Corpsman Moms

Nicks Mom, Congrats to your son!

One of the pleasures of having my Sailor stationed close to home...I was driving back from a day working with a friend from work in San Diego so we decided to stop at CP and buy my son (and a friend of his he brought along) dinner. Johnny Rockets never tasted so good.

Of course, it might be that it was the first time I had seen my son in 4 months.

I am so impressed with the changes I have seen in my son. And his friends. These two, in particlur, are loving their new lives. They both are realizing their dreams. They are working seriously, training hard, and playing well.

It seems like the young men who have issues are the ones who don't have a dream to chase and get caught up in the mistakes and shortcomings of the Navy experience. It really seems to help to have something to point to during the hard times.

Bobbo - So happy for you that you can have your son near and take advantage of a dinner out.  I appreciate what you have written and find it to be so true. 

The old saying of when you receive the "box" from bootcamp is so true!  They keep the man and send the child home in that box.  So happy that your son is close and your able to visit Bobbo!  My boys are now 23 and 22 and are just now realizing how great their parents were... well most of the time. LOL.

Pam - So true.

ProudNavyMom - We were talking about that last night. It seems this isn't a real problem...since they have no money to spend. I can't believe how little they take home. I understand the room and board angle but, lordy, they just don't have money for a car or anything really.

Good Morning as well!

They don't make much that is for sure. My son was doing very well while in SA saving money and paying off his credit card and then he got back to SD and had to use a good chunk of his saving's while on leave. He said he forgot how expensive CA/SD can be.

Maybe its a good thing overall. From the stories that I hear from guys that were in in the 70's and 80's, money, or lack there of, keeps them out of lots of trouble.

Good morning.  Do you know if mail is handled like Boot Camp or A-School?

Power0806, if you're talking about eight-week Field Medical Training Battalion, most corpsmen prefer not to get much mail while there - plus they have to do pushups to get it!  LOL  They have access to purchase what they need, are on the go so much and the time there is so short.  As far as sending "care packages" - usually best to wait until they get settled at their next duty station.  

Marcy - Thank you so much for that information.  I will just deposit some money in his bank account.  Would you happen to know a general weekly schedule for FMTB?

Marcy - Push-ups for mail, eh? Now you bring out my evil side. Should I write my sailor every day???

;-)

Power0806 - Of course, Marcy can do that. She can do anything. If the data exists, she has it or can get it...I have no doubt!

BTW, TexasDocMom can get it, too, I am sure.

We do what we can!  I don't recall the exact format of the class, but here's a description from FMTB-East:  "During this eight week course, you will have a mix of classroom and field training. Emphasis is placed on learning field medicine by using the principles of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). This includes familiarization with USMC organization and procedures, competency in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), logistics, and administrative support in a field environment. Additionally, training will include general military subjects, individual and small unit tactics, military drills, physical training/conditioning, and weapons familiarization with the opportunity to qualify on the rifle."  

I know that the program begins with five blocks of classroom instruction and written exams (80% passing grade).  Physical conditioning throughout includes four, six, seven, and eight mile hikes.  

Bob, feel free to send all the cards and letters you like!  Just remember that a tough, martial arts-trained 8404 corpsman will be showing up at your door after the eight weeks is up ;)

I have been meaning to mention this for quite awhile. The above sentence needs to be changed since it is only 8 weeks long:

FIELD MEDICAL TRAINING BATTALION (FMTB) is a 14-week course in advanced medical training, small arms training, and the Marine Corps way of life.  Official sites:

Great job (as always) Marcy.

Done.  It only FEELS like fourteen weeks  ;)

Let me tell you a little story we just had happen. Sending things TO them FedEx is useless if you think they will get it right away. It all goes to the pick up center. My daughter wanted to send a box to a friend at Bethesda. She decided to go to the Fed Ex center in San Antonio. She bought the box there, packed it there and paid almost 30 bucks for shipping and materials. This was end of June. July 18th I get a slip in my mailbox from the post office saying I have a package to be picked up with a postage due amount. Go pick it up, pay the 7,40 and here it's the package my daughter shipped FedEx in San Antonio. She uses our address here as her return address. Long story shorter......Fed Ex subs out their work when they are short staffed in areas. Fed Ex sent the box my daughter paid them full price for Parcel Post through USPS. The click and ship label clearly shows the destination and origination. The problem was.....they printed the wrong address for Bethesda Naval Hospital. When you send Parcel post, all return mailing have to be paid for. Sooooooooooooo send packages any 3 ways to them at Fort Sam but advise your sailors to NOT send Fed Ex. 

