Corpsman Moms

Hope everyone is doing well.  I thought you would like to see the link to a great t-shirt:http://teespring.com/c32a_g3_3961?fb=eml

Hello!  could use some help/advice.  my sailor is graduating and im flying down for it, staying at the la quinta at Windsor park.  can't seem to find good directions to ft sam Houston?

If anyone has any info on getting good maps, or advice on restaurants, really would appreciate it!

Hi debnavysailormom!  This link has info including a pdf of hotel and restaurant recommendations from other corpsman moms and more recommendations in the comments, and a pdf of a map of Ft Sam Houston:  http://navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio/...

And here are directions to Ft Sam Houston:  http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1799212039?profi... 

Have a great trip and congratulations on your sailor's accomplishment!

Thanks Marcy!  Flying out today, this is very helpful!

debnavysailormom, watch the weather very carefully. Our central Texas area is still in the recovery of major flooding and a tropical storm will bring up to 4-16 inches of rain over the next couple of days. Do not drive through water on the road. Turn Around Don't Drown. San Antonio can be very hilly and up and down, please honor the do not enter signs on Low Water Crossings.  Hope the storm heads away from us, but no one knows yet!

Have a great time!  How soon was your graduation date confirmed?  I would like to book hotel and air for July 14th.  What do you all think? 

Wow!  It has been a very long time since I have been out on this page!  A lot has happened since my son graduated from Corpsman A School in June 2013!  After receiving his orders to Naval Hospital Bremerton and having the privilege to work for many individuals at the hospital, he was placed in the post-op ward and became shift lead (nights).  They kept transferring him between days and nights because both shifts wanted him as team lead!  BZ to him.  Finally back on days and put in for his orders.  He is headed to FMTB W soon and then on to a Marine division (infantry) . . .  we are looking forward to attending his FMTB graduation in September.  I hope you all are doing great!  Glad to be back out on this N4M page!  Have a fabulous day!

Thanks for checking in here.  It's good to hear about others who have gone on from Corpsman A school.  I will be attending a graduation next month! Can't wait. 

Happy Birthday, Corpsmen all over the world...past and present....proud of the service of you all. US Navy Corpmen are the most highly decorated branch of the military....and there is a reason. Hug a Doc today. Happy Birthday fromNavy Medicine link

Spotted this Corpsman tribute on facebook...love our FMF docs!

Are there any moms here who have sailors are currently taking or have completed Medical Laboratory Technician C school? My sailor started a week ago and I am curious about the school.

Cristen,

I suggest you check at this link:  http://navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio 

Once our kids are out of A school, we are bound to forget how things went when they were there.  Additionally, procedures change from time to time.  You will probably get a better answer from moms whose kids are there now.

Good luck with the visit.  I did the same thing because I couldn't attend PIR, and really got a lot of time with her that I wouldn't have at Great Lakes.

Three things:

1. My sons ASVAB was 98. He had his choice of what he wanted to do in the Navy. She may want to study and retake to (like you wrote) increase her chances of getting the job she wants.

2. The Corpman rate is locked right now and the kids are having a hard time advancing to the next rank.  She may want to consider another job. 

3. It is the needs of the Navy and right now with us drawing down from War those needs are going to shrink.

I believe if she really wants to be a Corpman (great job because it prepares you well for civilian life) she could wait for a slot to open up.  May take a long time.

Cristen:  We did the same thing when our son arrived at Fort Sam for A school.  There first day they are really busy.  Our son arrived after midnight, so his first day there was Sunday.  We were there, but they had to march to go eat, buy essentials, etc.  We were able to see him for a few minutes to pass him his phone, lap top and a few other items.  If you have time to wait, once they finish everything, they do get free time.  For us it would have been after 4 PM or so, and we had to head back home.  Luckily, we are only 4 hours away so we got to see him the following weekend.  That was actually much better.  He was allowed off base with a buddy (we count for that), but he had to be in uniform (black n tans) the whole time.  They do have a curfew.  I believe it's 8 PM until they phase up, but can leave as early as 7 AM (I believe that was the time he told me).

Welcome new members!  To those with sailors headed to or already in A School in San Antonio, please be sure to join this group too -  http://navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio 

docs mom! good to see you!! Nice to see someone with those years of mom experience ! My son finished his Navy years in San Antonio as an instructor for 2 years as well, but after only 5  years as a greenside FMF corpsman. He was at Camp Bullis not Ft Sam. He has stayed in SA after leaving, after buying a home there, graduated from UTSA and now works as purchasing agent for Pulte Homes. I am just glad he's only 85 miles from home (if he'd bought on the other side of SA, he'd only be 60 miles from home...).

Greenside is serving with the Marines, and FMF is a qualification earned in a combat zone by Navy Corpsmen. If your son, Drew7062, goes greenside, he'll serve the regular rotations of the Marine unit he serves with. They deploy across the world, and there can be no way to tell if any certain unit will be in a combat zone. Is your son going to Japan with a Marine battalion?

