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

Awhile back Craig mentioned that the AROC's in the Navy sounded like they could be on American Idol. I just found out from my son that one of his classmates who just graduated with him had made it to the 4th round of American Idol so Craig wasn't far off.  She sang the solo in the National Anthem for their graduation and it was AMAZING! I thought at the time that her voice was pretty spectacular and had no idea. 

tsbabydocmom...SWEET!  My son sings and plays guitar and has toured Europe with his father's Americana/Bluegrass band.  He didn't want to pursue that in the Navy...he wanted to be a Corpsman going green side.  He was asked to sing in the choir for graduation but couldn't fit it all in with his two-a-days (in prep for Camp P) and everything else. Maybe Craig is right! We've got the best AROC's around and, of course, the Navy band!

I hear you txbaby, I much rather have a nice hotel room, than a RV.

Since it seems like some of you mom like to travel, I posted this to help you save some of your vacation cost when you travel anywhere in the world.  

Sorry, I couldn't post it here since I'm not a group admin for this section and have no way of making "Pages" here.  

You might want to book mark it.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/deppersinbutnotyet/page/cheap-hote...

Thanks Craig.  I did bookmark it.  I realize that I could've saved some money in SA so I am gonna check this out before going to visit my son at his next station.

I have a question and I am not sure if I should ask it here or at the New Members page but here goes.  One of the things that was drilled into my son's head at boot camp is that when a Sailor is traveling in uniform, it must be either the service or dress uniform.  If the Sailor is going to a new duty station, it must be the dress uniform.  A Sailor traveling can NEVER wear ndubs.  Weelllll...we were in baggage claim in Portland when out of the corner of my eye I see someone in ndubs...also waiting for luggage at the next carousel over.  My son saw her as well. I said to him "I thought you couldn't travel in those." He had a colorful reply using scatalogical language that was said only loud enough for me to hear, Before he could say anything else, this person turned and he saw it was a lieutenant so he shut his mouth and turned away.  Do officers operate in a different Universe?  My nephew is an officer in the Army and I know they can travel in working uniforms.  But this was a Naval Officer.  Just curious if anyone knows about this.  Craig or txbabydocmom...I sorta thought one of you would know. 

I was thinking the same thing.  What the heck is a ndud?  

I can only assume digital cami's....  It depends on where he was going if he can use them or not.  

Here are the rules in NAVADMIN 366/11:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/...

btw;  All Navy messages are capitalized.  This is from the era when teletypewriters could only do capital letters.  The Navy never change the rules on messages, and probably never will since you don't have to do many corrections

txbabydocmom, I hope you can help. My daughter graduates C school the end of July. We are coming down to see her and bring her home. Can you recommend of pet friendly (her dog) hotel not to for from the base? So many, and we would like one half way decent.

does anyone know when class 150 graduates?  I want to try and get down there to surprise my daughter...

Kahli's Mom. Nothing is set in stone. Last I heard its at the end of August, like the last Monday of August. But it was supposed to be middle of August, because of orders getting messed up with the class before them, 150 got rolled back to the end of August. My husband and I would love to surprise our son, but are waiting to hear from him.

ok...thanks for the info.  :)

Kahli's Mom, my daughter is in 150 or 160, I keep forgetting and always forget to write it down.  I do know that she was suppose to graduate for sure on 8/30/12.  Yesterday she told me that the graduation date was moved up to 9/5/12.  I will be driving from FLA to TX on the 2nd to get there in time for her graduation.

My son is currently in A school and I was wondering what his graduation will be like? I know it is not as extensive as his first graduation, but how long does the graduation last and is it typically attended by quite a few families? Thanks for any info. that can be given!

tyler'smom88...if you scroll back in the thread I give a full description of the Corpsman graduation. Not well attended by families but so worth it.  Very personal and intimate as it is only your Corpsman's class.  We had 88 Sailors. Great chance to meet instructors and friends.

Hello All! 
 
First off, I really appreciate this website very much.  I just wish I had known all about it BEFORE my Husband entered Bootcamp.  I really appreciate the conversations even if I don't actively participate.

Husband is currently at Fort Sam Houston, TX taking his Corpsman classes (and he’s almost done!).  About a month ago, he started a Blood/Platelet Drive for the Blood Bank there on base.  He has been very successful in getting quite a few Sailors to donate blood (and recently had a handful of O Negs in the mix) and schedule platelet donations.  He recently had a gal from the Air Force get involved and has started getting a few other Service Branches in the mix.  I am very proud of him and all he’s accomplished since he’s been gone (since the beginning of the year).  But that’s not really why I am typing this… 
 
Quite a few of you have Sailors at Fort Sam Houston – or have some that are about to be.  If you could, please ask them to seek out “Grandpa” (Husband’s nickname since Boot, seeing as he is a bit older than most of the guys) and speak to him about donating Blood and/or Platelets.  (“Many patients who need platelets are undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant and have weakened immune systems. A platelet dose from a single donor reduces the patient’s exposure to multiple donors and is therefore preferred by many physicians.” – Red Cross Website)  Husband wanted me to point out that platelets are often used for skin graft procedures on amputees and burn victims – quite often used for our Servicemen coming Home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  These types of donations go to help our Wounded Warriors and others who are in desperate need.  And, according to Husband, the Blood Bank has a great need for both platelet and blood donations. 
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this and spreading the news to our Men and Women at Fort Sam Houston. 
 

Dramasoul, re: the A School Graduation, did you get to spend time with your Sailor after the Ceremony?  Thanks so much!

