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

Sailors becoming Hospital Corpsmen at A School in San Antonio, TX - best rating in the Navy!  The Hospital Corps is the Navy's only enlisted Corps and the most decorated in the Navy.  Families, friends and loved ones, join in!  

WELCOME!! 

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  • Jana

    If you go up to the ticket counter with your SR, he/she can get you a gate pass to go through security and wait with them at the gate.  It is so worth it!

  • DramaSoul

    Definitely the airport understands families of Sailors wanting to be with them.  Your Sailor must go with you to the ticket counter to get the gate pass.  He/She MUST be in uniform.  You then get to go through the TSA for VIP's with your Sailor. My Sailor's GF and I went really early to spend the day with him.  Later his father and soon-to-be step mom came and he had to go meet them, take them to the ticket counter and then go through the TSA again.  He had to be present to identify them. IT IS WORTH IT!!! I have some wonderful memories of those 12 hours at O'Hare.  Got to hear lots of stories and meet his buddies and hang out with the moms again. When they were called to board, the woman at the gate announced "We will have our military in uniform board first. Thank you for your service."  Applause spontaneously broke out and all of us moms started cryin' all over again! There were a couple of soldiers and they boarded just after our Sailors did. My son sat next to one of them and had a great conversation (he told me later).  Have to say...our Sailors looked mighty fine in their dress blues!

  • Craig

    Hey all, I'm new to this section (HM), but not to N4M's.  Just curious, in "A" school is this a joint service school? Do they teach Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines in the same class?  

    My daughter will be graduation Air Force boot camp in two weeks and should be going to HM school.  She's the only one in my family that will be a "Zoomie" and the only traitor in the family...j/kall the rest of us (5) are sailors.  I'm actually happy she's blazing her own trail.  I know she doesn't want to walk in her brothers footsteps, which is cool.  But beleive me, Christmas will be great this year with 5 sailors and 1 Air Force gal.  I think the sailors will make her comfortable by dressing like this, the we will attack. ~ha

     

    I'll be headed to San Antonio in 2 weeks and wondering what the nice restaurants and such.  What about things to do?  

    Do tell....

  • Renee

    @Craig - welcome!   Love the pic, and best of luck to your daughter!!!  My son graduated from  HM A school in Feb, and is now finishing up AVT C school in Pensacola.  What a life - winter in San Antonio and spring (plus his 21st birthday!) in FL !!!!!

    Yes, HM school is a joint service school, with beautiful new facilities.  My son has said many good things about the Air Force corpsmen.  When you're in San Antonio be sure to go to Riverwalk - lots of shops & restaurants.  Thanks to your whole family for your service!

  • DramaSoul

    @Craig..I welcome you as well! I think you are the same Craig who has the navyDEP.com site which got me through boot camp! This is how my Sailor describes Ft. Sam Houston:"Owned by the Air Force, Operated by the Army, Occupied by the Navy that advertises for the Marine Corps...although there are no Marines on the base."  His cousin, who is an O-5 in the Army and a nurse anesthetist who is being assigned to Ft. Sam Houston. There is a good chance my Sailor will run into his cousin at some point and have to salute him and call him 'Sir'.  We are laughing at just the thought.  I also have been told the Riverwalk is a must.

  • Craig

    Drama - Yep, that's me.  I opened NavyDEP in 2008 when my son was having all his friends call me all hours of the night asking questions.  I found it easier just to post their questions on the website then one question solves hundreds.

    The Air Force assigns jobs a little different that the Navy.  Most are assigned in boot camp.  She was forced to go undesignated since they didn't have any open  HM positions in DEP. So in 2 weeks we will find out if she got it or not.  

    I'll will be fun going to San Antonio to see her graduation from boot camp.  The only problem I have is converting the Navy terms to the Air Force terms.  But, I do have my handy dandy chart....

