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

ok...son is still in holding company. Just texted his front tooth broke. Where does he go??

They have dental facilities and will take good care of him :)

There's a big emphasis on quality dental care (as well as medical care) in the Navy with the goal of keeping service members able to perform their military duties.  My son has regular appointments per the Navy's requirements; nice for a mom to hear that he's so well taken care of!  :)

Did anyone attend the graduation on the 17th and have pictures they can post?  I was unable to go to see my son graduate and let him know I'm so very proud of him for doing so well in A school.

thank you txbabydocmom!

oh how i miss talking to family members in my sons group i post something here and its just like you dont evn matter whats up with that

Any one going to Graduation on the 23?

Candy - It is really different now that they are out of boot camp.  We had to talk with each other to find out what was going on and to survive the separation.  Now, we are better adjusted and we can talk with our Sailors everyday.  I read everything that goes on here, but don't often post because we are still very new to SA.  He's only been there a week so doesn't have any insight/problems to really bring here.  Maybe as time goes by and we have both been here longer, we will have either questions or something to contribute to others.

I read everything people post, so go ahead and continue to post.  If you have a question, I'm sure someone will have an answer.  Txbabydocmom has been very helpful.

Question for the HM A school moms.  My son's PIR is on 5/11.  He was told that he may need to stay in Great Lakes for a few weeks because the HM A school won't start for awhile. Has this happened to anyone else?

Dani - My son PIR was last Friday, 4/13.  They flew out Sat am.  His orders said school would begin on 4/23.  However, when they got to SA, they were told it was a 1 - 2 month hold before school would begin.  They place reservists and those returning from the fleet first because their enlistment term is closer to expiring than our Sailors.  Your son should fly out, but it is hard to tell when his school will begin.  I went ahead and purchased the recommended study materials for my son so he can get a leg up during this time.  I'm not sure what they are doing, but they are keeping busy.  Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info.  Can they have visits while they are holding in SA?  Can they get leave if they are not starting class? 

Yes, you can visit them.  We have relatives in SA and they are with him today.  He just arrived last Saturday.  I'm not sure if he can leave the base yet and he still can't wear civies.  They have to phase up for those things.

Dani - When SR goes to the Airport, make sure he goes to the counter at the gate to check in.  We got to the gate early.  The attendant asked for son's paperwork and took him to the counter then handed him his paperwork back.  We did not know she had placed him on an upgrade list for first class.  They filled all the empty first class seats with Sailor's headed for SA.  He had a very comfortable 3 hour flight with food and soda and somebody to wait on him after spending 8 weeks in boot camp.

So tell SR to check in at the gate when he arrives.  He can just ask if there is anything else he needs to do.  None of the sailors asked to be upgraded...they just did it for them.

Also, make sure he spends any money left on his recruit card at the NEX on Friday.  Our SR forgot and when he got to the airport he had $20 left on the card that he said was now worthless because it was only good at the recruit NEX.  Not sure if that was true, but wouldn't want to take any chances. 

Your PIR will be here before you know it.  The experience is nothing short of AMAZING!!!  The smile on his face when they were finally released and he was standing at the bottom of the bleachers as we tried to get to him was worth every penny we spent on the trip.

My son's PIR was 4/6. He left for SA the next day. He also is waiting for class to begin but he is allowed to leave the base and this is his first weekend in civilian clothes. It didn't take him long to phase up to civis. We will be heading down to see him soon but he said he won't be at phase 3 during that time which would allow him to stay off base overnight. I do like being able to text/talk with him often.

Tyler'smom, my son first thought it would be 5/9 that they would start. Now he says it got pushed back another week. Ugh

Katze - When did your son get to SA?  I'm trying to figure out just when my Sailor might start class.  He arrived 4/14.  So far they aren't even being told anything except wait.

TeacherMom my son PIR 4/6 and got to SA 4/8. Says Reservists get first dibs on seats then any open sits get filled by waiting Enlisted. So we sit and wait.

Katze - So we are a week behind you, basically.  If you might get to start 5/16, then we might get to start 5/23.  I know it is all up in the air, but just like with PIR, it is nice to know a date, even if it is a MIGHT date!

Doreen - They did that for us also.  That was the counter where they checked in to get their boarding pass and drop their checked stuff.  I'm talking about at the actual gate.  The USO guy left them once they were checked in.  We went through security with him, ate, then went on to the gate to visit.  It was at the gate counter that they upgraded him.  He was flying American Airlines.  They were awesome to all the sailors.

