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

txbabydocmom....wow! Finally moving.  Hope it is an easy move.  My son said the same thing about A school. 

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to phase up to phase 2 and phase 3. Ive heard the difference between the phases but havent heard how long it usually takes to phase up. Thanks! :)

txbabydocmom-  thanks for all your help, you will be surely missed. Good luck  with your moved and God Bless.

which airport is the nearest to Fort sam

San Antonio Air Port. I don't even think it's a 10 minute drive. 

thanks lizinni-- i was saying it is Houston since the address is that.

My son just graduated last week and they wore their whites. They switched to blues on December 1st. He had to wear them to CA. He will be on hold at CP until mid January when he starts FMTB.

Interesting, seems a little late in the season!  I love both, but esp the dress blues :)

how many months is the C School Surgical Tech. class?

How about some cool scrub caps that show her personality, Navy-related, etc?  The surg techs I met at Naval Med Center Portsmouth wore their own.  Local stores like Scrubs & Beyond carry them, or Google 'surgical scrub caps,' there are lots of sources - this one looks interesting :)  http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/scrub-hats/womens-surgical-scrub-hats ... and this one has Navy themed ones http://lindaslids.net/product.sc;jsessionid=55F0B746C1E88766A73ACAC...   

Cafepress has lots of surg tech and surgery-related stuff, too.  

Another thought - gift cards - an iTunes gift card for medical-study related apps (my corpsman has a bunch on his iPad); Starbucks for stamina; etc :)

How about a kit/bag for her locker, with hand lotion, hairbrush, clear lipgloss?

My son is applying for C school in radiology (he finished A school a year ago and his Chief has told him to apply.  Is it in San Antonio and how long is the school?  Thanks

Normally, what time do graduations begin and the length of the ceremony?

Thanks for the info txbabydocmom!  Sorry for the trouble with your son.  I hope he will get released for Christmas!  My son has been in Japan since Nov 2011 and hasn't had any leave yet - so we are going on the 2nd Christmas without him.  But Skype is wonderful!  Talked to him for 2 hours last night.  

A great alternative to Skype on smartphones (both iPhones and Droids) is the free app "Viber" you download and install on your phone- FREE calls, texting and photo sharing anywhere, internationally, too, via 3g or wi-fi.  (Calls use your data plan).  The quality is excellent, too :)  http://viber.com

My sailor is supposed to graduate A school March 29, well at least that is the tentative date right now.  Can anyone tell me if there is a group for upcoming graduations?

From the BMTCP Facebook page yesterday ~ BMTCP Graduation Schedule has been updated! Check out the dates for our soon to be Hospital Corpsman and Ai...r Force Medical Technicians to be sure their ceremony time hasn't changed. Graduations are located in Anderson Hall Auditorium on Fort Sam Houston. Have a great Navy and Air Force Day!

CLASS NUMBER GRADUATION DATE GRADUATION 

230A/B 13-Dec-12 1400-1500

235AF 13-Dec-12 1400-1500

235A/B 19-Dec-12 1000-1100

240AF 19-Dec-12 1000-1100

GoNavy, this graduation is much smaller than PIR.   People have been using this group to connect in re upcoming graduations (and share what they learn after attending - there's lots of good info in the Discussion Forum above).  The BMTCP Facebook page periodically posts graduation schedules and updates, and photos of the graduation ceremony.  

A big WELCOME to our new members!  You think you're proud, now, just wait!  :)

Thanks for the welcome! My daughter just got to Texas about 2 weeks ago. She had been in Pensacola...ended up getting rerated so now she is HM. Now she is just trying to make the adjustment from the move.

The tree-lighting ceremony at Alamo Plaza ~ 

Merry Christmas to all!  Enjoy the holiday!

Welcome Nate'sPop!  A achool is 14 weeks - and thank you for 27 awesome years of service  :)  

Thanks... got it, 14 weeks.  & you're welcome!  :c)

Welcome Wynona!

Thanks! :)

My son is going to A school on Dec 30.  Looking forward to it  Dental Assistant training.  

Congrats!  OmahaRudy's grandson is just completing dental training, so she should be able to provide some good info.   

River Walk in San Antonio! Merry Christmas, y'all! 

Today we gather with family and friends to share laughter and the make new Christmas memories. Please remember though for many families, whose loved ones serve in the Armed Forces, this year's Christmas celebration will not be complete. A familiar voice will not be heard and a chair at the table will remain empty because, they have someone far from home.

So, as those of us who are blessed to be with our families, let us remember in our prayers the homes that have an empty chair at the table and also offer a special prayer of thanks and ask God’s Blessings for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, whose service and sacrifice will make the world a better and safer place. A very special prayer dear God, for those homes that have an empty chair that will forever remain vacant, may their sacrifice not have been in vain.

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas to our wonderful corpsmen past, present and future, and to our own 'family' of corpsman friends and loved ones! 

Thank you Craig and Marcy.  If there were a 'like' button, I would push 'like' to your comments.  On Jan 4th it will be one year since my son enlisted and I found my way to the FB page and then here (thanks Craig!).  Can't believe all that has happened.  Blessings to all....