Seriously no joke about the packages.  When my grandson was born, my daughter sent the new uncle a CD with 80 pictures.  They made him do 80 pushups.  We were outraged.  He thought it was funny. 

The mail issue depends on where your corpsman (or corpsman-to-be) is.  

Hospital Corps School:  the consensus in the A School group is that most students do not want mail sent - it takes up valuable time to get it, they can purchase what they need, and also don't want the burden of having to carry or ship home any additional items.  Phone, text and email work great for keeping in touch.

Field Medical Training Battalion (eight week program):  Same; plus doing push-ups to receive mail.    

It's important to keep in mind that both are very intense programs condensed into short periods of time, and the focus of our men and women is on study and learning critical information.  That's why they are there; this isn't college; they are being paid to do their job.  They are able to be in contact via email, text and phone, so mail really isn't an essential need.  (My corpsman had his car registration renewal tags sent to him at FMTB and he did those pushups, he too thought it was funny, but wasn't interested in getting other mail.)  Once they reach their first duty station, which is in the near future, they will get mail set up and be better able to receive letters and packages.  At A school and Field Med, they are being well taken care of and are starting friendships that will last years, not to mention becoming proud members of a Corps with a 238-year old history, so they're doing ok!

Now that my son is in San Antonio I am trying to think of anything else he really needs-- he has his phone and iPad.  He thinks he might need me to mail him his laptop. Do you think it will be necessary? I don't want to send something un-necessary and that will be a burden later. He said he also might want some jeans, a few shirts, and his sperry's after phase 2 -- again, any thoughts? He will not start class until 1 week from today, so I have a little time to plan and want to only have him mess with absolute necessities.  

He has his iPad, and we added Data plan to his iPhone today so he can tether his phone so he can have internet for his iPad when he wants it now. I am thinking that will be enough so that he wont need the laptop. I guess my main concern, and you may have answered it, is that I didn't know if they needed a laptop for school assignments, etc. I think I read that they have computer labs there to use, and if that is the case I am not sending his laptop. As far as clothes, I will let him tell me. I think he still will want me to mail him a pair of jeans, 2 shirts and a pair of shoes, but that will be several weeks yet and I agree that I don't want him to have too much there.  

It bothers me when I read about our sailors receiving "punishment" to get mail from home so I asked my son who was second ranking in his FMTB class and in the know about what was going on from locker inspection (tell your sailor not to take X-rated stuff because they will be caught with it and they will be embarrassed.  I was embarrassed just hearing about stuff they found, even stuff I didn't know was made or sold.) to getting to where the best place to sleep during overnights are.       

This is the scoop on FMTB mail:  Two people from each platoon are designated as Mail POs.  They go each day as class schedule allows to p/u from the mail room across the street from FMTB.  When they bring mail back they pass it out in class during a break. 
Usually the class schedule will only allow for mail call 3 times a week.  And 0 times during field Ops.
Today the classes were down the hill getting their rifles issued to them.  They will not be getting mail today because they will be turning in weapons during mail pick up times.  
If a certain instructor is making them do pushups, that instructor can get into trouble for it.  I know that if a sailor had complained to my son about something like this, he would have gone to the powers to be and gotten it stopped.  He also told me that they are not allowed to do this in boot camp, either.  It has been quite a few years since he was in boot camp so can't be positive about what goes on.
I can remember when my son was a new sailor and intimidated by instructors and those who outranked him.  Now, with time in service, rank, and age, he stands up for himself and those who work for him.   

Additionally, during FMTB, he says not to waste money paying for priority or fast shipping because all mail goes through the main base Post Office and then sent out to the branch office.  Sounds like real "snail" mail to me.  Glad I was there so I didn't have to send any mail. 

Great words of wisdom Mom in the OC and Familything.  I too have been at this for five years (and yes time does fly) and this was after sending "my baby" off to college for four years.  It's harder on us Mom's than our kids - especially the letting go and letting them learn from both their achievements and mistakes.  In the long run however you will have a moment where you realize that your son is now a man and what a terrific man he has become.  It's hard, it's full of crying moments and fear but so worth the outcome and you are never alone.

