HM (Hospital Corps) "A" School in San Antonio

Pretty sure my son is taking the Corpseman Killer Test early next week.  Anyone else?

I believe my son said they have a killer test Tuesday and they get to pick from the dream sheet next week.

How many test have them taking since they started 2 or 3 weeks ago. 

John mentioned 3 so far until this past Monday....have they taken more?

How are the sailors doing in general with these test?   when are they done with classes?  some time the end of April?  what is after they done with 3 mths of class?    I heard more schooling or other classes w/marines...two more months?

or is it different for everyone?  i know many question....many thanks to all the Navy moms.

Every class is on their own schedule. I believe there are 7 tests in the EMT part, then Fundamentals, then nursing...but not sure. They will get their 'orders' around the end of EMT...After A school...C School, or field etc. it is different for everyone.  

Thank you Proudscanbe for your information.

Congrats to last Wednesdays grads.  My son would have been with that calss but had to roll back to class 050 when cam came home for his grandfathers funeral.  So proud of all of you. 

My son told me that they got WiFi in the dorms this weekend.

I should say "His dorm"

Buddy, do you know which dorm?

Does anyone know if sailors that just plan to be regular corpsmen have a C-school or not? 

also can someone fill me in on what the "killer test" that everyone talks about is. Do they fill out their dream sheets after this test?

Brandon'sgirl, if the sailor isn't sure what field of Corpsman they want they go to the fleet from A school. KILLER TEST...any test (which may be all) that the sailor is having to study like crazy for. The worst one from what I've been told is the one at the end of EMT classes. Plus there is the fact that they can be set back if they fail. (High stress level for some)

Does anyone know what 'class number' is next to graduation?

buddy, I just texted my son about wifi and he said all the wireless connections he see's are locked. Did they release a password ?

Several of the sailors in my sailor's A school are going to ships or bases instead of going to a C school.

My prayer is that God puts my son where he would be best suited to serve and succeed.

dadyellow and buddy... my son has been in SA since Nov. Dorms have always had "wifi" availability. It's just a matter of your sailors signing up with a carrier. Mine started out with Clear (I believe that's what it was called?) and it was dreadfully slow. Tried AT&T next... too spotty. Has settled with TMobile and is now happy. Which one will work depends on the dorm and the room... trial and error. My son keeps his password protected so those around him can't leach off the service he pays for.

Oops I made a mistake.  MomAnt is correct.  When my son said he got WiFi I just assumed it was for the dorm.  Apparently my son and his roommate went in and bought a hot spot with some carrier for their room.  Not sure what carrier they are using. 

Thank you HJPrescott! I am just impatiently waiting to be with my husband again. Sometimes it seems so long.

Brandon'sgirl, hang in there. It's hard now I understand. Hopefully he gets a base so you can be together more than on a ship.

txfuturebabydocmom, Less FMF seats is a good thing.

Hi my son will PIR this friday and was curious to know if classes were with only Navy corpmen or intergarated with other miltary? Thank you for all your help and all the great information. I already bought him his flash cards,coloring book and stethoscope!

jamieSHIP02DIV917, The Navy trains with the Navy. The army and airforce train seperate. Plan on your Sailor to chill on base for 4 to 5 weeks before class starts and sometimes they get rolled back, reserves and higher rank sailors have prioroty. Good Luck and congrats on your Sailor

MomAnt, My son has been using his I phone 3g(smart phone) and he is able to check e-mail,facebook etc. he uses his lap top for movies etc. and also has  software for local digital TV. but I dont think he uses that much.

dadyellow thank you so much for the information. This site has been great for real information and tips , my sailor has been impressed by all that I have learned!

This is a learning experience for us all (parents/spouses)!

Quick and dumb question. What day of the week do they have graduation?

My son graduates this coming Tuesday, the 13th.  Not sure what class he's in, though.  Any other moms with sons graduating that day? 

He will get to come home for 12 days then heads to Camp Pendleton for a few months before Okinawa. 

jacketfan... Congratulations and Best Wishes to your son! Enjoy your 12 days! My son has a few weeks to go yet but we're already having trouble figuring out leave vs. his EDD. Did your son have to work around EDD when requesting leave and reroute the tickets the Navy got him? My son's EDD makes it look like he'll have no time for leave but someone told him he could still take leave (because his "arrive no later than date" is one month later) but he would be responsible for his own transport. Getting tickets at the last minute =$$$ We are so confused! What was the process like for your son and did anyone help him? Thanks for any info you can share and again... Congratulations!

I don't remember the name, but there was a person on here that works at Ft. Sam. I am looking for information regarding where can they work on their vehicles on base? My husband and brother are heading out tomorrow AM to help our boy work on his truck. My brother says that there are garage stalls that can be rented...but his experience has been Biloxi and Pensacola bases.

Thanks...we appreciate your help. We came across a shop Auto Air and Axle that is located just off base, with a decent reputation, and they give military discount. Hopefully we can get this taken care of.

So excited.  We are getting to go visit the last weekend of the month - for my son's birthday.  Any suggestions as to what to do down there?  We are going to go to Austin that Saturday, my sister in law and her family are there, but Sunday we could use some ideas as to what to do there, and any suggestions as to places to eat.  Thanks!

Momant...the Navy is rerouting his tickets for him, so we don't have specific travel info yet...just that his leave starts the 14th.  He reports to San Diego on the 27th or 28.  I'm starting to get a little nervous about it since we haven't gotten flihgt info yet.  I really don't know who helped him...I'm sorry. 

I'm hoping the facebook page has graduation photos since we couldn't go; my husband is in school here and doesn't get time off. 

Can't believe that tomorrow I will officially have a corpsman! 