     

  • Crazy Blonde (Ship 2, Div-925)

    LOL! Love it Craig! Oh my that poor girl! The wolves are showing their teeth just a little! Grrrr...LOL!

  • DramaSoul

    Craig...you really made a HUGE difference in my life.  I went to the GLRTC Facebook page in a state of panic having no clue about what had just happened with my son's enlistment.  You told me about the N4M site and the navyDEP site.  That's when I realized that not only had my son enlisted but I had enlisted as well...we are a family.  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about that.  Now...I have a wonderful group of people to whom I can go who know EXACTALY what I am going through.  My son joked when we were at liberty after PIR that the moms knew more about what was going on at boot camp than they did!  Also...you made aware of those interesting toilets at O'Hare...which are now a must see for ANYONE going to O'Hare! Have a great day and THANK YOU!!

  • DramaSoul

    Craig...I love the list!! My Sailor has talked about the differences with the Air Force...something about the way they march...LOL!

  • cindylou61

    Craig, love the list! I'm going to share it with my SA :o)

  • Teach

    I love how you described Ft. Sam.  I would add that my son says it is Army food and Army food is horrible!  He actually misses the Navy food at Boot Camp.

    I also love being able to talk to our son now.  He told us last night that he still doesn't know when class will start, no tentative dates even and he arrived 4/13.  He is either class 150 A or 115 A.  I thought he said 150 but then when I got back on here after talking to him, that seems like a long way from the other numbers I'm seeing.  I'll have to clarify with him.

    He is learning the importance of daily shaving and regular haircuts.  Yesterday he got dephased to phase 1 and is back to no civies because of those two things.  Needless to say, he was NOT happy about that.  They have to learn!

  • DramaSoul

    TeacherMom...my son was there for a month before he classed up! Yeah...the food is another story. 

  • Teach

    thanks Drama.  I'll pass that on to him.  They actually classed up to civies after just about 10 days.  So, he's been wearing them longer than most others.  I doubt that will make him feel any better though.  Hopefully he will earn that privilege back quickly.

  • Robert/HM Mom

    Hi Everyone, I am new to this site.  My daughter left, GL on 4/27 for A school in San Antonio.  She has been able to text and call all the time but today all of a sudden her text stop.  Can anyone tell me if this is normal.  I am a little worried that I haven't gotten a reply from from my texts to her today!

  • OKCsuzieq

    My son is PIR this Friday, May 11th and will be sent to HM school in San Antonio...any idea what we can give him to take on the plane from Great Lakes?

  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    Robert, my it might be that she was in class and could not respond. Obce they start school they have very little time to themselves.
  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    Okc, we took our son his cell, laptop and ereader. Good luck to you.
  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    Okc, as long as it fit in his black backpack almost anything. Our son wanted hid cell laptop and a few personal items.
  • OKCsuzieq

    1windhaven-Maria thank you so much!

  • Craig

    Drama - Thank for the kind words.  In life we payback to society in different ways. Mine is by sharing the knowledge I have about the Navy and passing it to the young deppers that are beginning to following in my footsteps.  

    All - Can you ask your sailors what barracks # the gals from the Air Force live.  I want to drive by see what they look like.  And are they the same floorplan as the sailors barracks?

    Next, do the sailor eat at the galley on base or do they receive comrats (food allowance)?  I know the base I'm at, the sailor voted to close the galley and just collect the comrats, which is what they did.  I can't imagine them doing this in "A" school, but who knows in todays money saving economy.

    Lastly, what is the difference between San Antonio and Ft Sam?  Is this like boot camp in Great Lakes where they are on three separate bases (Camp Porter, Camp Moffett, Camp John Paul Jones)?  

  • Craig

    OKC - Since you are going to PIR this Friday, I need you to do me a favor.  FireTeamLeaderWife posted this on your groups section.  I run a Navy Dep website and I'm trying to figure out what they have in this building now.  When you're there, take a note on it and let me know so I can update my information.

