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

Hey anyone know if there is a Fort Sam Houston Challenge coin? While my son may not have been honored with receiving a coin from higher ranking Officers or even  "Coined", I feel if I get him these coins to put in a display case, they would be nice to have as reminders of things he has done, seen or achieved and they will be kept at home waiting for him!

My son is in 170 and picked orders today and got AVT c school Pensacola, FL. So, I don't have to go through all the posts would someone mind helping me with AVT C school and what that means?

DaniHMSchool Mom what did your son get?  I think they are in the same class and would luv to find out if they know each other.  Are you going to Graduation and if you are I would luv to meet you!

Thanks everyone! and I luv the emoticons!!!

@OKSusieq, here is some info about it - AVT - Aerospace Medicine Technician from med.navy.mil   Congratulations to your sailor!

God bless the crew of the USS Porter (DDG-78) today.  There appears to be NO loss of life.  Thankfully...

 I also feel sorry for the skipper as they put him through the wringer..

OKCsuzieg - My son got Surg Tech.  He stays in San Antonio for 6 more months of training.  He wants to get a car so that he can purchase his own food. 

Craig....yes...thankfully no loss of life.  What caused it?

txbabydocmom....oh good! Gotta keep up those contacts!

I  saw a news program that said the DDG had passed through the straits and was headed into the red sea. A tanker was headed toward the straits. The DD took a left, right in front of the tanker. That equals a COs career is over along with whoever had the conn.

You will find out that the CO was at fault. 

USN ships have no inherent right of way in US waters. They must following the Navigation rule:

Conduct of Vessels within Sight of Each Other—applies to rights-of-way when two boats/ships approach each other. Rules 13 through 15 cover the three conditions under which you can encounter another vessel: overtaking, head-on and crossing. (Submarines have been known to surface under surface-going vessels, but that encounter is inexplicably missing from the Navigation Rules.) The rules covering encounters are very much like the rules of the paved road—just swap vehicle for vessel and right for starboard: If you’re passing, you’re obligated to keep clear of the slower vehicle. If you’re head-on, you need to get to the right side of the road. And if you’re crossing, you must yield to the vehicle to your right.

Craig, I read about that this morning and I just cringed and wondered who was at fault since all the news report said was that it was being investigated.  I also saw the pictures but yours are clearer maybe because they are bigger here than on my phone. 

@DaniHMSchoolMom  Congrats to you and your son on his pic of Serg Tech and my son wants one too! and after reading about where he will be going it looks like he needs one just to get to and from where he will be staying and working!

@Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom thank you!  Does anyone know what AVT acronym really stands for?  I understand that he will be an aerospace medical technician but wasn't sure what AVT stood for.

About 14 years ago, I was a sailor...actually learned to sail small sailboats 'cause I was dating a guy who had a 24 ft sloop.  Right of way is critical.  Wow. 

That's like making an illegal left turn into oncoming traffic.

NavyGirlz - Have I got something for you!  Years ago, the Navy was promoting how well the new Battle station would work to senior management.  They release this video as public domain.  Then they realized they didn't want to be public because they want to keep the recruits scared to see if they panic.  This is when they made the sailors start signing page 13's to not disclose what happens.  That form is basically useless with this video.  This video tells it all.

Luckily, since government funds were used, it was released  as "Approved for Public Release. Distribution Unlimited."

You won't find it anywhere on Youtube, or anywhere else.  It only was public domain for less than a week.

http://www.teamorlando.org/case-studies/battle-stations.shtml

NavyGirlz....military time (the 24 hour clock) actually makes it easier once you get used to it.  It did take some time to get used to it!!!

I belong to a lot of different military forum website.  I always forget which ones I post until the topic comes up again.  Pretty awesome video huh?  Kind of gets people to understand the stuff these guys go through.  It pays off when things like the USS Porter happens....

