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!
A School moms past and present: Navyformoms.com is being updated and upgraded by the agency that oversees it, and part of this effort is making room for new members. To do so, members who have not been active since 12/1/15 will be removed but will be able to re-join. This is all part of an effort to make Navyformoms.com the best it can be for everyone, seasoned moms and new members alike. If you haven't posted since that date, please do so right away!!
Hi Laura! Be sure to join this group too - Camp Lejeune Moms. The DVIDS video at this link is "a guide on what to expect during the eight-week course that transitions corpsmen into the Fleet Marine Force." (Doesn't it look like fun? lol And yet like most corpsmen I know, my son would do it all over again.) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/455508/fmtb-east-command-video
You're welcome! Love our corpsmen, and there's always more to learn. annev: be sure to follow check out the FMTB links above. Your corpsman can get ahead of the game at their website and review the class materials. And run, run, run before he gets there LOL
Congratulations on MomofNavyTwins! Lots to be proud of, and this is only the start! :)
PDXCorpsmanMom, look through the Discussion Forums above where you'll find info like this one (Visiting your student: Recommendations by corpsman moms for San Ant...) if you go. Sadly, the graduation is not the beautiful event that it was prior to 2011 when Hospital Corps School was a separate entity at Great Lakes, IL. While it's great if you can attend (and I've attended graduations from PIR to A School to FMTB), just know that it's short, and some famililes find that for the investment made in travel, it makes more sense to plan a visit to the first duty station when there is more time. Ultimately it's an individual decision and you can never go wrong supporting your corpsman!
Finally had a little bit of a conversation with my sailor last night...got an address to send him his stuff, seems like forever since his PIR 1/13! He's still figuring out the lay of the land, a little overwhelmed, but loving the sunshine!
"Good morning! My sailor didn't have a phone until I sent him one last week; he arrived there Jan 14! He sent an occasional text from a fellow sailor's phone- couldn't find the pay phones! He didn't have an address for about two…"
Hi everyone. My sailor is still at bootcamp and this this is just been about a week. Just got his stuff. I'm a bit confused we're newly weds with a new born. He cannot live off base during a school? But they get weekends off? I want to be close with the baby so is it advisable to do a private move to a furnished about near by in Texas? Sorry for all the questions so soon. But I just feel lost and I can't speak to him.....
Hello Thelight, they really don't have weekends off, they might have watch. They can't leave base till they get to a certain phase, I can't remember what it was. Sometimes it's not really worth the trouble of moving at your own expense because you might not get to see him as much as you thought you would. It just depends on if you have the spare money to pay for the move and a short term lease to rent an apartment.
Your welcome. Thelight. He will get to call home soon. HM school was my daughters 2nd A-School, so it was a little different for her. When she got there the other students didn't know where she came from because none of them saw her in boot camp. For most of the time she was there only the instructors and a few sailors she made friends with knew she was already in the navy for about a year and a half. Then one day she showed up to class as an E-4, she tested and passed while she was an OS just about 1-2 months before HM school, then everybody knew. It was kinda funny. The instructors told the class that they needed to listen to her now because she was a petty officer. When class. First started she said one student fell asleep during class so the instructor sat in his seat and told the sailor to go and teach since he knows so much it made him sleepy. So tell your husband to stay awake. Your heart will get you through this time while he's gone. Write lots of letters. You can even print out a photo of you and the baby on a piece of computer paper and use the rest of the sheet of paper for your letter. Let the baby hold a crayon and hold the babies hand so your husband can get a scribble letter for his baby. If I can think of any other helpfull hints, I'll let you know. Have a great evening.
If anyone can help it would be very appreciated. It says at the top of the page that the duration of the school is 96 days, but my fiancé who is about to graduate boot camp is a dental tech and she said her A school is a year. Is she mistaken on how long it will take or is there another school she would attend after this 96 day course? If so where would it be and for how long. We were looking to get married later on this year because she would be finishing up A school not long after I am due to get out of the Marine Corps and her and I have been trying to plan this very well so that we can have a date in mind for the wedding etc. Thanks to anyone with info on dental tech training
Hi Justin, yes she will be going to C-School if she will be a dental tech. That might be there in Texas as well, but I'm not sure how long it is. First she will go to A-School. There they learn EMT and basic nursing. Then some will go to C-Schools for more training.