Alright guys, I am getting so down about A school. My husband has been in a holding division for five weeks and he will be in one six weeks before classes start (if he doesn't get pushed back again). This is frustrating. He just found out that 12 more will be pushed back this week. Do they choose the guys according to who has been there the longest?

Also how long will he have to wait after A school graduation to come home? Do they hold them there while they make up their orders or what?

Our son has been in SA since Feb 4 and he is still holding.  In theory he is suppose to start classes this Wednesday  if he not pushed back.  

I don't think there is rational to who is pushed back. 

Harry up and wait! 

Thank you so much Bellachella and buddy! I hope he doesn't get rolled back again. He is near the end of the alphabet also. I am just trying to keep my head up.

You're right buddy, hurry up and wait!

our son is graduating May 5 from A school.  he said the hardest test was today  from now on in will not be that hard...i guess in terms of test.  he told me that there only few slots to pick his order this coming Thursday that the top student probably will pick orders to go to Italy and Spain, the rest Japan and Guam, Virginia and Great Lakes which we live 17 mies south of GL.  I told him to pick an interesting location not around his home town....=)    Though, is it really only few slots to Italy and Spain?  He really wanted to go to C school if he had the chance to work w/marines, but since there is not more need at this time, most will go directly to their work base....only the top students will pick first and not many more choices for the remaining.   hmm.

let me know your thoughts...if someone has a son/daughter that will pick their orders too this coming Thrusday....many thanks

Leysanavymom, our son picks his orders thursday also. He told me on sat. he was 6th in his class. But his contract states that he is a Full time support Corpsman so we are not sure if he will be able to choose orders or be sent some place where he is needed? He also would like to work with the Marines his brother Is going to Marine Corps Boot camp in early april.

LeysaNavymom-my son is currently at AVT C School in Pensacola and graduates March 21.  They picked orders for the first time in February, and he said that nothing really stuck out as to what he wanted to do, so he passed on picking orders that time and would have another chance to pick the first week in March.  He was in the top 10 of his class, so he would have gotten to be one of the first ones to pick.  The first week of March he got to pick and was like #3 as some of his class also passed the first time, and he picked Italy which is somewhere that he wanted to go.  He is hoping to be able to go with the Marines at some point too.  I don't know if it's an option at A school, but if it is, they might be able to pass on the first try and pick at a later date.  Of course, you are taking a chance waiting because you don't know what is going to be available then, but for my son the gamble paid off.

hmnm...interesting I will let him know.   thank you dadyellow and Jana for the info...good to know.   hwmm i wonder what # he is out 100 students....good question ...i hope he is not in the botton 30%.....=)

This is the first I have heard about orders. Do they really only have orders to choose from that are that limited? That doesn't seem like many choices. Virginia and GL would be my sailors only choice because if a sailor is under E3 he cant take his family overseas with him. This is sad news for me. I was hoping some place exciting in the US like Cali.

Brandon'sgirl,

As a retied member of the Navy, let me try to shed light on how the orders process works.  Typically the top graduate for any rate has first choice of orders. The orders that are available are what needs to be filled at the time.  Doesn't necessarily mean that someone in a different class would be offered the same selections.  That being said, if orders that are top priority to be filled are not then the detailer (the people that make orders) can select for the member.  It is a gamble if they pass the opportunity to select the first time around.  That doesn't mean they won't get what they want.  I recommend that when your Sailor fills out the "dream sheet" (his choice for location of orders) he make a statement of his family situation.  Again, that doesn't guarantee he will get what he wants but at least informs those above of his situation.  Lastly, I do not want you or anyone else to take this the wrong way but it is important that all including the new Sailors understand that the Navy does try to work with one but still will default to the policy of the "needs" of the Navy.  I really hope this helps and please feel free to ask me any questions you would like and I will do my best to help answer them.

To Brandon's Girl -  I have a friend who joined as a Corpsman two years ago and my husband is about to leave for boot and is signed on to be a corpsman as well. Yes there is a limited list of orders. They let the guys choose their 'orders' going in order of their grade in A school. For example: If you have the highest score in the class, you pick from the list first and so on.  I wouldn't worry too much. I am sure there are plenty of state side orders. From what I understand: the orders are random. It just depends on what is available at that particular time. I am sure the cool places like California do get taken first :) Don't lose hope tho, even if you get stationed somewhere you didn't want initially, it could turn out to be great. Who knows what's waiting for you. What if the place stinks but you make the most amazing friends?  Verses going somewhere you thought would be cool but the friend selection isn’t so good.... see?  It'll work out. Keep your head up.

Dadyellow,

If I understand your post correctly your son is Full time support (FTS)?  If that is the case he is actually a Reservist, however there are two types, one is USNR, or full time support (very much like active duty and you wouldn't know the difference unless they told you), second is USNR-R this is what most people refer to as "weekend warrior".  Though I was Active duty I do know that FTS do serve along side active duty, not sure if they can go with Marines though.

Thank you so much for your help DJFnine and Avaya! You guys have definitely helped me understand all the order stuff. lol I love this site more and more every day! You're both right and I am just going to keep my head up and be happy with whatever we get =) because at least we will be together!

Maria, sometimes there are delays.  I am wondering does he actually have orders assigned? If he does it may be due to where he is to be assigned.  If he is going to a command that is deployed or out of the country the process does take longer.  He would need a passport and a message sent to the future command to see when they want him to arrive; if it is a ship they would have to be in port for example.   I would recommend him speaking with his instructor again and if he has a Chief to see about speaking with that individual.  I hope that he gets answers soon and good luck!  The last thing I can say is welcome to the military, no matter the branch we all learn patience.

DJFnine, I talked with my son today and he told me that they put him with the reserves group (he is full time) and told him that some of the FTS Corpsman have been assigned to ships recently and they also told him that they would have orders for him in 2 weeks. Thank you for the Info this is a great place for info!!