Thanks for posting that video. I just watched it and got tears in my eyes and miss my son even more....but am more proud of him than I was a half hour ago and I'm going to write him another letter right now! :-) Thank you!!

txbaby - Can you try to find out who the Navy Ombudsman is for Ft.Sam?   I don't want the staff/instructor one, I only want the one for students going through training at Ft. Sam. 

I go down to Ft. Sam in a couple weeks and plan on staying there for a week because I want to either talk to the Ombudsman, MWR, or the Commanding Officer.  This crap about sailors paying a fortune for taxi's is really ticking me off.  I want to either help solve it or make it known that we parents are ticked.  

I'm hoping that the Navy will take the lead and sponsor a bus to regularly come on base to take these sailors out on liberty. I don't mind the sailors paying a small fee to use the bus, but most of the amount should be covered by the MWR fund (I would hope). It can't hurt to ask. 

Let me know what you can find out..... 

Hi DaniHMSchoolMom -

My son also recently rcvd orders for Surg Tech.  He finishes A school on 5 Sept and begins C school on 19 Sept.  Best wishes to your sailor and your family.

My daughter was at Ft Sam over a year ago and they never complained about the Taxi's as a matter of fact a bunch of them would get in a go and explore : ) She loved it... It was new to them all and they all shared the cost..

Craig, on behalf of the young people (sailors, airmen, et al) thank you.  Several weeks ago when we were discussing this I sent a message to METC as a concerned parent.  The only reaction that came from it was to call my sailor into his chief's office and show him the message his "mom" wrote to them.  

I think this taxi thing is highway robbery and sad that they either walk or pay the outrageous rates to rude drivers.  My sailor graduated today and leaves tomorrow morning.  I hope you are successful in making a change for the better for the future students there.  Best wishes!

My son will be graduating in a couple of weeks and my question is....what is the usual procedure for shipping their stuff...whether it be home, if they are not reporting to duty station first  or sending it directly to duty station, if they dont come home in between. In other words...is it up to individual or does Navy help?

Couple of questions

1. Does anyone know if the sailors are recognized for  making the Deans list? and if so....how?

2. Ive heard a couple of scenarios as far as when they get their tickets...3 days before grad., just before grad., etc. so I guess thats a "wait & see" & I  understand he pays the difference between his duty station fare and home fare but then after that....does he  then buy his own ticket down to duty station when he gets home?

Per the Taxi's:

I will do whatever this group wants me to do.  My main focus is to do what the sailor think is right.  So talk to your sailors, find out if they don't go on liberty because the taxi cost too much, or if they just prefer to stay in their rooms and play play-station or read a book.  Some sailors truly would rather read a book than go out.  Others rather explorer the world.  Both are ok, but in life it "We the people".  The majority rules....

The score so far about the taxi is:

For talking to someone: 1

Not talking to someone: 1

I know these guys are new in the Navy and don't want to "rock-the-boat".  But I'm not afraid of too.  Sometimes its fun to rock the boat and see where it takes you....

So post away and let me know your thoughts.....

I will ask my daughters friends that were with her.. I just know that they never complained and seem to enjoy.. They went everywhere... While I was visiting Ft Sam ( it was commanders cup day ) it always looked like they would share the cost, which I found smart.. For me this is not that big of a deal..

Thank You Rhonda & Craig for the info. on "Deans list" and "shipping stuff".

Well, thank goodness they aren't there for very long and once my daughter left Ft Sam her father bought her a new car .. They truly need cars when they finish school and they are at their duty station.. While they are in "A" school they should be studying so I would focus on after "A" school...

I just wanted to put out a thank you to all of you guys.  You all of helped me even if I haven't been active. 

I do want to say about the ride sharing that my husband found it to be a bit hard as well...but he's 37.  He ended up being able to rent a car every couple of weekends and exploring the area that way.  He also learned the bus system as well and spent a couple of bucks into town that way...but not everyone wants to do that.  (I think the bus stop was right off base...so it was a walk.)  But, it is a shame that the taxis bilk our Sailors out of their money.  (When I was in a cab there recently it had a sign posted about $5 Fort Sam fare - but Husband thought it only had to do with trips ON base only...)

