me here. He'd call to tell me he was just like his grandma..my mom, the nurse for 50 years and so expert at hitting veins, the hospital would call her in for tiny babies on her days off...."I hit 6 times in a helicopter!" so excited! "we had 14 guys go down in the heat, it was great!"...what?? Learning to do the job and doing the job and then getting really good at the job is their life now.

All we can do is sit home and be proud. And somewhat scared at times. We have a group for moms with kids deployed to Afghan and Iraq. We hope you never have to join us, but if you do, you'll find one tough group of folks...even if we start out as quivering masses of nerves. You are not walking this path alone.

Texas - you are really something great! Thanks for your kind, wonderful, tough words of guidance and encouragment. :)

Tonimarie, good luck with your choice to join the Navy.  I live in Michigan too and have kids who are young adults and understand your situation.  Sort of feel like some of the group was llittle hard on you.  The Navy won't be easy but they do work with families, everyone has to make some hard choices sometime.  It would bother me more if you weren't concerned about the needs of your family during your journey thru this.  Lots of luck, I wish you all the best and it won't always be easy but stick with it and I think you will find happiness with your choice.

One of moms (with experience with two kids with mulitple deployments) has started this group this week...I'll be posting on it as I get my stuff organized, but it's for families facing the "leaving the miltitary" transisiton and heading into civilian life....please share and feel free to post links, etc....

Transistions Group Link

Hi Ladies, I have a question hopefully you can help. My son graduates bc in May.Can you tell me how long we get to spend with them. I know about the grad n go. But, I dont think he'll be doing that. So, if  he's not gradngo,do we get just Friday or more time? I am wanting to book my hotel but not sure of what size of room.

Thank you...

Kelly in Katy - If he's not grad n go then he will more than likely have the weekend with you, but you may have to have him back to base every night by 8:00 p.m.  That's how it was with my son.  Have you heard if he is going to San Antonio for A School?  That could mean if they don't send him early Saturday morning, that he could be sent at any time. 

There is a ceremony for grad of A school, I didn't go, it was too far to go again so soon after PIR. My son said he was headed out right after so it wouldn't have been worth it for no time with him. Check the A School Group link above, probably those moms are more up to date about graduation, etc.

This is a horror, both the young corpsman and his sargeant killed by friendly fire. Prayers for the families, my heart goes out to them.

Link to Obit for HM Rast

I am a new mom to this site...my son is just in the beginning stages. He has found out that he will be going in as a Navy Medic probably late December. I know nothing about his job or what his duties.Can anyone direct me to a site to find out more of what he will be doing or where he could be going?

Already I read how every job our children are in puts their lives on the line for our country. My prayers go out to the families of these brave men.

HI, Celeste! welcome! Here are a couple of links that might give you some insight to what our corpsman do on a day to day basis. Some serve "blueside" with the Navy, in clinics,  hospitals, etc, some serve "greenside" with Marines, as their "Docs". Just start poking around, and we'll answer questions. If you "google"  the word "corpsman"...thousands of links and forums! Some listed above!

Corpsman link

Corpsman on Wiki