Awesome thank you very much for that because I havnt really seen anything about C school in the research Ive done. So at least now I know where I can research further to have a better idea of what to expect.
HMMomCaryNC...I took my son to the NEX and let him pick the one he wanted. Your right, there are too many styles and I figured he'd know what he'd want
My son has let me know we can go down and stay on the base. this weekend to visit him. Is this true and does anyone have any info on the hotels on base?
Etrueblue25, check out ihg army hotels joint base San Antonio. You can book as a civilian traveling for leisure (or at least that's how I booked when my Sailor was there).
Greetings all. We have a SR presently set to OUR June 23, 2017. We are trying to make our PIR travel plans and as would like some input. Do most new Sailors going to HM school "semi-normally" fly out of O`Hara and on Saturdays? We understand anything is possible just trying to gather some stats. Thanks in advance
Hello, my son has a PIR of 6/2/17 his rating is HM green. After A school he will do C school and then he will go to North Carolina for infantry. Any one out there with the same rating?
HM247365 - Hopefully some moms with Sailors currently at A School can give you some guidance! Moms of current students, did your Sailor fly out of O'Hare to San Antonio, and on what day?
HMMomNC - best to ask your Sailor directly. Note that most future corpsmen prefer not to receive care packages, as picking them up is a pain, and whatever you send has to be packed in a seabag or shipped at the end of A School, also a pain. So check before you mail anything! :)
Toni: your future corpsman will have the rating HM - there is neither green nor blue added as a "rating." I'm not aware that one can have a definite commitment to a C School prior to completing A School. What C School are you talking about? (Note that Field Medical Training Battalion is not a C School.) Greenside is a term corpsmen use to indicate assigned to Marines; Blueside is for those assigned to ships, hospitals, clinics.
For anyone visiting San Antonio, there is a Discussion in the Discussion Forum above with information about hotels, base access, maps etc. PLEASE, if anyone has been there recently, share your experience there so other moms in our group can benefit! Posting in that Discussion keeps all the info in one place. Thanks! Visiting your student at METC
Etrue2blue - Everything you learn along the way will help a new mom, so share away!
I just added a new video at the top of the page - "Intro to Medical Training Campus San Antonio." Enjoy!
You may notice I call a A School student "future corpsman," "student" or "Sailor" because they aren't a Navy hospital corpsman until they complete A School and graduate. Corpsmen are VERY picky about this, and will straighten out anyone calling themselves "corpsman" until they have graduated A School. Just a heads-up. (And per the U.S. Navy, the word Sailor is always with a capital S unless referring to foreign navies.)
While I'm thinking about it...Some question why NAVYforMoms.com vs. Facebook groups?
First and foremost, your Sailor's privacy and safety is of utmost importance here. NAVYforMoms.com (N4M) does not allow members to use last names or post photos of uniforms with names. Everything you post on social media is out there and can be seen by instructors and chain of command and can reflect on your Sailor and affect them. Yes, instructors etc. are in FB groups.
On N4M we stress the importance of Operations Security (OPSEC) and make sure our members follow it. USS Bataan once had to suspend communications between Sailors and home during a deployment because of OPSEC violations and bickering on its Facebook page. Please check this out from the Navy: Four Things to Know about Operations Security
Finally, NAVYforMoms.com was created by the U.S. Navy, and is overseen by it and The Navy Partnership comprising its agency and administrators as a means for experienced moms to safely share information with new moms, because our connection with our loved ones serving is unique.
So please don't be a lurker! Ask any questions (there is no "dumb" one) and share what you learn. The Navy family is as strong as we keep it. GO NAVY!
My son just flew out of San Diego, I hope, this morning. I'm in Florida so I'm not sure what his schedule was. His girlfriend will let me know when he arrives in Great Lakes for boot camp.
The good thing about him going to San Antonio is my sister lives there and works in Brooks Army Medical Center as a nurse. We'll be staying with her when (if) he graduates. But, taking one day at a time for now.
That's it for my first day with the group, glad to meet you all.