Also, if you have Sailors or others that are still at Fort Sam, please encourage them to give blood and/or platelets.  My husband started the program while he was there and it has been a huge success! 

(In fact, "Grandpa" - as my husband has been nicknamed - just received the Navy and Marine Medal of Achievement for putting together the blood/platelet drive!  They say they've never given that out on someone's first day as a Corpsman.  SO PROUD OF HIM!!! AND SO HAPPY I WAS THERE TO SEE HIM RECEIVE IT AT GRADUATION LAST WEEK!  It was really nice.)  /brag ;)

Thanks again everyone!  I've really learned a lot here.

RedHeadedNavyWife - Congrats to your husband.. Is your husband going Green or will he be staying Blue ?

Thanks Mikes Mom.  I want to say he said something about "green" side...but sometimes he gives me so much info I forget.  But that sounds right. 

My son has been a Navy Corpsman for 3 1/2 years and was greenside and now back to Blue .. Do you know where he will be stationed after this ?

He's a Reservist, so, he will come back to his NOSC here in the Bronx.  We would love to be Active Duty 24/7...so, we have to see what happens when he comes home in December.  What is your Corpsman's specialty? 

NavyGirlzMom, sorry I was missing for a while again. The book Marcy suggested was Kaplan EMT-Basic Exam byRichard Lapierre -- But I see Marcy answered again!

Thanks, Marcy :)

He was with his Marines .. He didn't go to C school.. He has been on 2 deployments and now he is working in a hospital

Dramasoul,  you mentioned in one of you comments that in a previous comment you wrote a lot of info. regarding graduation.

I think you said that you had just gone to your sons.

Would you happen to know, roughly, where that info. is. I have gone back many pages and cannot find it.

Wow, the bus is the deal!  The taxi situation was the same at Great Lakes, and is the same at Camp Johnson (that's where FMTB is at Camp Lejeune).   They may want to discourage too much running around - it's kind of good to pick up snacks for the room (micro and fridge) and spend time studying and working out.  They're not there for that long anyway.  And for the younger ones anyway, sharing cabs sounded like fun and a rite of passage :)  They'll have their own cars soon, as this joined-at-the-hip stuff comes to an end.

Re shipping - it's up to them, which is why it's a good idea not to send too much stuff, or for them to buy a lot during A school.  You can get a lot in a sea bag though - seriously.  According to the FAQ the base has both a US Post Office and a UPS store.  My son sent some stuff home via UPS the weekend before grad (a heavy jacket he wasn't going to need, etc).  If he/she knows someone at their first duty station, I suppose they could ship a sea bag or box there - just insure it etc.

I agree they need to study more and play less..

Mikes Mom - Is there a FMTB group on here?  I think I saw a link for one a few days ago...but cannot seem to find it.   You must be so very proud of your Son.  I am just beginning to learn about the FMTB side of things.  And couldn't be prouder!  ;)  Did he also go to Pendleton?

No he went to CL and yes he is my hero, but he has always been : )

@RedHead, here you go - FMTB.  I have all the links there.

And congrats on your hubby's achievement!!!! Do you have any pics you can post?

Thanks so much Marcy!  Those links will help!  I know that the "Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program" group on FB posted pics from last Tuesday's Graduation.  Here's a pic that I took of Husband receiving his Corpsman Certificate.  Notice the Medal pinned to his Dress Whites!  ;)  (Can you tell I am so proud of him?!) 

August%207%20A%20School%20Graduation%20SAT%20105.jpg

That's such a sweet picture : ) Thank you for sharing some thing so special

I just love it!  And so handsome in his dress whites :)  You have one super guy.  So is he headed to FMTB?

Thanks, Ladies!  He is handsome, isn't he!?  He is headed to Camp Pendleton to work in a Hospital until he classes up for FMTB.  We've only been married a year (May 2011).  It's hard...but SO worth it!  Looking forward to learning all I can about the FMTB side of this Navy Life!

Please go into that group I PMed you about