@familything, well said.  When my son was 18, he joined the Army Reserves.  I was proud but so worried.  I even asked the van driver to take care of my little boy on the ride to MEPS.  I remember both of us being in tears when he called home.  The Army ended up not working out due to an injury but he did join the Navy several years later.  It was a completely different experience for all of us.  He was now the "old man" and the young guys came to him in tears, being so homesick, and he talked them through it. 

When I read posts here, I remember how I felt the first experience and balance it with his second experience.  Physically, it was tougher on him because he was older but mentally and emotionally, he was much better prepared and so was I.  A school was study intensive but not difficult.  When I ask him if newer sailors should be buying study guides, have their laptops mailed to them, etc., he tells me that the Navy will supply the sailor with everything they need and we parents need to stop worrying.  They need maturity that we parents cannot give them, order for them, or mail them.  They will grow without us. 

Knowing this doesn't stop me from "Googling" and researching but I know he will tell me if he needs something.  I know he will call when he needs support.  I know he will call when he wants to share an accomplishment with us.  I know I have to not let him know when I am worried (as I was when he was deployed) because it doesn't help him.  And, I know I can call him when I read other parents/wives' questions and concern to get his opinion to share with all of you.

The best part of Navy for Moms is that we can share our experiences with each other and support each other when we need someone to listen and care.  

So much sanity, sagacity and perspicacity here; I truly love reading everyone's experiences and good words.  (Put another way...Navy corpsman moms and dads ROCK!!)

Marcy, thanks for the inclusion. ;-)

Sorry to weigh in on this thread of what to 'send to your sailor' but I have a rather humorous but pointed story. My son tends to be, well, on the frugal side. I found out that he his roommate left some things...one of which was his peacoat, because he didn't have room to pack it...so my son inherited a never used 'used' peacoat. He told me that so many of the sailors have too much to ship and just leave things. Moral: they will buy more than they need, or actually want. Let them buy it.

Ladies, my apologies....Google changed their set up and evidently my notifications from N4M didn't make the cut. Very frustrating! 

Been reading your posts, lots of good info there...and the one thing that we seem to repeat over the years here on these board is that the kid you sent off will be a full grown adult when he/she returns..focused, grown up and about the only time you'll recognize the child in that adult is when the bacon is frying and the tortillas are being made. Letting go is hard, but so very necessary, for both of you.

As to the money, my son probably still has part of his original enlistment bonus from 8 years ago in the bank...after basic, he paid all his own airfares home and back, bought a brand new car ( so delighted that day when the car dealer financial guy turned out to be ex Navy!)...lived in the barracks mostly, used his buddy's apartment in NC for personal mail, and loved getting that cash for his apartment in San Antonio when he finally left the green side and became an instructor.  Bought his first house while in the Navy. Spent WAY TOO MUCH money in Spain on that MEU deployment(and I never asked why..I swear), but other than that he always felt he made enough money to do the things he wanted to do and have the car he wanted to drive. 

We're giving them huge responsibility to handle as Navy Corpsmen, let them learn to handle their own financial and personal lives as well. 

Now, does anyone know how to make Google give my my notifications again? geez...

I was having an identity crisis, reading posts from me that weren't from me (docsmom).  I didn't realize members could have duplicate user names.  Glad to know I am not crazy and I am not composing posts about other people's children.  So, I am no longer docsmom but now IDCmom#1.  Think I am the one and only user with this name.   

I also have been following the talk here and not responding because my Corpsman surprised me with flying home. He and his grandmother, my Mom, had it all in the works for a couple of months. He is stationed at 29 Palms in the OR as a Orthopedic Surgical Tech. 

Regarding stuff needed in SAT, once he got there, then he told me what to send to him. He had no problem with mail. I even sent him cases of his favorite potato chips from time to time. He sent me a pic once of all of them in the computer lab each with their own bag of chips. 

He bought his own laptop while in A school in SAT. We told him to go to the Credit Union and apply for a loan to start building credit which he did. Then while taking some leave between A school and C school, he came home and bought himself his first car. Again, through the Naval CU. He too had a salesman who was retired Navy help him. My husband and I drove the car from Dayton. Ohio to SAT and it was the best trip we ever took on the road. 

