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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  • DramaSoul

    cindylou61...we do live in a very small world.  We are interconnected in so many ways and this is one of the most tragic.  Prayers for healing for those who were wounded and for the all of the families, as you say, who are even remotely affected. 

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Wow Craig thoughts and prayers and so glad someone was looking out for your son!
  • DramaSoul

    Craig...thanks for all of the information on the Triton and the Challenge Coins including the flags and pennants.  It is so interesting to me.  I am looking forward to getting the Kennedy coin.  What was the site again where I can buy these? I really really appreciate all of the effort it takes to keep us so well informed.

  • Craig

    PIRGifts are temporarily selling them on Ebay while their website is being built.  Just type in "Triton" & "Ship 12" or "JFK" & "Ship 9", you'll find them....

  • Craig

    Five sailors in the shooting.  One believed fatally.  These will be CT rating sailors.... which mean I will know him/her.  I am a retire CTM,  I work side-by-side with these sailors.  These sailors are my extended family. 

    http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/07/navy-sailors-airmen-victims-c...

  • DramaSoul

    Craig I am so sorry. In the short time my son has been a Sailor, it has become apparent to me what it means to be part of the Navy family. I will continue to pray...
  • 1proudmom

    Craig,  I dont say much on here and try to read once in a while but I just want to say that I am so sorry for everyone involved but Thank God that your son was not there.I also wanted to let you know that I bought, on ebay, the Triton, Ship 12 (my son was Ship 12 at bootcamp) challenge coin...Its very nice!

  • Craig

    God bless to Navy Cryptologic Technician John Larimer and Air Force Staff Sargent Jesse Childress, may these men RIP.

    You will not be forgotten with this senseless act in the shooting Aurora Colorado....

    http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=68511

  • Craig

    1proud - Glad you liked the USS Triton Ship 12 coin.  You should see how I deigned the USS Chicago Ship 7 coin, it looks really awesome.

    I probably should tell you guy this, but I rejected this coin 4 times.  They kept messing it up and I wouldn't accept it.  I finally approved it.  PIRGifts never said anything, but I know they were ticked. Oh well, they need to learn that senior Navy guys don't take second hand result.  We want everything perfect!  

    Here is what it will look like.  It took weeks to design this....(don't let them know I showed you ~ha) this one gets released August 5th....

  • OmahaRudy

    Corpsman family who has gone before me. I need your help. Someplace on here a few weeks back someone posted the name of an EMT book that is very helpful for our corpsman to have. I want to get it for my son -- PIR 7/27. Can you remind me of the name of the book and the author?

  • Craig

    Dedicated to John:

    This fallen shipmate has stood the watch...

    While some of us were in our racks at night, this young sailor stood the watch...


    While his friend continued on in school, this shipmate stood the watch...

    As our families watched the storm clouds of war brewing on the horizon of history, this shipmate stood the watch...

    Many times he would cast an eye to his family and friends standing there, needing him to be part of their lives, providing guidance and help, but he knew he must stay,  because he had the watch.


    He stood the watch so that we, our families, and our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety each and every night, knowing that this sailor stood the watch

    Today we are here to say "Shipmate... the watch stands relieved".  Relieved by those shipmates that you have works with and that you have enjoyed your liberty with. 

     

    John, you now stand relieved.. we have the watch... 

     

    Fair winds and following seas shipmate!...

  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    Craig that was beautiful. Brought tears.
  • DramaSoul

    Craig...thank you for this movIng and beautiful tribute. Sitting here trying to see the keyboard through the tears.
    'Fair winds and following seas' indeed.....
  • DramaSoul

    OmahaRudy...I am looking at my son's EMT book that he left home when he went onto Camp P. I may have to send it to him at some point but he was attempting to travel lighter. It is called "Emergency Care".  It is the 12th edition and the authors are Daniel Limmer and Michael F. O'Keefe.  This is the book he will be issued. Hope that helps!

  • OmahaRudy

    Thank you DramaSoul.
  • 1proudmom

    txbabydocmom,  Happy to hear that everything worked out for all of you! 

  • Tally_Navy Dad

    1proudmom, Omaha Ruby, and Dramasoul.  Just a note about the book. . . there may be a different book.  My son finished EMT a couple of weeks ago.  He had a roommate that was 8 - 10 weeks ahead.  They discussed Josh buying the book from him and he was told that his class (160 Alpha) was getting the first of the new books.

    I will ry to find out from him which one he has now.  If I remember correctly, I believe the textbooks are issued just be fore they class up, but as others have said, there are alot of good study resources: Kaplan EMT, Anatomy Flash Cards, etc.

