Lots of Corpsman moms around! Share your experiences here, your wisdom and your support of one another! All are welcome! HM 'A' School moms/dads/loved ones, please also join us at
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio
Current admins Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom and TexasDocMom
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Pam
Great photo alexcmom! Congratulations! Are you traveling to SA for the ceremony? I went to my son's and enjoyed it very much. Much more relaxed than PIR.
Sep 17, 2012
MomByHeart
alexcmom...thanks for sharing that wonderful picture and the good news about your son.
Sep 17, 2012
Betty
alexcmom - i also want to say thanks for sharing the class photo. Our sons have been together since boot camp. We won't be able to attend graduation, but if there is anyone out there who is, all pics would be greatly appreciated.
Sep 17, 2012
luvmycorpsman
Betty, there's a Facebook group that posts pictures of graduation from A school. I can send you the link, if you want it.
Sep 17, 2012
Betty
I may have it already - but plz send it anyway.
Sep 17, 2012
alexcmom
Mombyheart... Thank you. :) Praying for yours. Every night. Mine is coming home soon and planning on cherishing every single second til he leaves again. I know you know that feeling.
Pam-Corpsman Mom...Thanks! I am not able to go to SA. I went to PIR and then was able to visit FSH in july. Had a wonderful time there for an entire weekend with my son. Would be nice but this trip is a no go. But the good news I know pics are taken and posted on a facebook page, I have lots of good friends who are watching for them right along with me. And, he's coming HOME right after!! So excited!!! :)
Sep 17, 2012
alexcmom
Hi Betty! I know you! Well okay, I know of you. :) Our boys have been through a lot together havent they? We are so blessed that they had each other and some very special people in their lives throughout this journey. I keep saying that there is a reason that they have been put together since the beginning. I want you to know that I have been praying for your son since the moment I knew his name. He is an amazing young man, with an amazing future. And he has chosen a spectacular woman to walk through that door to the future with him. You have all been truely blessed with that one. :) I know that as your son and your family continue this journey called the Navy Life she will be an incredible asset and invaluable source of information and strength to you all.
So proud of our guys! My love to you and yours! :)
Sep 17, 2012
Pam
That's great that they have a Facebook page now. That wasn't around when my son graduated! I was lucky and have family right outside of Chicago to stay with when I went up there. But now he's been in Italy and we've only had one visit in nearly two years. Keeping our fingers crossed we'll get a visit at the end of the year before he heads to his next duty station.
Sep 18, 2012
TexasDocMom
Thanks, tbdm, good explanation. Wonder where what my son was teaching at Camp Bullis comes in...? "combat medical technique" At first I thought mainly to civilian medical personnel, but then he said later it was more military. Possibly already trained medical folks who come in to the military after training...
Someplace on this group is a story told by a Navy mom who toured Camp Lajuene...and saw a demo of that thing where they call crawl under ropes on their bellies....it was Army, Marines and Navy personnel...one soldier got stuck in the middle and yelled "medic"...the medic crawled out there, took a look and yelled for another medic...then that medic crawled out there, took a look and yelled "Corpsman!"...and a corpsman went out and did his job and got the injured soldier out. Two medics, one corpsman. We got a kick out of that story....
Sep 18, 2012
TexasDocMom
He's out now, so he's dealing with his classes at UTSA and his part time job, new home and a wonderful lady in his life (and an idiot dog, I can say that, I'm the grandma, but that dog...my dog hides when he comes here!). The instructors out there were some Navy, some Marine, some Army, some Air Force, all vets from Iraq/Afghanistan. Different groups, one was a group of doctors ("not much common sense for such smart people" said my son), I'll have to ask again next time we're talking Navy. He loved Camp Bullis's location.
Sep 19, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Txbabydocmom, do you know if the Air Force has further education beyond A school for its Medical Technicians that parallels the Navy's? (I tried googling but didn't see a definitive answer...)
Sep 25, 2012
mamawalrus
Anyone know where to look at past photos of A school.. I would like to find my sons class from Dec 2011
Sep 26, 2012
TexasDocMom
Mamawalrus, is this your son's group? Facebook link
Sep 26, 2012
TexasDocMom
Dogs and soldiers and combat medics This link is to an article about a recovering soldier and his bomb sniffing dog...but it also gives kudos to the combat medics that saved them both. Probably were Army combat medics, but possibly corpsmen, more are being assigned to the other branches...but it doesn't matter, it's a great article and they are all doing a kick ass job.