Our Sailor had PIR 6/23. She flew out of Midway Sunday afternoon. We researched likely scenarios and elected to not purchase airline tickets to return until after our Sailor reviewed her orders and knew the 'what, when and where' Southwest Airline was not an option so........all other options for flights kinda sucked. Our sailor flew out of Midway at 1600 and we flew out of O'Hare at 1610. She was arrived at Midway at 0230. We arrived at Midway at 0700. Midway's protocol was, 'go to the ticket counter of the airline providing the flight. Tell airline employee you would like them to call the USO and have your Sailor come get you and escort you through the passenger security area so you can be with your Sailor. Give your photo identification to the airline employee and they will generate tickets that get you through the security gates'. We told our Sailor Friday after PIR we would be willing to collect other sailor cell phones at the Great Lakes NEX Saturday evening and bring them to the airport Sunday morning. Three Sailors told her heck yea on Friday night. On Saturday night at the SR NEX (store) we collected 15 cell phones (lol). we arrived at MIdway at 0730 and were able to sit and visit with several of the Sailors till about 1100. The drive From Midway to our rental car place just outside O'Hare late Sunday morning took just under an hour. If you and your Sailor are up to the task, think about helping out the sailors with their phones. Every one of the Sailors had ear to ear smiles on their faces and called or texted someone immediately.
My son is at Fort Sam A-school- just entering Phase 3. We have plans to visit him later this month. One visiting family member is going to be a complete surprise. Does he need to have all names of visitors approved in advance to get on base like we did at PIR? I hate to ruin the surprise, but not sure if visitors must be on a approved list. From my understanding, he can meet us at the front gate, and as long as he is in the car with us, we can go on base? How does that work if we are dropping him off after our visit... Can we drive him to his barracks or we have to drop him at the gate? Thanks for any clarification.
My son graduated from PIR today and we are pretty confused by the travel instructions. The only thing he knows is his flight, do they meet him at the airport? HELP! The numbers the gave him for COD is not working!
This comment wall is so confusing...how do you reply to a certain person??
Anyway, for Lynn77 - if it's like most regular military bases, only one person in the car has to have a military ID and the rest have to just show a driver's license or other form of official ID. Once he meets you, he should be able to take you to Pass and ID to get a temporary post pass for the time you're there.
I haven't been to Ft. Sam recently, but that's how it's been at the other military bases I've been to.
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
A School moms past and present: Navyformoms.com is being updated and upgraded by the agency that oversees it, and part of this effort is making room for new members. To do so, members who have not been active since 12/1/15 will be removed but will be able to re-join. This is all part of an effort to make Navyformoms.com the best it can be for everyone, seasoned moms and new members alike. If you haven't posted since that date, please do so right away!!
Dec 2, 2016
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Hi Laura! Be sure to join this group too - Camp Lejeune Moms. The DVIDS video at this link is "a guide on what to expect during the eight-week course that transitions corpsmen into the Fleet Marine Force." (Doesn't it look like fun? lol And yet like most corpsmen I know, my son would do it all over again.) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/455508/fmtb-east-command-video
Dec 3, 2016
annev
Thanks for posting the Video Marcy. My son has been a Corpsman for 5 years, and is now going FMTB. He starts in January.
Dec 3, 2016
Carol
Dec 3, 2016
Queen55
Dec 6, 2016
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
You're welcome! Love our corpsmen, and there's always more to learn. annev: be sure to follow check out the FMTB links above. Your corpsman can get ahead of the game at their website and review the class materials. And run, run, run before he gets there LOL
Dec 15, 2016
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Welcome christine69850!!
Dec 15, 2016
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
WELCOME NavyMomJax and NavyMomBlessed!
Dec 18, 2016
PDXCorpsmanMom
Jan 3, 2017
MomOfNavyTwins
Hi Everyone! Happy new year. My corpsman twin starts her nursing phase today. So proud of her.
Jan 4, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Congratulations on MomofNavyTwins! Lots to be proud of, and this is only the start! :)
PDXCorpsmanMom, look through the Discussion Forums above where you'll find info like this one (Visiting your student: Recommendations by corpsman moms for San Ant...) if you go. Sadly, the graduation is not the beautiful event that it was prior to 2011 when Hospital Corps School was a separate entity at Great Lakes, IL. While it's great if you can attend (and I've attended graduations from PIR to A School to FMTB), just know that it's short, and some famililes find that for the investment made in travel, it makes more sense to plan a visit to the first duty station when there is more time. Ultimately it's an individual decision and you can never go wrong supporting your corpsman!
