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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  • ProudUSNCorpsmanMom

    jph, my son cell broke before he left for boot camp and he's in my plan, since he's not eligible for upgrade until 11/22 so he bought a prepaid few days after he gets there.

    KJmom, the internet is weak so my son is asking me to send his router but I will not :) so he can concentrate on his class.
  • JillyBean

    KJmom, my husband got a Verizon hot spot because the Clear internet was so terrible in his room. It's a tad expensive, but they do military discounts. The 10gb plan was perfect for him, he was able to watch Netflix, Hulu, and FaceTime with me and never went over his data. He mostly used it on the weekends. It was really great for us, but if your son decides to get a hot spot plan, make sure he's careful about the amount data he uses! My husband's roommate got the same hot spot/plan, but ended up spending $700/mo because he was on the internet/watching netflix every free moment he had. 

  • lizinnj

    My daughter uses Clear. It was the cheapest. Only complaint is when her roommate uses the microwave, she loses her signal..LOL..

    Paolo, I would think about sending the router. My daughter has used the internet in her room many a time studying, googling and using the Calculus help sites. 

  • Rhonda-S12D347

    Thank you for all the info.  He said he is paying $49.99/month and uses his laptop in the computer room.  He said it should work fine.  I just thought it would be nice to work/study/or whatever(LOL) in his own room if he wanted to.  We had talked about trying the Verizon hot spot, but were concerned with going over the limit.  Although, 10 gb should serve his needs.

  • Lee57

    Good Afternoon, my son is graduating this week. Is there any information that can be provided that will help me. I do not know what time to arrive on base. When I asked my son he was not very clear only that it is 2pm Wed. Please some help me.
  • Lee57

    Txbabydocmom thank you so much.
  • lizinnj

    Txbaby........my daughter is getting married over Christmas and just asked her instructor for it yesterday. 

  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    NavygirlzMom, congratulations!!!!! My son is a surg tech and he loves it. Execpt when has to wake up at 3:30am when he is on call :) best of luck to your daughter.
  • Lee57

    Hi TxBabyDocMomi am just getting back from graduation . It was great and thank you again for everything. I hope that your date do not change and you and your husband will be able to attend. When returning back home my sailor call me there is a change with his next duty. I would like inbox you if it is okay with you
  • Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)

    NavygirlzMom. Oops sorry for the confusion. My son already graduated and is at his new post. Jacksonville fl
  • Lee57

    Hi txbabydocmom. I do not know how to inbox you. Lol
  • Karinavmg

    mrehm- Not sure about processing, but for things to send with her I would say just her intimates, any cosmetics she needs, things like that. She will need to pay for wifi, and from what my bf has told me the wifi is pretty bad. So her laptop can be sent but she may not be able to use internet until she figures that out. When she flies out of Great Lakes, she is not allowed to bring a suitcase with her. Only a carry on, so anything that won't fit in a back pack or small duffle will need to be sent to her at school.

    As for her clothes, you can send that to her if you like, but she won't be able to wear civilian clothes ON base until phase 3. She will start at phase 1 where she will be confined to the base and will need to wear her uniforms. She may go off base during phase 2 and wear civilian clothes. My bf just got to SA on the 10th and will be in phase 1 until about the 28th of November or so. That gives you an idea of how long the phases will be.

    I hope that helps!

  • Karinavmg

    mrehm- Oh gosh, just realized you said she gets leave before she goes to A school, so maybe she CAN bring a suitcase with her since she won't be leaving from Great Lakes to A school immediately. Sorry for the confusion... haha but yes keep in mind that she will not be wearing her personal clothes until phase 2!

  • CHN-B

    Frm my experience, they r not allowed cell phones, laptop etc back to their barracks after PIR, even while in holding waiting to leave for A School. The only way to hand them those items is to meet them at the airport. Otherwise u would need to mail it to them once they get to A School. :(
  • ProudUSNCorpsmanMom

    My son PIR was Oct 19th it was a long 13 hrs drive from NJ but worth every minute of it... I gave my son a divers watch as a gift when he wnt with us in the hotel after PIR and he worn it back to base with nonproblem as well as the sunglasses he bought at Gurnee ... he bought some paraphernalias at NEX b4 liberty expires and he was able to bring it back to his quarters. He arrived A sch Oct 20 but did not start class until a week after, but they were able to go out off base the following Sat after arrival and I mailed his some civ clothes, ipod , foods as well and he asked for halloween candies LOL.
  • Curleytop

    I know this information has probably been paosted some where.  Does anyone know the date that class 230 will graduate from A school?