Sep 26, 2012
keoquilts-corpsman mom
so heading to SA this weekend for a last minute trip for my daughters A school graduation...looking forward to it...so is she..any tips on rental cars and driving back and forth for graduation? I have a hotel booked and wondering how fun the riverwalk is? she has been and cant wait to show me...just mom on this trip...expensive weekend, but worth it...
Sep 27, 2012
Tamme
The Riverwalk is a blast! Be sure to take the boat tour. The hotels there are expensive but try hotels.com and see if they have any discounts since it is fall. If so, the hotels have a shuttle from the airport. Not sure how far that is though from the base. Have a safe trip. Where is she going to be stationed?
Sep 27, 2012
keoquilts-corpsman mom
Sep 27, 2012
lizinnj
Sep 27, 2012
keoquilts-corpsman mom
lizinnj-maybe I'll see ya there.....
Sep 27, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
One of ours is in this piece from NBC Nightly News last night. See the "Doc" at 01:50 in...
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Sep 27, 2012
TexasDocMom
End war. So proud of these young warriors, but I want them home. Not trying to be political, I want them home. I watched this same stuff 4 years ago when my son was deployed, and the war was 5 years old then. End war.
Sep 27, 2012
velvetlace
I agree with you, TexasDocMom! End the war now. Enough already!!!
Sep 27, 2012
HM__Mom Ruth
Amen.
Sep 27, 2012
mamawalrus
Thank Goodness noone was hurt in that gunfight and Doc was ok.
Sep 27, 2012
Vipergirl
Sep 28, 2012
Kym Ship 11 Div 118
Sep 28, 2012
Kym Ship 11 Div 118
Sep 28, 2012
OKCsuzieq
Sep 28, 2012
mamawalrus
Congrats Vipergirl..proud indeed/
Sep 28, 2012
jacketfan24 (corpsman mom)
congrats Vipergirl!
Sep 29, 2012
Vipergirl
Sep 29, 2012
TexasDocMom
Maureen! welcome! two groups up in the links above you might be interested in joining The first is the HM School in San Antonio Group, many of those moms have kids or have had kids in the A School in San Antonio. The second group is for moms with kids in Iraq/Afghanistan. We would love to have another experienced voice there, sometimes you just never know the words that might help another mom facing a tough night. Please join us if you would like to...
There are also links to FMTB ( the training for corpsmen before they are assigned to a Marine unit). That training is held at either Camp Lajuene or Camp Pendleton, each of those sites are listed above as well.
Yes, it is great when they are an hour from home! My son spent his last months with the Navy in San Antonio, we live in Austin, Texas.
Oct 2, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Hi Maureen! Most head straight to A school, but it depends. TDM is right, the A School group will be the best place to ask.
Oct 2, 2012
cmacdon
My daughter went straight to A school in San Antoinio from bootcamp! We had graduation day with her and then they were up at 3am going to airport! You can go to the airport and they can get you in to sit with them before they take off. My daughters plane wasnt taking off until 1pm so we had breakfast at the airport! Was good since our time was so short!
Oct 3, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
So glad you had a chance to visit!
Hey all, it's October and time to switch to dress blues. Hope your sailors haven't gained any weight, the price of the top just went from $54 to $84, crazy. Trousers went up only three dollars, from $51 to $54.
Oct 3, 2012
Celina
Marcy, I love your post, you made me laugh. I guess all that gravy covered food might put some pounds on our corpsman.
Oct 3, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
I know, kind of like the Freshman 10, right?!
Oct 3, 2012
TexasDocMom
One thing about having an FMF corpsman...no dress blues, no dress anything...Marine cammies all the time. I think the first time he put on his dress blues in over 5 years after joining the 2/2 was when he reported to San Antonio when he became an instructor...and then he went to Navy cammies, sometimes his Marine cammies.
Oct 3, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Do they hold the Corpsman Ball in SA? I admit I'm a sucker for a sailor in those dress blues :)
Oct 3, 2012
keoquilts-corpsman mom
Just got back from the A school graduation at Ft. Sam. Very cool! I recommend it.
