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

@MariaFaith - I know how tempting it is to want to spend time with your sailor sooner rather than later, but I agree with Marcy...skipping class is risky. 

If he does decide that he just can't wait, I would strongly suggest he put in a request chit.  Even if he doesn't have duty over the holiday weekend, that could change at a moments notice.  A verbal approval to miss class won't keep him from getting in hot water if the watch schedule changes or something else happens.  Having the chit approved covers him (with the exception of any "pop" quiz). 

My 2 cents regarding missing classes: They are hard enough as it is...even when your Sailor is a great student.  There is no way to replace what is missed in the interaction that takes place in a class setting.  My son worked hard and he still had times when things were a lot harder to absorb. 

I miss him....all the time.  However...he is doing something he LOVES doing.  It's been 2 years since he completed A school and FMTB. 

A look at a "green side" corpsman at 29 Palms - "Corpsman supports troops at LSE-14".  Growing up, HM2 Brian McKenna says, he was drawn to the medical field.  “I guess I always felt I was compassionate...I like helping people.”  Sound familiar to any moms here?  :)   

'Green side' corpsmen are assigned to Marine units: training, learning and working with them as a revered "doc" to their Marines.
 

Hi everyone.

My son is graduating boot camp 22-Aug-2014 and then going to Fort Sam. I have a couple questions.

First, does anyone else have an SR doing the same thing, especially from the same PIR or even from Division 258?

Second, he is then planning to be in FMF. I am wondering where he will go from Fort Sam to do that, will he go straight to another school, stay there, or serve for some time before going on to that schooling?

Also, HM A schooling is 14 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly, that put's his graduation just before Thanksgiving. When will those dates be posted so I will know for sure?

I am very open to friendships and private messages. I find them easier to deal with. :)

Thanks for any help in advance.

Wendy

Welcome Wendy!  If he goes FMF, he would initially go to Field Medical Training Battalion at either Camp Lejeune, NC or Camp Pendleton, CA for an additional eight weeks of training, then things depend on where he is assigned. One caveat - the expression "the needs of the Navy" can trump everything, so one learns not to count on things until hard orders are received.  

There is a lot of information available at the links posted at the top of this page.  Graduation dates are periodically updated on the BMTCP Facebook page, and I then put it together and post above - look for the list and the blue caduceus  :)  When your sailor begins school, he'll give you his class number.  The latest batch goes to November 14, 2014.

Cool infographic about "hospital at sea" USNS Mercy, based in San Diego.  Her sister ship is USNS Comfort, based at Naval Station Norfolk.  For starters:  USNS Mercy is manned by up to 59 Navy hospital corpsmen when in reduced operating status, and up to 1,200 corpsmen in full operating status.  Not mentioned: that they started out as oil tankers!  Infographic:  http://navylive.dodlive.mil/files/2014/07/Hospital-at-Sea-USNS-Merc...

Marcy....LOVE the infographic! You always are spot on with this great information. Also the article on the green side Corpsman at 29 was awesome. Oorah!  It was kind of entertaining to hear my Corpsman explain to his great-aunt on how he joined the Navy to be in the Marines.

Wendy...it's a great ride and you are just starting out! My son is an 8404 (Field Med Corpsman) who went through FMTB West in Camp Pendleton and has been on a Marine base for a couple of years.He loves his Marines! My suggestion is just read all of the great information that is on this site and ask questions.

Are you going to PIR? 

Just a heads up for those who are planning a visit, if you go to priceline there are rooms for $48 a night in downtown market square area at the holiday inn.  It's under the express deals =)

Frogger1, three weeks and "only" every other day?  heehee like Carafid1 said, enjoy while it lasts!  Are you going to graduation?    

mmaleigh, thanks for that!  Sounds like a great deal to take advantage of. 

Welcome new members!  