My Corpsman now wishes he was back in SAT. Although the opportunities are alot better for him in 29 Stumps as he calls it. It's been 8 months since I have seen him and he is definitely grown up. He actually filled my car up with last night! I was shocked.

To all of the new Moms with sailors in A or C in SAT, please don't worry. They work together as previous comments have said. He is starting on-line classes this fall and will hopefully get his BS out of the way by the time this enlistment is over. Then he wants to be a Ortho Dr. and the Navy so far, has said we are behind you 100%.

It is hard to let go and not fret and worry, but all will be well! He is my first born son. I have another son, soon to be 16 that is not doing military. He would if he could play in the Navy Bluegrass band! I have a couple more years with this one so no decision yet!

Take care great Moms and Dads! Go NAVY! Go CORPSMAN!!!!

Does anyone have a general weekly FMTB - Camp Pendlelton schedule?  I can worry so much better if I know the subjects  :)  We are in week 2/8 so far.

Very good advice from the seasoned Moms on here!  My son has now been in a little over three years and it has probably taken me about that long to finally get it that he is an adult and can take care of his life now.  Oh so hard, I know!  While going through FMTB at Camp P, he had his 21st birthday.  Well, I could not let that go by without at least a card and a small present!  Oh he fussed something terrible at me because I sent it Fed Ex after doing a little research on the internet for the address. The only thing I didn't know was his Building No. Well, I guess the Fed Ex driver knew the area and delivered it to the correct building.  Lucky me right?  Ha, ha.. he loved his little present, but I have to say I felt very guilty afterwards because they are under a lot of stress while in FMTB (and A School).  Love from a distance as hard as that is!  And they get really moody while under stress...  Once they get to their first duty station is when you'll have more freedom with care packages.  Hang in there Moms! 

P.S. - I still have a hard time when I don't hear from him while he's in the field with his Marines.  He's never been deployed since he's new to the greenside so you ladies have my utmost respect that have gone through deployments. 

power0806 - I think it was Marcy (could have been TexasDocMom or someone else) posted the weekly schedule not too long ago. I would scroll back to see.

TexasDocMom - Glad you posted. I was beginning to worry. You were way past your check-in time. I thought you might be MIA and we would need to send out a platoon to find you.  ;-)

We should be proud of our sons and daughters. This says it all. It could just as easily be "US Navy Corpsman" on the right.

I just realized that I forgot to post this yesterday, the anniversary of his death. I  urge all to watch this. He may not have been a Corpsman, but his story is universal for us parents of military children. Let us never forget him. Memory Eternal.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1661953146001/remember-navy-seal-adam-br...

Dear ProudNavyMom - I'm proud of you.  We all know just how hard it is to not send that text, make the a call or any of the other million things we want to do.  It gets easier but they are always are babies.

ProudNavyMom, that's why we're here, for you to hang out with and not go crazy!  He'll do great and I'm sure an upbeat text from you is always welcome and a good thing, whether sent as a response or sent out of the blue - just not 24/7 LOL

Good job ProudNavyMom!  They will call/text/email when they need you.  I remember when my son was in A School, I would get random emails in the middle of the night because he was dealing with so much (classes, roommate, etc.).  He needed to vent to someone and I'm sure he felt much better afterwards.

ProudNavymom, in my mess of missing notifications, I must have missed exactly where your son is...is he deployed? send all the boxes anyone will send. If he isn't deployed either on a ship or in Afghanistan, etc...then hold those boxes to a minimum. You're going to hear the words "I never opened it, just threw it out"....when they say they have no room, they have NO room to store anything other than the necessities. If your sister wants to send something, tell her to wait...the money is a good idea.

On that same thought, I told my cousin(who sounds like your sister PNM) he needed a good flashlight. She bought him a 200 dollar small one to fit in his pocket and he loved it, had it most of his time in the Navy. Also a Gerber tool...or fox socks from foxsox.com. All pricey items he can use at some point. And small. 

Gotta say that the world seems 'more right' now that you are back posting TexasDocMom. Thanks for all the great info. I know of that flashlight. There is a reason why it costs so much and is worth it. If its the same one I know of, it used to be $300. Gerbers are always needed.