Bravo Zulu to HM3 Sara Freeman, just named Navy Times' Sailor of the Year! "It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to be a corpsman, so they are naturally some very motivated individuals, but Petty Officer Freeman is a special individual who exceeds even that high standard that a corpsman brings to the fight," Cmdr. Nathan Almond, Ike's senior medical officer, said.  http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/20/2015-navy-times-...   Freeman's tour on Ike ended in June. She is now learning the ropes at Field Medical Training Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and will report to a Virginia Beach clinic that serves Marine Forces Command later this summer.

trishmix, based on some other information I have seen, he will be there until mid-January.  They are in class 70 days.  the first week and a half or so are spent in briefings, so they actually don't start class for almost 2 weeks from when they get there.  My son arrived May 2nd and is scheduled to graduate August 18th just to give you an idea.  Hope this helps in scheduling trips!  They do eventually get leave off base, but you are most likely to far away for him to get a chit to come home for a long weekend.  We are 4 1/4 hours away, and they told our Sailor we were outside the range as well.

trishmix, yes he graduates the 18th as a Corpsman.  Gets leave and then off to his duty station...he'll be in Spain.  My son is very happy there, but then the day he arrived in Texas, he called me and said "Momma, I'm home"!  Of course he wasn't home, but to him anywhere back in Texas was home.  Growing up, San Antonio was one of our favorite summertime destinations, so he already knew a lot about the city and what it has to offer.  The biggest problem your son may have is the heat.  It can be intense to say the least,  The humidity levels can get pretty high.  He will also be there during the beginning of our winter season, which can also drive you crazy.  It can literally be 90 one day and 30 the next (or 90 in the morning and 30 by afternoon), with something in between the following day. I'm sure he will do fine.  My son said the course goes by really quickly. When they aren't in class, the are generally studying (or eating, lol).  Food has been my son's biggest issue.  Said that the food isn't near as good as boot camp.  That the Army doesn't cook near as well.  They are required to eat 2 meals a day at DeFAC (I think that's what he called it).  He has found several good places nearly that are reasonable and are allowed to deliver on base.

As far as flying home for Christmas, I have no idea what they do for that.  The only holiday we've had while he's been there is Memorial Day and July 4th. If he want to try to get home then, I guess it would depend on class days and what they have off during the holidays.  I would start early asking about a chit for travel, so if they say yes, he can book flights early. 

When my son was at Fort Sam the school was not in session during the two weeks from Christmas to New Years and he came home. 

Congrats on your new adventure.  Mine is a Surgical tech Corpsman stationed in Japan.  We just got to see him for three weeks while he was home on leave. 

Your sailor, dependent on how well he does may get a C School which is a speciality.  Surg Tech, Phys Tech...ect. Also could have the chance to go Green Side and go to FMTB school and then would be a Corpsman for a Marine Batalion.  You never know.  Its needs of the Navy.

Cheers,

Just a reminder that there is a group for moms with kids in San Antonio A School : http://www.navyformoms.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanantonio

Not that we don't love you here, but in my case, my son went to Corpsman school when it was still at Great Lakes. So some things are different. He did get to come home for Christmas tho, because the school shut down. The timing of his enlistment, training and deployments meant that for each of the 7 years he was in the Navy, he came home for Christmas. Except for one time when he drove his car home before leaving for Iraq in March, the only time we say him was at Christmas! 

What's tougher than a Marine rifleman...........a long haired, coke drinking, unshaven, Marine hating  Navy Corpsman. Yep, these young devil docs go on day long humps with their Marines.  The Gunny finally says take ten......the Marines are relaxing then you hear "Doc, I got a blister"  or  "Doc, my ankle is swelling"  "Hey, Doc........"   "Over here Doc..."   Then you hear from the Gunny "Let's move out....."    Every one gets a rest but  "Doc."    One of the proudest days in a young corpsman's  is when his Gunny calls him  "Doc"  he knows his Gunny as trusts him and has faith in in him. Oh, mom you can be very proud of your Doc................

Hi all, my sailor has just arrived in San Antonio for A school. I am hoping to get some insight as to what to expect next. He is really hoping to become SARC or FMF, and I would love to chat with some moms/wives who can help me! I am also wondering how Christmas leave will go, my sailor has more than 14 days of leave saved up and since the school is on stand down for 2 weeks, I am wondering if he can take all of those 14 days to come home! Any info is appreciated :)

A colleague shared this with me and I thought you would appreciate it:

"They Call me Doc"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-KXXIhgPxY

Good afternoon everyone! I am in need of some information. I have a younger son who left yesterday for Army Basic training. From what I can see, it does not appear that the Army has a site similar to this one. Is there anyone out there that is familiar with where I can go to get valuable information? This site was so helpful when my older son was in bootcamp and A school. Thank you

Hey all, I am wondering how far into A school your corpsmen found out what their next school/training or duty station was? My corpsmen is graduating late March and I am hoping we find out where he will be next pretty soon!

My class didn't get orders till the very end like two weeks out.  That was 1968.

Gotcha. Hopefully he gets lucky too... the not knowing is killing me! I've been frustrated that they don't give them orders, at least soft ones, before or as they begin A school. Oh well I guess I'll just have to "hurry up and wait"! Thanks guys! 

Oh okay! That's good news then, so hopefully my boyfriend will be getting his by mid February or so. Thank you!!

Remember, all orders are "needs of the Navy" and because they don't have any idea who will actually pass A school or show competence in certain areas until they have completed enough classwork to determine what "needs of the Navy" they will fulfill, giving orders early would be counter productive. 

Are you aware that FMTB is only 8 weeks long and then the sailor can be sent away from the west coast?  FMTB is pretty intense and the sailors have to earn the right to leave the school area, go off Camp Pendleton, spend the night/weekend away from the barracks.

I know, I understand that completely. I am used to the Army, where at least soft orders are often given before soldiers attend any school or training. I'm aware the Navy is different, and I am definitely not doubting that by any means.

Also very aware of all of that, thank you! I have the means to live near Pendleton for those two months. I have spoken to many family members of sailors in FMTB who have said they have phase three liberty through FMTB, (given they don't get in trouble, held back, etc.) and also that married sailors are allowed to live off base. So I am curious why your info/experience is different from that. I'm sure everything varies from class to class, of course. Of course I appreciate any and all information and experience.

In the Vietnam era blank orders were sent except for "C" schools. Only seven of sixty six were for FMF. There were several volunteers for those slots but none were selected.  I was one eight that went to Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay (GITMO). Later on to Vietnam. Go figure............