My son just got to Fort Sam on Saturday from Great Lakes . He will not start school until next Wenesday . I'm going to visit him this weekend I live about a hour and half from base. I'm glad I get to visit with him before he starts school because I know they get real busy. I was hoping to take him down to the River walk but it sounds like the only way they can leave is by Taxi they can't ride in a regular car. The taxi is very expensive river walk is only 5 miles away and it's 15 dollars one way. 

cynthiag Can he come with another shipmate ? What happens if his roomate doesn't want to go? He told me I had to meet him at the visitor center so I can get in to see him  . I guess I park my car there and walk with him ? 

Michelle,

He just needs to meet you at the visitor center the first time so that you can get a base pass for the time you are in San Antonio.  Once you have this pass he will not need to be in the car with you when you enter the base in your car.  You do not have to walk (which is good because the visitor center is quite a ways from their area).  He also doesn’t have to being his roommate with him, he just has to have a buddy to leave base with.  We just got back on the 18^th from visiting our son and he brought his friends with him and we took them to the River walk, Mall, and the Quarry Market (shopping center with Movie Theater nearby).  I would visit also before classes start because once they start his Phase will solely depend on the class performance and behavior.  So in our case ours was supposed to Phase up this week but this weekend there was a number of sailors who got in trouble for underage drinking on base and now the class was told they will remain at Phase 1 for a long time if not the whole time they are in SA.  This is very frustrating since there are about 60 in their class and ALL are punished for the lack of judgment on the part of a few.

BusyMom13-

Thanks for the detailed info. What does Phase 1 mean? Are they able to call from their cell phones in phase 1? What other restrictions do they have in that phase?

Wendy

Proud Navy Mom2, there is a link above that describes what the different Phases mean but basically Phase 1 means that they must remain in uniform at all times...No civilian clothes at all.  During the week they can't leave base but on weekends they can but must be with with a buddy and in uniform at all times. It is hard for ones like my son and some of his friends that cross rated and had Phase 2 & 3 liberty when they arrived to be stuck back in Phase 1 again.  The biggest thing for them and it seems funny to those in the civilian world but just the fact of being in normal clothes and not in uniform at all times.  But once class starts they are so busy studying during the week and even on weekends that the time does fly by.

Thank you BusyMom13! I see the link now. :)

To "cross rate" means to change your Navy job (rate).  In some  instances the Navy will allow this;  requirements include having served at least 24 months in the current rate; having served less than 12 years in the Navy or Navy Reserve; being a Petty Officer 1st Class or below; zero non-judicial punishments within a defined recent period; recommendation by one's current Commanding Officer.

"Only enlisted corps" means that of the Navy's staff corps, the Hospital Corps is the only one whose members are enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers.

The Hospital Corps - the Navy’s only enlisted corps, it consists of more than 25,480 active duty and reserve Navy hospital enlisted corpsmen who provide health care to Sailors, Marines, and those entrusted to their care on the battlefield, at sea, under the sea, and in military treatment facilities worldwide.  Established June 17, 1898, the Hospital Corps is the largest and most decorated rating in the Navy. 

The Medical Corps - military physicians in a variety of specialties, and the senior corps among all staff corps, second only to line officers.

The Dental Corps - naval officers who have a Doctorate in either Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine (DDS or DMD) and who practice dentistry for sailors and marines.

The Nurse Corps - naval officers of the rank of Ensign to Rear Admiral (upper half).  Navy Nurse Corps officers are commissioned through ROTC, STA-21, MECP, Nurse Candidate Program, and by direct commission.

The Medical Service Corps - officers in medical support duties and includes scientists, researchers and administrators.

The Chaplain Corps - ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers.

The Supply Corps - officers concerned with supply, logistics, combat support, readiness, contracting and fiscal issues.

The Civil Engineer Corps - CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, acquisitions specialists and Seabee Combat Warfare officers responsible for executing and managing the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of the Navy’s shore facilities.

The Judge Advocate General’s Corps (also known as the JAG Corps or JAG) is the legal arm of the Navy.  Worldwide it consists of Judge Advocates, limited duty officers (law). enlisted members and civilian personnel.