I would rent a car next time. The only reason I didn't, the hotel charged for parking. I loved the Riverwalk and the Alamo(hotel right behind). Although it
rained, it was still beautiful weather this weekend. The graduation was very low key and couldnt believe that we could drive right up their barracks.
My daughter and her shipmates looked awesome in their dress whites again!!!
She is on hold now until C school starts. They gave them flu shots the morning of grad and now has symptoms. Oh well...Thanks for the advice on things.
Look forward to C graduation and will bring my hubby this time...I got it down! LOL!!! And how about those A'S!!!! (Can you tell I'm from the Bay AREA!!!)
talk to ya soon!
Oct 4, 2012
dianevdb
hello Congrats to you and your sailor! Any orders yet?
my corpsman is scheduled for Dec 6th graduation. You mentioned your hotel...what was the name? any spec rates, w air, etc? Im in SJ in south bay.
thanks very much!
Oct 4, 2012
dianevdb
Dear keoquilts..C school..at SA? what specialty?
Oct 4, 2012
keoquilts-corpsman mom
dianevdb-Her 'C' school is pharmacy tech--not her 1st choice, but ok. She wants as much training as she can get...My Hotel was "The Crockett", directly behind
"The Alamo". IT was $95 avg a nite with AAA discount. I would get a frig in my room next time for $25 one time fee. The hotel is older, but nice...I liked the fact that I could walk over to the alamo grounds and just relax. The Menger hotel is across from it and heard it has a lot of history as well. It does not have a shuttle from the Airport as the other newer hotels...free breakfast (continental) was ok...
umm,,,a/c was great..hope this helps...
Oct 4, 2012
dianevdb
Hello Keoquilts Thanks for the info. Looks like well check it out and it is always appreciated to find out REAL LIFE info. Decent price.
Oct 5, 2012
jacketfan24 (corpsman mom)
Maureen, my son wanted greenside at Camp LeJeune also since we are in SC, but they get to choose their orders by GPA about halfway through. They didn't have a lot of marine spots when he got to choose and in order to get that, he had to chose Okinawa. He loves it there. He is working in the Navy hospital and taking classes to work on his FMF pin. He loves the marine uniform. Not the base he originally wanted, but he got the job he wanted, so I'm happy for him. Tell your son to study...study...study...the better the grades, the better chance they have of getting what they want, if it's available.
Jacque...the classes shut down for several weeks during Christmas in SA; my son, along with most of his class, got to come home during that time. Your son probably can as well if he has the money for a plane ticket. Mine, fortunately, has no bills other than a phone and was able to save what he needed. He was home for two weeks and came back again after graduation before FMTB school in San Diego. Which is great since the next trip he will get will not be until NEXT Christmas. I am not sure what they do if they have to stay.
Oct 6, 2012
Amac23
Hello All! I used to live on this website when my husband was in bootcamp. I guess it's time to come back because I am feeling lost again :) He went through bootcamp and A school in TX and is now getting ready to start FMTB at Pendleton tomorrow.
I am not sure what to expect and whether he will be able to communicate with me, or how intense FMTB will be compared to bootcamp.
What I am really wondering is what the future holds. He is a reservist, and fell in the love with the physical therapy field. As a reservist, worst case scenario is he simply comes home in December and services his one weekend a month. I know he wants to be more involved in that but I have no idea what he now qualifies to do...
Oct 9, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Hi Amac23! He'll be able to communicate with you more easily the first few weeks of classroom instruction (nights and weekends) but will then be in the field, so more limited communication. FMTB is definitely more intense than boot camp or A school. Have you looked at the official FMTB websites? Explore them via the links above. As long as he's in good shape he'll enjoy it. Re the future, he's the best one to answer that - you could also take your questions to a recruiter, they can give you some insights.
Oct 10, 2012
Amac23
Thanks, Marcy! I did check out the website. Looks like he has his work cut out for him :)
I wish he was the best one to answer that. He doesn't seem to have any more an idea than I do. I am wondering if there are any other moms/ wives here whose sailors are reservists?
Oct 11, 2012
dianevdb
Hi Amac23..my SN is a Reservist. Hes due to graduate Dec 6th. He continues w dental A school for another 6 weeks beginning in January after the break.
Oct 11, 2012
Amac23
Oh, really? That's interesting, what has his journey been like so far in terms of where he has been and when?
Oct 11, 2012