Dani - You are mostly likely correct.  Our son has been there a week and went off base with family today.  He still had to be in uniform though.  I'm not sure how long before they can stay overnight off base, so you might have to take him back everynight.  Maybe there is a hotel on base that is available to family. He still couldn't stay with you, but at least it would be easier picking up and returning him each day.  I'm not sure how the hotels work for family.

Txbabydocmom would know.  I'm sure she will read this the next time she is on and will be able to tell you.

just wondering how i get involved in this group. 

xtrmeRN, this group is for getting to know other future corpsman parents and learning about Hospital Corps school and the HM rate.  Those attending Corps School graduation have a chance to meet up in person, always fun!  Introduce yourself and feel free to ask away.

Welcome xtrmeRN - My son arrived in SA from GL on 4/14.  He is currently waiting to start HM school and enjoying the "freedom" of being away from boot camp and away from home. I am enjoying having the ability to text/talk to him again after 8 weeks of boot camp. 

We live in Florida and this is our first child in the Navy, so it is all new to us.  txbabydocmom can answer just about any question you have.  There are a lot of us but it isn't nearly as active as the PIR groups were.  Know that when you post, lots are reading but not everyone responds.

Question..... My son signed up for 5 years active and 3 inactive. Boot Camp and A School active or inactive?

My son is doing very good in school so far he has taken 3 tests and got really high scores ao very pround of him he love school and all of his buddies that make the time go by faster for me

Well, after a much anticiapted wait...My husband got his orders.  He'll be off to Camp Pendleton for FMTB.  Seeing as though we're in PA we were both hoping for Camp Lejuene.  Not the case anymore.  Class doesn't start until July, so they'll be in a hosptial out there working from May till July.  I'm crushed, I was really looking forward to driving to North Carolina on the weekends!  I suppose this is all part of the process, right?  Brighter note: Class 080 graduates A-School in less than two weeks!  I'll be in sunny San Antonio that weekend, thank the Heavens we'll get to spend those days together!  What a ride this has been and to think...It's only getting started!!

 Katze90210 (3/113)  are you already counting the days?

buddy till? His start time keeps changing and I don't have any real info. He was supposed to start 5/9 now its 5/16.

Thanks txbabydocmom for the info

Thanks for the info txbabydocmom.  I'm glad they get to do the clinicals...OJT.

It seems that the higher ups don't realize how long these HM's are waiting for classes to start.  Before his PIR, my relative in SA checked with the commander of METC, whom he knows personally, and was told there was a time there was a long wait but they were back to 7-10 days.  Even he didn't realize the length of time they are waiting.  My son's orders he left GL with said 10 days.  They were told 2 months when they arrived that night in SA.

How do we find out what class they are in, or do we have to wait until they start school?

Ok Thanks Txbabydocmom just when I got the hang of Boot Camp he moves on. LOL Now I'm trying to learn A School ropes. Ugh the push backs, oh well hurry up and wait right?

Thats a great idea......workbook. Too bad the budget doesnt allow for those. Anything that is going to help get them better grades. I read,I think on here, that EMT is very hard. What happens if they flunk a test. Do they get another chance and if so,how many chances do they get to pass?

Now that my son is at this point..."A" school I would like to know...Do all Corpsman go with Marines? Is there a benefit to going with the Marines?  Do you get paid more?, advance faster? If you dont go w/ marines then what?  Are you put in a hospital & if so do you get to pick where?  is that where the 3 choices come in ?

1proudmom,We did not give our son any cards coloring books etc. and he was 6th in his EMT class. And he just finished the nursing portion and scored a 91. So if your SA is studious then stand back and let them go. If not then you can try these things. He told us that they told them they did not need anything to study before classing up and that the Navy provided all the needed study materials and if your SA used their time wisely they will succeed. As of where your SA will go depends on their contract and availabe Jobs. I hope this helps. Our SA Got his orders to report to a ship Rodney M davis FFG60 in Everett WA.

well  my son is doing so good he got a vey high score on his test today and now on to the 4th test great job son

SA = Seaman Apprentice  

Does anyone know if they will have Friday, May 25th off?

@Katze90210, the one I recommend is this one; link:  Kaplan EMT Basic Exam review (you can get it at bookstores too).  Gives a good head start.