  • ProudUSNCorpsmanMom

    I do not even know my sailor's class number :(... Curlytop when did 230 starts?
  • SailorsMomShip12Div023

    Hello, my son is currently at Great Lakes BC his PIR is 30Nov and he will be heading to BMTCP sometime after that.  I have gathered so much info on the NavrForMoms website 30NOV12 PIR during his time there and hope to continue here.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    This is the graduation schedule through Dec 19, includes "Class 230 A/B, 13-Dec-12 1100 - 1300" - is that it?  (the link is also posted above)

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Welcome new members too!  All questions welcome, lots to learn and this is only the beginning!  :)

  • CHN-B

    My sailor is scheduled to graduate A school Jan 16th ish. He will then head out for FMTB. If he's graduating on a Wed, will he stay in SA through the weekend or fly out immediately following the ceremony? Or will that depend on what his order says? Thank you for sharing ur experience & knowledge.
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    txbabydocmom how exciting and lucky for you! That's great that he gets to go home!

  • CHN-B

    Thnk u txbabydocmom. So happy for u that ur sailor will be home for the holidays. :)
    I guess I'll have to wait for his orders. He mentioned he will try out for special forces. I'm not sure how that will change things. So many unknowns. I can't seem to plan anything in advance. I will fly out for his A school graduation ceremony but don't know how long I should stay or anything since I don't know how long he'll stay there after his ceremony.
  • CHN-B

    txbabydocmom - You live in a wonderful city.
    Those of you who are looking for something to do while visiting you sailors, we went to the Wildlife Safari last weekend & had a wonderful time. It's a casual & fun/interactive place that allowed my sailor & I to just spend time & talk but see something new (as opposed to going to the movies). It was great to see him smile & hear him laugh like he used to. Then we went back to Fogo de Chao (along the Riverwalk) for dinner, fantastic food. I hope they bring this fabulous restaurant to San Francisco!
  • DramaSoul

    My son and I really enjoyed Sea World.  We had lots of time to talk and walk and enjoy the lots of things to see.  We love aquariums and the Azul show was AMAZING!

  • Curleytop

    Marcy - thanks so much for the graduation date list.  Now we can plan our trip, hopefully.  I am learning that Ma Navy changes her mind a lot.  I don't know how you veteran moms do it.  Waiting for a list to come out, certain percentages to happen.  It is all so nerve racking to me. 

    My son will graduate soon.  He received his orders last week and is very happy with them.  He goes to Camp Pendleton for FMBT, then 29 Palms.  It is exactly what he wanted.  I am so proud, yet so scared at the same time.

  • DramaSoul

    Curlytop...that's where my son is right now, having completed FMTB at CP. He loves being a Corpsman. Tell your son to show up in shape at CP! Lots of running an pullups!

  • CHN-B

    txbabydocmom - good luck w ur move to Corpus Cristi. The weather there is so nice & warm, reminds me of Hawaii. So glad my sailor & I was able to spend a day there last weekend. Charlotte Palmer (in Fulton) has one of the best bread pudding I have ever tasted!
  • CHN-B

    Dramasoul- SeaWorld sounds fun! We'll have to do that next time!
  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Curlytop ditto what Drama said. My son is at CL in NC and same thing lots of running and pull ups. He is doing really well and loves it. He will be done in 4 more weeks. Surprising how quick it goes! Hang in there.
  • Navymomx2

    Hello, new friends.  Quick question.  My son is heading to boot camp in the spring, then off to A school in San Antonio...my question is this...Does anyone know if there are many young ladies in the corpsmen programs?  My daughter is a senior in high school and considering the same path as her brother.  She is really interested in a medical career.  I welcome your comments and suggestions.