    Here's her post, it's on page 10 now, but by the time you read this it will be a couple more pages back... 

    http://www.navyformoms.com/groups/group/show?groupUrl=pir-05112012&...

    -----------------------------------

    Here is what she posted on your group....: 

    I have a Mission Impossible for you Folks on this PIR group...our wonderful Retired Navy Member on here...Craig... needs some info. He runs the NavyDEP.com site and puts out some great help.

    He needs to know the Identification of the two Buildings in the Rectangle with the arrow pointing to them. The numbers are 1313 and 1314. Please make sure to note the names with the numbers...which one is in front and which is in back.

    You can right click on the Photo and Save it in your Computer.

    BTW...the area on the Photo that says "Parking Lot Graduation" is incorrect. This is the Chapel Parking Lot and is across the compound from the Drill Hall (see the Bottom of the PIC) To the Drill Halls left you will see the Visitors Center in Green...to it's left will be the Parking Garage for PIR. The Red Dot off of Gate 8 is where you enter for PIR.

    This message will self destruct in 5 seconds...

    J/K...I'm also going to make this a Discussion for those that post a response. Thank you!

  • 1proudmom

    Teachermom 150 could be right my son graduated bootcamp 4-20 and said he's 155
  • OKCsuzieq

    Craig - I have copied the picture and emailed it to myself to ask my son for the info.  I will post as soon as I get the answer. ;p

  • Craig

    OKC - Your son won't know.  However,after PIR you will walk right into that building when you go to the NEX.  Everyone goes to the NEX after PIR.  So just stop and look at it.  I think it's a bank in one of the buildings but I'm not sure.  

    If you go to my group here at N4M's, I show the entire map.  The "P" days is the one that is most read.  It's somewhere on the 1st couple pages....

    http://www.navyformoms.com/group/ctratemoms/forum/topics/boot-camp-...

  • Craig

    Sorry guys, I didn't mean for the HM forum to turn into a boot camp forum, but I just had to ask OKC since she is going there soon...  

  • OKCsuzieq

    Craig, hopefully I won't let you down!

  • Teach

    Craig...ft sam is the army base...san antonio is the city. My son marches to chow hall for breakfast and lunch but can choose for dinner. He hates the food so either goes out or cooks in the room. I laughed about your questions about the girl's barracks. I really hope my son does NOT know the answer! LOL
  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    Craig, my son is home on leave he was inGl last year will ask him if he remembers any of those buildings . I remember passing by them on our way to the nex but can't remember what they were.
  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    My son had breakfast and lunch on base. Dinner was mostly not good . He microwaved until he picked up his car. I don't know how the barracks are for the air force buy for navyA school all SR are in Fralish Halll (spelling) when my son attended last year. I assume the girls are on different floors.
  • Craig

    Let me get this straight.

    San Antonio = The city

    Fort Sam = The base

    Where does Lackland come into play? 

  • MomP(Helen)

    Lackland is Air Force base. Completely separate from Fort Sam

  • Teach

    Ft sam is army. Lackland is usaf. Both in the city of san antonio.
  • Robert/HM Mom

    Does anyone know the facebook website for HM in San Antonio? Also I think everyone hates the food there.  My daughter is a heath nut and she says the food is horrible.  She has to buy everything to eat health!

  • cindylou61

    Robert/HM Mom, this is one on FB https://www.facebook.com/METC.mil

  • dcmont (Ship 2 DIV 925)

    Hello everyone....I will be visiting my son the week of July 4, and would love suggestions on where to stay. My concern is I want to be close enough to Ft Sam Houston to get him back/forth on time, without having to fight with (tto much) traffic. AND I want the place to be nice and safe. Is the Riverwalk too far away? Feel free to inbox me, so as to not take up space on this wall. Thanks!

  • ddsweety

    Is anyone going to the graduation on June 4th-ish? My husband graduates then and I'm going alone and kinda nervous about it. I was hoping my father-in-law would come but it seems like he can't make it.