RedHeadedNavyWife...We had the whole day until 2200 (10:00pm) after the ceremony.  The Sailors had an admin briefing after the ceremony,  My son was going to be traveling home on leave before going to his FMTB training at Camp Pendleton the next day so he got his plane ticket and orders at the briefing.  One of his buddies who was staying for clinicals and then C school at Ft Sam, had a longer briefing.  My son will be doing his 10 days of clinicals at Camp P hospital before his FMTB training starts.  So it just depends on what your Sailor is doing next.  Also, I think what your husband is doing is GREAT!! Just how old is he, BTW? My son is 23 and he seemed a lot older than most of his classmates.  He did have a guy in his division at boot camp who was 29.

NormaH....there were 88 Sailors in his graduating class but there were also Air Force medics graduating in a ceremony after our Sailors graduated.  While they have trained in some classes together, there are separate graduating ceremonies for the separate branches of the service.

This ceremony is more intimate and, in some ways, less formal but so meaningful. I do encourage you to scroll back in the thread because I gave a very good description of the whole ceremony. Also, if you need turn by turn directions to Anderson Hall, I know them!! I would be happy to share.

The next morning we met up with some of my Sailors classmates at the airport (0430 in the morning!) and it was a hoot to listen to them talk about where they were going and making sure they had each others' contact info. 

DramaSoul - Thanks for all the great information regarding graduation. It sounds like a nice graduation to attend!

I have a few questions:

1.  Is there any way for the sailors to get around beside in a taxi? 

2.  Do you know anything about sailors being overpaid and then having the money removed from their accounts later on?

3.  My daughter is starting her classes on Monday in class #195.  Is there anyone else who's sailor is in that class?

Hey all- I am hoping txbabydocmom may help a little? I am getting a little baffled. My husband is a reservist in class 135. He graduates in two weeks, and no orders! They are asking him about his chit (he asked for a few days leave) and are confusing the crap out of us in regards to what his leave would look like, how it's being paid for, etc. But we cannot answer anything until he knows where the heck he is going and when. We live near Pendleton, which is where we thought he was heading, but he heard it's full until Jan, so it may be NC for him.

But maybe his place was already secured, or he's automatically in as a reservist or...? Bottom line is neither of us can get any word on anything whatsoever and at two weeks out, we're getting so frustrated!

NormaH...is he in the first 5 weeks? Those tests are really hard...50 questions covering 9 chapters (my sailor told me that).  Hang in there.  :-)

Woo-hoo, Navy son is home on leave....  His main reason he came home is he had to meet with a couple business owners for the private business he's starting up.

Just before he left he was awarded "Military Person of the Quarter", which is just like "Sailor of the Quarter" but since it's a joint service base you also compete against all the other services....  Woo-hoo....

He a CTN...  

He is really into hot cars and photography.  So him and a some other sailors around the world (Germany, San Diego, Texas, Georgia, Florida, England) go to the car shows and take pictures of all the hot exotic cars & hot models.  They also do photo shoots of people that want pictures of their own cars.  Kind-of baby pictures for the car.

They then link their pages to sponsors who sell are parts and add-on's.  They officially started the company two months ago.  Two days ago was their biggest day, they had 12,347 views on the website for the Hawaii show in just 24 hour.  

http://www.facebook.com/AwesomeSauceLifestyle

and

http://awesomesaucelifestyle.com/

Of course he's a CTN! What was I thinking?!!

Great looking cars! Whenever I would go to LA to visit my family, my uncle and I (and my son) would end up at the Peterson Museum.  Saw a great hot rod exhibit there years ago.  I have a couple of patients who are in to restoring old cars...one brought his purple 1956 T-bird by for me to see when he came in for his cleaning.  My uncle had a Franklin Mint collection of some of the old cars some of which have been passed onto my son.  Enjoy your visit with him!!

Thanks, Katze. I think that is normally the case but my husband is FMF, so he's either NC or Pendleton..just don't know when and where! The only reason it matters is if he is already in pendleton, leave will be easy- I just pick him up :) Ha.

NormaH...don't worry. (Easy to say hard to do!).  There were some guys in my son's class who got rolled back during that first 5 weeks.  They got it..just takes a little time.  Basically they are learning in 5 weeks what civilians take 14 weeks to learn!

1windhaven-maria and txbabydocmom 

Thanks for your help.  She has been sharing a taxi with friends, they just like to go out a lot and it all adds up.  

Still looking for anyone out there with kids in class 195.  

dcmont....my son graduated 2 July and they had an admin briefing after graduation.  He had liberty the rest of the day until 2200 after that.  He was leaving the next day.  One of his buddies who was staying at SA for C school (and 5 days of clinicals) had a longer briefing and didn't really have time to spend with his family until later in the day.  It just depends on their orders and where they are off to!  It is a ceremony worth seeing and if you scroll back in the thread I give a detailed account of the ceremony.  :-)

Hi Everyone, does anyone have a sailor at Fort Sam Houston in class 160 alpha?  Would love to chat!

A Navy Blanket my Mom made for my son (Her Grandson)!

Your mom is very talented, Katze!  I hope your son loves it!

Katze did she crochet it? Looks great! How big is it?

Drama she crochet it. the size is 62 x 52. She used a pattern she got out of a book called Leisure Arts Little book. The pattern is called Graceful Appeal. The pattern was created by Carol Prior. There is a web site at www.leisurearts.com. My mom added her own touch because I asked for it to be Navy blue, yellow and white. Hope this helps Robert/HM Mom

Oh and I got the patch at a store in the River Walk mall but I'm sure you can get them on line

Thanks, Katze!  I used to do lots of handcrafts and looking into getting started again. :-)