Thanks again Marcy! I knew what 'cross rate' was but didn't know the guidelines to be able to do it.You rock, Marcy!

Regarding an earlier post that said something about why did everyone get punished for the actions of just a few.  One of the things they learn in boot camp (and this is just as a Mom observer) is that once you master something, you are obligated to teach it to someone who has not yet mastered it. It's not necessarily about individual glory but about the whole team/unit/division/class. They are only as strong as the weakest link so they are all responsible for each other. This is especially important if they are ever in a deployment or emergency situation. I saw this further re-inforced in my son's FMTB training. Just my humble opinion and observations.

Hey, Marcy! We need a LIKE button for your posts! 

My nephew started out as an Army nurse (ROTC) and is now a PhD anesthetist and Lt. Col in the Army. (He loved the ratio of men to women in the nursing ranks!)  He was the one who told my son that if he wanted to be a 'medic' he had better join the Navy because the Corpsman program is superior to all of the other branches of service.  Of course, he will deny he said this!  

DramaSoul, that's wonderful about your nephew!  So glad your son has such a role model in his life!  

Your comment about 'only as strong as the weakest link' is so true.  Just yesterday, my son's team underwent training known as the 'helo dunk,' in which they (fully clothed and with gear) are strapped into a mockup of a helicopter, which is dropped by crane into an Olympic size pool, submerged and turned over a few times.  Oh did I mention they are wearing black-out goggles?  And due to their training and focus they get themselves out and surface.  Every corpsman needs to be at the top of their game in this rating as DramaSoul says.  They did it FIVE TIMES too…yikes.  Note to newbies - he's been in a few years, this is not part of FMTB  :)

Marcy...WOWWY! YIPES! I will remember that...."helo dunk". It's sooo important that they train and train so that it's just second nature for that time when it may be needed. :-)

Just as the USS Forrestal fire in 1967 was the impetus for fire fighting training in boot camp, this terrible incident in 1999 (11 saved, but seven lost) prompted the 'helo dunk' training:  

If you’re in the Cincinnati area, plan on attending the Hospital Corpsmen memorial highway dedication Wed., Sept. 3 @ 6 pm, Fort Wright City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Ft Wright, KY.
BUMED’s FORCE Master Chief Sherman Boss will join local and state dignitaries, including special guest Charles “Dan” Daniels, the very dedicated, passionate, persistent and charming 90 year old and very proud WWII Navy Corpsman who worked on getting the highway honoring Navy Hospital Corpsmen.

My son leaves sept 9th for GL.  hospital corpsman

Welcome daycare217!  

Just added a new link above!  Navy Medicine Training Support Center, San Antonio, TX includes two important tabs - "Visitor Info" ( directions and maps) and "Student Life."

"Student Life" leads to student check-in info, and most important, "General Information" with a wealth of information including the student mailing address for personal correspondence, and various policies from standards of conduct to leave.

Note:  Feedback from most A School students is that it's a pain to receive mail and packages, so ask first before mailing  :)

From METC!  "US Navy Sailors form up during a break in the weather to head to chow at the dining facility up the road."  Maybe next time they'll show their faces instead of their backs!  :)

Link to graduation photos Class 160, September 5, 2014!  

My Sailor Son is now in San Antonio and ready to start A school for Hospital Corpsmen.

Welcome, Nate's Mom!  Pjpckmcov, I wouldn't worry too much, it should be accepted as his completion of the course is in his records too.  Who issued it, and where?  

Try contacting the Navy Medicine Training Support Center in San Antonio; perhaps they can help.  The link is above and has their phone number.  Just curious, why is he sending resumes if he completed A School less than a year ago?

Good luck to him!  Hopefully you can get an answer Monday from NMTSC about having the card re-issued.

Welcome eileen1066!  There is a lot of information to start out with at the links above.  You'll be speaking in acronyms soon!!  Ask away too, any question is a good one :)