  • DramaSoul

    Scottsmom....I met some great young ladies who graduated with my son on July 2 of this year! 

  • Navymomx2

    Good to know!  Any idea what direction any of the gals were heading to from there?  I honestly don't know what options they have.  I would love to hear feedback to relay back to her about what their girls are doing after A school and what they're doing now.

  • lizinnj

    ScottsMom.............My daughter is in San Antonio. There are many young ladies in the program. She loves it there and has made so many life long friends. She is in C school there now. She went radiology and has 2 best friends in med surg and pharm tech. As nervous as I was, this has been an incredible decision in my daughters life and I couldn't be happier or prouder of her. 

  • dianevdb

    HAPPY TURKEY DAY TO ALL!

  • Katze90210 (3/113)

    Awe Twxasdocmom chills. Comgrat
  • OmahaRudy

    Thanks for posting the pics of today's graduation. My son was in that class, too :)
  • DramaSoul

    Omaha....I cannot believe your son has graduated.  Wasn't it just YESTERDAY that you were talking about him going to SA?  Okay, people, time is flyin' waaaay too fast!

  • SamanthaL_Rodriguez

    I have a question, what is C- school? my boyfriend mentioned it but really didn't explain it.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    C schools provide advanced, specialized training in fields such as surgical technician, pharmacy tech etc and confer additional NEC (Navy Enlisted Classification) codes.

  • Jana

    NavyGirlzMom-my son graduated A school about the same time last year.    His was the last graduation class before the holidays.  He put in for leave and got to come home the day after graduation and flew to Pensacola right before New Year's.  I was there for his graduation, but he couldn't come home with me which would have been much easier.  He had to fly from San Antonio to Houston the next day.  But it was nice having him home for 2 1/2 weeks!

  • Navymomx2

    Hey gang.  Thanks for sharing your stories and thoughts about your daughters in the USN.  I've been sharing them with my daughter and she has been over the moon excited to pursue her dreams thought the Navy.  Unfortunately though, after meeting with the recruiter, she has been disqualified for service due to a MINOR stomach issue she had a couple years back.  She hasn't had the issue in years and hasn't needed to fill medication for treating it, but it's in her history, so they won't let her join.  Now I have an absolutely heartbroken young lady.  Please be praying that this doesn't crush her spirit.  It's a sad day here at home.  Trying to find balance because she is heartbroken she can't go, and her brother can't stop talking about how much he can't wait to leave and become a Corpsman.  Ugh!

  • TexasDocMom

    Spotted this, thought you'd like to read it...

    Thanksgiving for 400 SA Corpsmen

  • dianevdb

    Does anyone have a corpsman who is graduating w 225 A or B this next week?

    Also, does anyone have a graduate who will be attending the Dental Assisting course at San Antonio?   ...if so, we heard that the DAs may not be walking with the other graduates on the 6th due to starting new classes the same day.

     

    any further info would be much appreciated!

  • alleyoop90 (Ship 14/Div 45)

    Dina Gay - I have heard 14 weeks and 19 weeks. I am not sure which one. I am curious myself

  • alleyoop90 (Ship 14/Div 45)

    Does anyone know if they are allowed to bring blankets with them to Hospital Corpsman A school? Everyone is saying it varys from school to school. So I am wondering if anyone who already has a sailor there knows the answer :)

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Hi new members!  Hospital Corps School - 14 weeks.  Don't know about about an extra blanket, but they're provided what they need - :)  

  • alleyoop90 (Ship 14/Div 45)

    Marcy - Thanks for your response! I was just wondering because I am in the process of making him a navy throw blanket for when he graduates boot camp..would be a bummer if he couldnt have it at A school!

  • SailorsMomShip12Div023

    Hello, I signed on to this page a few weeks ago, my son will be getting to HM sometime tonight (he just graduated boot yesterday).  Marcy you said school is 14 weeks.  Where are we getting 19 weeks?  Is that if they have extended school due to a specialty?

  • DeuceDogMom

    alleyoop90 (Ship 14/Div 45) My Salor is at A School now. She bought herself a Hello Kitty blanket at the PX! And she and her room mate passes inspection every time.