  • kimberlydale (corpsmanmom)

    Hi All - so for what it is worth .....we just got back from HM graduation. Here are a few suggestions for motels. The Homewood Suites is in a great location - you can go right out the back and your "literally" ON the Riverwalk. We stayed at the Hampton Inn (it was very nice and they serve breakfast , have outdoor pool,  gated parking lot)  - which was about a block away (easy walking) but if I did it over I would find one right on the Riverwalk. Also, Fort Sam is a 3-5 minute drive from downtown. Very close !! 

  • CDMom

    Hi Everyone,  We just got back from HM graduation.  We stayed at the Historic St. Anthony's downtown, it was beautiful, but no breakfast and you had to pay for parking or valey.  It was two block from riverwalk so it was nice to be able to walk everywhere.  A couple blocks from the Alamo.  I would find one with parking and more amenities if I were going again.

  • DramaSoul

    Thanks, CD Mom!

  • buddy

    Our son just got his orders he is going to Pensacola to Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF).

    Is anyone familiar with EMF?

  • yhammer4

    My son called me last night and said he decided to try and come home for Memorial Day weekend.  He says he has to have his itinerary to ask for the time off, but they dont expect these kids to get airline tickets without first getting permission to fly home do they? 

  • CDMom

    My son is supposed to come home for eight days before leaving for his next duty in Japan.  He is supposed to come home May 16, but they still have not given him his ticket to Japan, so how is he supposed to reroute when he doesn't have his duty ticket yet?  He is really concerned that he won't get to come home before being gone for two years and he has already been gone seven months.

  • Craig

    buddy - I haven't a clue on this HM type of info.  However, I really good on the rules about anything Navy.   Here is the info on EMF...

    http://www-nmlc.med.navy.mil/WWD-MedDPlatforms.asp

    http://www.med.navy.mil/directives/ExternalDirectives/5450.173.pdf

  • buddy

    Our son is really fired up about being assigned to the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in Pensacola.  Apparently it is like the old MASH units with mobile hospitals that can be deployed anywhere in the world for either humanitarianism reasons or to support the troops.  Deployment last usually a month to six months.    

  • Jana

    CDMom-has your son graduated yet?  Mine didn't get his ticket to Pensacola (his destination after A School) until after graduation and then he had to reroute it then.  

  • Renee

    Buddy - congratulations to your son - that sounds really exciting! 

  • DramaSoul

    txbabydocmom...is the Brooks Medical Center where Brooks City Base is/was? So it seams that Ft. Sam Houston is a hybrid. Are there any other bases like that? I know one of my Sailor's division-mates went to the Security Forces training at Lackland.

  • DramaSoul

    Thanks, txbabydocmom!  I keep thinking that Hawai'i Hickam/Pearl Harbor is Navy but I could be wrong.  My mother-in-law, may her memory be for a blessing, was a civilian nurse at Pearl Harbor and was at sea returning to the mainland on December 7, 1941.  Jeez, I just read my previous post to you and realized that I hit a wrong key...'seems' not 'seams'! My mother, may her memory be for a blessing, was an English teacher.  She is probably turning over in her grave!

  • CDMom

    Jana, Yes he graduated Monday,  He is supposed to get his ticket tomorrow which is the day before he is supposed to come home.  We are hanging he cannot reroute when he doesn't have his duty ticket yet.  We are praying he gets to come home because he has already been away seven months and will be gone two years when he leaves for Japan. 

  • Jana

    CDMom-I completely understand.  I am sure it will work out.  I was in SA the day of his graduation which was right before Christmas and then he was going on leave for a couple of weeks as everything was shut down between Christmas and New Year's.  I was hoping I could just bring him home with me, but no such luck.  He had to fly from SA to Houston and then I had to pick him up there at the airport.  Mine is now in Naples, Italy for 2 years, so I know what you're going through.  Good luck!!