Hi everyone. My husband is going to A school in San Antonio in Feb. I know we still have a while to go. But we kinda wanna ask a couple questions so we can be prepared.
1. Can I live with him on base/off base either way?
If I can't. We are still planning that I might move to somewhere close to the base. So..
2. What's a good area that we/I can live? We are basically hoping for a good neighborhood, and close to stores and stuff (Anywhere about 15-20 mins drive is close). And fair price.
So as I know I can't see him beside weekends, or on base while lunch time or something?
3. What is this about? What's the time limit? And when and where can I see him?

Anymore information would be great. Thanks and Appreciate it. 

Thanks! :)

Oh geez.  

Wynona, we all will have different opinions, so I'll just offer mine :)  

1.  Well, this is a fact - no, you can't be living together during A school.  

2.  It's only 14 weeks (or a bit more, depending on getting his class together to start up; and getting orders and travel plans to first duty station) - is it worth it for you to move to San Antonio for 14 weeks +/- rather than waiting and moving to his first duty station?  The money (I think) would be better saved for that.  

Plus...

3.  I really, really mean this.  It's a VERY intense program your husband is entering.  An EMT program alone is a semester at community college.  Your husband is learning that times three, compressed into 14 weeks.  The experience is like total-immersion language education.  In my opinion, you will help your husband the most by letting him be on his own during A school.  They learn together, study together, and totally focus on the program.  NOT passing - and sailors don't - means being reassigned a position in the Navy as "undesignated" which can mean painting hulls instead.  Go for the HM goal 110%.  Unless you're a corpsman, you can't be of help the way his instructors and peers can.

I understand your point of view, and sympathize.  But as a mom who has seen a lot of corpsmen go through the process - you need to take the long view and decide what's most important.  IMHO :)

ps - your husband is fortunate to have such a devoted spouse!  I wish you both all the best, and look forward to getting to know you through this amazing journey.

Wynona, these ladies are giving you very good advice....it is critical right now in your husband's career that he concentrates on nothing else....his grades,  his attitude,  his focus, his determination is being watched and evaluated 24 hours a day by his superiors. This is when they determine who is officer material, who is lifer material, who they can trust to do the job and put the job first. That's what counts to Ma Navy. There is no time for a personal relationship for him right now. I hate to be blunt, but right now his Navy career is all he needs to be doing at the moment. Or, as was said earlier,  he can end up spending a short enlistment painting ships and then out. The military is cutting those who fall behind. You'll have a lifetime to live together, right now, your future depends on him and what he is doing in the Navy for the next few months. Wait to the duty station to make a home.

A belated Merry Christmas!

he Corpsman’s Christmas Poem

'Twas the night before Christmas as I flew o'er the Marine Base,
When I spied a young man who seemed out of place.
His eyes showed compassion, his hair a bit long,
But his head was held high and his body was strong.

His air was confident, his uniform smart,
But what impressed me most was the size of his heart.
For he embodied honor, one of this country's best,
And the words U.S. NAVY showed large on his chest.

As I stood there in wonder and gazed into his eyes,
the words that he spoke took me quite by surprise.
"What's wrong Santa, haven't you ever seen a sailor before?"
I sensed something special and longed to know more.

"To be honest, this field thing wasn't part of my plan,
But God didn't give me a boat or tin can."
The words he spoke next surprised me all the more,
"But I'm as proud of my Navy as I am of the Corps!"

"Don't worry Santa, that I'm a sailor you see,
For when a Marine goes down they will still call on me.
They'll forget I'm a sailor, they'll call in my stock.
At the top of their lungs they'll yell ,"Get me the doc!"

"And I'll answer that call, anytime, anywhere.
Though I know I'm a target I really don't care.
I'll face incoming fire as I race cross the land,
And use my very own body to shield a downed man."

"Working long hours and into the night,
My unit's battle is over, but I'm just starting to fight.
For the life of every Marine is sacred to me.
I refuse to surrender them to death, and in that I'll find victory."

"And yet I'll take the time to comfort a dying man,
To sit down by his side, to reach out and hold his hand.
For it takes as much courage to care as to fight.
For just as the poem says, many don't "go gently into that night."

"Santa, it's not any one uniform that makes you a man,
But rather it's those ideals for which you choose to stand.
I draw my line here, it's long and it's plain.
For pain, hurt and suffering are the things I disdain."

I know very well that I may lose my life,
So that a Marine may see an unmet child and young wife.
So Santa, it really doesn't matter if they don't like my hair.
I'm a Navy Corpsman, their Doc, and I'll always be there."

"I follow the brave docs who have come long before,
From Belleau Wood, Iwo, and Lebanon's shore.
As history proudly shows, they all gave their best,
And for those who have died, surely they're blessed."

"At Inchon, the gulf and times during Tet,
Our brothers have fallen, but we carry on yet.
For we carry their honor and legacy still."
As I held back my tears it took all of my will.

I had to leave him there for I had other plans,
But I knew in my heart that the Corps is in good hands.
As I flew away I heard his laughter, it rang so loud and clear.
"Hey Santa, how 'bout a nice pair of boots for the 26 miler next year?"

---Merry Christmas Doc, wherever you are!