  • Tally_Navy Dad

    Craig, Jana, DramaSoul (& others) -

    Regarding class numbers.  My son is in class 160 Alpha. His friend is in 160 Bravo.  The classes ARE sequential, but go up by 5, ie 150, 155, 160, 165,etc)

    The Alphs group of each class usually has about 40 sailors/airmen and the Bravo group has about the same.  Thus, an average of 80 sailors per class to start.

    As classes progress, some may fail to make the minimum grade of 70% on an exam.  If this is the case, there is a re-take.  If the sailor passes the re-take, he/she moves forward as usual.  If a second fail is received on the same exam, it is referred to as a "double tap" and the sailor is rolled back and sent to join a different class (newer in progression). 

    My son gave the example of a ailor who double-tapped the 6th exam and was rolled back to join a class that was on Exam 2.  He repeats the material and moves forward with the later class.

    Hope this helps.

  • DramaSoul

    TallyNavyDad...you statement confirms what my son has told me about the 'double tapping' of a test.  He also was originally in Class 115 but was rolled back to Class 120 because of reservists and fleet returnees who take precedent over active duty. 


    My son also told me that it really doesn't pay for someone to buy the book ahead of time since they will be getting whatever book they are using when they class up.  He said it was a question of studying once you got the book.  It is intense because it's a lot of information for the EMT phase. Study groups help.

  • Craig

    Does anyone have a sailor in the 260's "C"?

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Sometimes a C class is added. My son said they added Airforce to the mix which created 150C. Now 160 has A,B,C
  • 1proudmom

    TallyNavyDad,  Im not surprised if book changes.Thats one thing I think everyone seems to learn pretty quick....how much things change. My son is class 155B (they are in Nursing segment right now) and thats the book   ( Emergency Care.........) they used during EMT section.He finished EMT, I believe, on Mon. July 2nd.

  • Craig

    Sorry for the typo.  I meant does anyone have a sailor in 160C? 

  • 1proudmom

    What, exactly does 0000( quad 0)  mean?

  • KaylaRae

    So I know hotels are always a question on here so here is one to avoid. I have been in SA since the 13th spending time with my bf on the weekend and making dinner for him on the week nights. I choose the Value Place an extended stay off of 35. DON'T STAY HERE. They charge for everything! I paid a $100 deposit that I found out about when I paid for it, they only provide 1 roll of toilet paper, if you need more you have to buy it. You have to pay $7 a week for linen exchange and if there are any stains they charge for them. (I just got done washing the sheet in the bath tub because I scratched a bug bite on my leg that bleed a little on the sheets). 

    Also they really didn't explain how the paying works and I just figured they would bill when I left or I would pay when I checked out. Anyway the manager banged on my door this morning around 8:45 and then proceeded to walk in without giving me a chance to respond... I was getting ready for a shower so I had no clothes on. When I opened the door (with clothes of course) he got really upset at me that I hadn't paid and that I have till 11 to pay or I would be charged a $45 late fee... their office didn't even open until 9am and I was going down anyway because my key would let me into the building but not my room. 

    Anyway there have been a couple other things as well but I figured I have bitched enough. I wish I would have turned in the sheet yesterday morning so I could leave today but it would cost just as much to get out of here (you loose the deposit and get a $45 cancel fee) as it would to just stay. 

    On a happier note, even though I am sad this time has gone by so fast and I don't know when I can see bf again, I am happy that graduation is tomorrow and he can move on to FMTB. I know he is excited. 

  • Teach

    Proudmom-quad 0000 means they do not go to C school now and do not have a specialization right now. They go straight to a base. That is what my son chose to do, contrary to our advice. He is tired of schooling.
  • Robert/HM Mom

    Hi Tally Navy Dad, sounds like your son is doing great.  My daughter is hoping for Bethesda, MD. She said they get their orders today or tomorrow.  They moved graduation up to September 5th.  Can't wait to see her.  Hope to drive over and pick her up.  What is your sons graduation date?

  • Tally_Navy Dad

    Josh is in 160 Alpha.  We texted last night and h said he expects to graduate on 5 Sept also.  Keeping our fingers crossed that there is a Surg Tech C School billet coming his way.  If so, he will be at Fort Sam until the spring.  Hopefully he will get to come home on leave between A School and C School or first duty station.

  • Robert/HM Mom

    Yes, my daughter is in 160A also,  she is doing well. She is  starting to  find a true direction now.  She still wants clinic psychology, God bless our wonderful sailors.  So very proud to be a Navy Mom!!!!!!

  • Jana

    I just found out about another Navy tie to one of the young men killed in the Colorado shooting.  It was mentioned in our local paper that one of the young men killed,  Jonathan Blunk (he pushed his girlfriend to the ground and kept her from getting hit)  has relatives in Lufkin a town 20 miles from where I live. The paper said he was a Navy veteran.  RIP Jonathan....

