Corpsman Moms

Welcome ladies! grandboboo, I missed your post, I'm sorry! glad you're here with us, and hope to see your fingertips here often! Deborah, I wonder what your son will think of the climate change from San Diego to 29 Palms! wow!

My son is entering year 7 in the Navy, no word yet if he's decided to re up or not....He's now an instructor after the first 5 years greenside, and he's somewhat near home. So who knows?

I have read the last five pages.  Thanks for all the information on post Navy Certification for Corpsmen.  Now I know how to advise my son throughout his Navy career.  It sounds like he needs to jump at every opportunity for C school and college courses; and, we should all become active in the plight to have Corpsmen training recognized when their service is up!  Is there a group I can join to help with his cause?

Welcome, ladies! take a look at the links above, including the link to "A School for Corpsman" , those folks have more up to date information on A School stuff than we do, at least, more than I do. My son is in his 5th year (? I think) so my info is about GL when A school was there. It's different than in San Antonio. My son is an instructor in SA but not at that school.

I do know Texas, tho..and it will be hot, hot, hot in San Antonio. If you come to visit at any time, make sure you hit Schlitterbaun in New Bransfels...water!!!

Hey, I came across a group recently formed -  http://www.navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio -one more to add to the mix :) 

Welcome to all the new members!  I haven't been on lately because we've been traveling a lot.  My son has been in for a year now (actually graduated boot on June 4 last summer!)

Navy Dad Mark - your post caught my eye about Northwest Indiana (only people from that area know we call it N.W. IN!!).  I'm originally from Dyer and I know exactly where you are and you're very lucky to have your son that close!  We've been right outside of Atlanta for 11 years now (had to get away from the snow and cold!).  

Mine is now stationed in Italy and is having the time of his life.  We went on a four night camping trip this past weekend and it's times like that when I miss my son the most.  I just wonder if that "something's missing" feeling ever truly goes away.

Thanks for the article TDM.

I have heard great things about Italy and Japan!  I know my son has bought a motorcycle since he moved there and is busy every weekend going on rides with the club he joined.  He's already gone through FMTB and is expecting a deployment within the next year so he's trying to see as much as he can before that happens. He loves being a Corpsman and has definately found his calling.

carmenj - hi there and welcome to the group. 

My husband's PIR is 7/8/11 and then I would imagine he will be graduating A school sometime around October or so?  Our baby is due in late November.  How soon after leaving A school do Corpsman typically get assigned to FMTB or other C schools? 

Pam~Corpsman Mom. . .I know what you mean about the camping. . .I missed my sailor a lot this last weekend, when we were camping also.  It was "our thing" to get up early when we camped and drink coffee together in the mornings.  Had to sit and drink coffee with my book. . .not nearly as meaningful as talking to my sailor.

MamaWalrus. . .my sailor left in Nov and has not had any leave since leaving.  He has went straight from BC, to A school, to C school.  I thought he might get some leave after A school, but no such luck.  I don't know when the next opportunity for him to get some leave might be since C school is a year long.

Thanks guys for the info...I know with the military it is never a "set in stone" type of thing and its always,,,"Hurry up and wait".. I just like to get a feel of how it works and the different scenarios that you you all have experienced/  :)

Marcy...Hi,, yes I am in the 2 listed.  I think we all are confused since being in SA everything is up in the air,,LOL    It makes me feel a little better hearing the different paths that have been taken.  

TT, please take a look at the links above about FMTB, and FMF. FMTB is training, FMF is a qualification. A corpsman may take FMTB but not necessarily become an FMF Corpsman, even if he serves with the Marines (in any capacity). He/She has to make the grade as a Doc to become FMF. Now, if you're asking did PBear's son volunteer to go greenside (serve with Marines) instead of staying blueside (serve in Navy facilities and ships), that's a good question. My son went in, volunteered for FMTB and they pulled him out of his internship to enter FMTB earlier than scheduled with 14 others to fill a class at Camp Lajuene. Those 14 were used to fill vacancies in Marine unit. The battalion he went to had just returned at that time from Iraq, he trained with them, then went on a Mediterranean cruise (MEU) with them for his first deployment (boring, said he) came back and then deployed with them to Iraq on their next round. A guy he went to A school with, and then was part of the 14 to enter that same Corpsman class, joined a Marine unit and deployed immediately to Iraq after training at 29 Palms with his unit.

Can one volunteer for FMTB and to go greenside, yes. Are all greenside Corpsmen volunteers, no. It's the needs of the Navy.

And yes, Pbear! those Marine support groups are phenomenal! When my son was told by the mail guy on board the MEU ship that he wasn't a "real" sailor and so he'd have to wait for an email address, first of all...his Marines took care of that in a heartbeat! the CO went down and had a discussion with that sailor when the scuttlebutt got to him that one of his Docs was being treated disrespectfully. Second...when I told that story on a Marines moms newsletter, I got over 200 emails on that topic from grandmothers to Marines to old vets, ready to take on the Navy over that comment!! (my favorite from a vet: "hell, NO, he ain't no f&%^* sailor, he's a DOC!!!!".)

Hehehe, thanks for the laughs, TDM. :) I'm happy to know that if my husband does get stationed greenside, he won't be the black sheep. My dad was in the Marines and will make jokes about my husband joining the Navy and I have to remind him...he'll be a DOC! Watch it! :)

Just want to clarify: a corpsman may have orders to serve with the Marines as a field corpsman, but he/she has to qualify as a FMF corpsman, it takes time, and happens as they serve with the Marine battalion.

I sue google for these military ancryoms, great souce of information.

Yes, it is...my son just informed me when he qualified, I had no idea it existed,or probably confused the two which is why when he lurked here he emailed me to explain it to me once more until finally I got it from posting it again....it's one of the things he's pretty proud of and he doesn't want anyone who doesn't earn it to use FMF!! Seems like it was in the first months (maybe the first year??) after he went greenside with the 2/2 that he got it.

If this helps :)  

FMTB is an eight week educational program combining classwork and field training that takes place at only two locations:  Camp Johnson/Camp Lejeune, NC, and Camp Pendleton, CA.  

FMF is a qualification is earned by Navy enlisted members assigned to the Fleet Marine Force of the U.S. Marine Corps who have successfully completed the necessary requirements of the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist (EFMFWS) Program. This involves serving with a Marine Corps Unit, passing a written test, demonstrating skills used in service with the Marines, and an oral examination by senior enlisted sailors who are FMF qualified.

This link answers frequently asked questions about FMF:

You're welcome :)  My corpsman earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification last year, and I was stunned by what was involved.  

Since many corpsmen serve aboard surface warfare ships and are eligible for ESWS and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, I included some info about those qualifications in the discussion too.

Can anyone tell me how long HM A school lasts or where to get the information?