  • 1proudmom

    Teach,  As a quad 0000 what are some of the things he could be doing?When you say "specialization' do you mean psychology, dentistry, etc., etc..... the different things you could do in the medical field?

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Teach has your son said anything about a graduation date? Mine is saying the 20th or 21st somewhere around there

  • Teach

    Katze- mine said 21st last time I asked. We are enroute to SA now. Will be there Wed thru Sun and I will ask again. We can't go then because it is the first days of school, but since he's going quad 0, he'll be home shortly after that.

    Proud mom- my understanding is that they fill in wherever needed across the hospital which to me translates to doing the jobs nobody else wants to do. The only advantage for our son is that he really didn't know what he wanted to do so this will allow him time to experience and decide before he applies for c school later. He is going to Portsmouth, VA. Of course, he also didn't have a lot of choices. He has chosen to study just enough to get by, his normal MO, so therefore he was way down on the list for choosing. There wasn't much left even in quad 0 assignments by the time it was his turn. One of these days he will join the adult world and grow up, but not so far.
  • Teach

    Big sigh
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Teach my son is going to NC for 8 weeks to train with the Marines then off to VA for 3 years. I don't know if that is quad 0 or not, I will ask him when I talk to him. We won't be able to go either to graduation because we have to drop my other son off in NC to set him up in his dorm on the 20th! 

  • 1proudmom

    Teach....Ok... so they can pick something else later and how much later?

    I know my son was in a fairly good position for picking but he said everywhere /everything he wanted was taken.He also doesnt know what field he wants to go into.I hope for his sake, he(my son ) made the right choice.I think he may be a little confused.....oh no...that would be me!

     

  • 1proudmom

    Big sigh here too!

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    My son thought about going to C school right after A school but when he found out that if you do that and pick a certain field, then that is the field you will be in for the next 5 years. He figured it would be better for him to do field work, get a taste of what is out there, then make a decision. 

  • Teach

    Katze, that doesn't sound like quad 0. Sounds more like the fm something that provides services to the Marines. I've heard it is a physically demanding program, but very desirable and rewarding.

    Proudmom- not sure how long but I've heard of others doing this then going to school later. I would imagine it just depends on when there is an opening. I don't know if they get priority over those in school or not. HM was not my son's first choice so he didn't go in with any idea of what he wanted to do. He now thinks he is going to be at a base working, planning to live off base and be free. Hah, he has a lot to learn about the military and the real world. He is still an E1 so he won't be able to get BAH, most likely, and probably couldn't afford to live off base even with it. He can spend money faster than he can make it, so has a lot of maturing to do. However, we are letting him learn on his own because of course, we dont know anything!
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Teach He is going FMTB training and quad 0 is what he is now. It's a basic corpsman. At least that is what he is telling me.When he gets to VA he will do different things in the hospital. OR, ER Peds ect

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Kathy thanks for the info, pretty much what my son said. He has been busting his A** working out. I hope it will help when he goes to NC

  • 1proudmom

    My son is in Class 155B. He has mentioned that as of right now, his Corpsman graduation is Aug. 28th. Does anyone on here have a Sailor in 155B and if not maybe 150? . Curious to hear what they have heard for Graduation dates. 

  • DramaSoul

    My son is at Camp P awaiting the move into Devil Doc Hall this week.  He has been working out (two-a-days) ever since he got his orders.  He graduated 2 July and even home on leave for 14 days he kept working out.  I guess they don't get their marpat issued boots and NWU's for a couple of weeks so I sent him a few packages of moleskin.  Still trying to find those socks that were mentioned!

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    My son is in 150C, right now I think their grad date is 8/20. But as you well know, that could change at any time!

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Ok where do I get the mole skins and socks? 

  • 1proudmom

    Thank You Katze.    I know this question has been asked before but I cant remember what the answer was( probably too far away for me to even think about at the time).....Are all the Corpsman Graduations on a Monday?

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Proud from what I've seen they are but Craig or Txbaby would probably know better since they've been around longer

  • DramaSoul

    Katze...my son thought the same thing.  He wanted some experience before he narrowed the field. 

  • DramaSoul

    The moleskin I bought at Fred Meyer. Basically any drug store will have it.  It will be with the Dr. Scholl's/foot stuff.  Still trying to figure out the socks.  Anyone know the name of the socks?  I know someone mentioned fox something but I don't know what that is.

    Corpsman graduations have been on Mondays of late but that could change! It's the Navy, after all.

  • DramaSoul

    Jana....did you read Craig's tribute?  I have shared it with several people.  It is so beautiful and I have yet to be able to read it without tears streaming down my face.