Jan 4, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Welcome ProudNavyMom!
Jan 8, 2017
1SailorMom
Hi All! Very proud of my new sailor! Arrived for A school this weekend and ready to begin the adventure!
Jan 15, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Awesome news 1SailorMom, bet your future Corpsman is glad to be out of the cold! :) Keep us posted! And Hi to JerseyTwin70, welcome to the group!
Jan 24, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Welcome Ghgirl! Is your sailor at boot camp now?
Jan 27, 2017
mikes mom
Jan 27, 2017
1SailorMom
Finally had a little bit of a conversation with my sailor last night...got an address to send him his stuff, seems like forever since his PIR 1/13! He's still figuring out the lay of the land, a little overwhelmed, but loving the sunshine!
Jan 28, 2017
1SailorMom
Thanks for the welcome Marcy! Hello fellow Moms!
Jan 28, 2017
starmomkt
Feb 10, 2017
1SailorMom
Feb 16, 2017
Thelight
Feb 19, 2017
diane
Feb 19, 2017
Thelight
Feb 19, 2017
diane
Feb 19, 2017
Justin
If anyone can help it would be very appreciated. It says at the top of the page that the duration of the school is 96 days, but my fiancé who is about to graduate boot camp is a dental tech and she said her A school is a year. Is she mistaken on how long it will take or is there another school she would attend after this 96 day course? If so where would it be and for how long. We were looking to get married later on this year because she would be finishing up A school not long after I am due to get out of the Marine Corps and her and I have been trying to plan this very well so that we can have a date in mind for the wedding etc. Thanks to anyone with info on dental tech training
Mar 16, 2017
diane
Mar 16, 2017
Justin
Awesome thank you very much for that because I havnt really seen anything about C school in the research Ive done. So at least now I know where I can research further to have a better idea of what to expect.
Mar 16, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Justin, there is more information and a list of "C" Schools in this Discussion Forum: http://navyformoms.ning.com/group/hmhospitalcorpsmanaschoolinsanant...
Mar 19, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
Speaking of corpsman "specialties" - this corpsman takes it to a new level! :) “I felt like everybody had their thing,” said Mora, 32. “I knew I was able to breathe fire.” Feel the burn: Fire-breathing corpsman credits Navy with getting hi...
Mar 27, 2017
Joe&NatesMom
Apr 23, 2017
Etrue2blue
Hello, my son just got sent to San Antonio for his A school.
I hope I can learn some so maybe one day I can pass it along.
Thanks
May 7, 2017
Etrue2blue
My son has let me know we can go down and stay on the base. this weekend to visit him. Is this true and does anyone have any info on the hotels on base?
Thanks
May 7, 2017
Bobbi H
May 7, 2017
HM247365
Greetings all. We have a SR presently set to OUR June 23, 2017. We are trying to make our PIR travel plans and as would like some input. Do most new Sailors going to HM school "semi-normally" fly out of O`Hara and on Saturdays? We understand anything is possible just trying to gather some stats. Thanks in advance
May 10, 2017
HM247365
Sorry, set to PIR
May 10, 2017
Toni
Hello, my son has a PIR of 6/2/17 his rating is HM green. After A school he will do C school and then he will go to North Carolina for infantry. Any one out there with the same rating?
May 15, 2017
Tobie
GANavyMom...my son is going to PIR on 9 June and then off to Ft. Sam Houston for Corpsman school!
Jun 6, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
HM247365 - Hopefully some moms with Sailors currently at A School can give you some guidance! Moms of current students, did your Sailor fly out of O'Hare to San Antonio, and on what day?
HMMomNC - best to ask your Sailor directly. Note that most future corpsmen prefer not to receive care packages, as picking them up is a pain, and whatever you send has to be packed in a seabag or shipped at the end of A School, also a pain. So check before you mail anything! :)
Toni: your future corpsman will have the rating HM - there is neither green nor blue added as a "rating." I'm not aware that one can have a definite commitment to a C School prior to completing A School. What C School are you talking about? (Note that Field Medical Training Battalion is not a C School.) Greenside is a term corpsmen use to indicate assigned to Marines; Blueside is for those assigned to ships, hospitals, clinics.
For anyone visiting San Antonio, there is a Discussion in the Discussion Forum above with information about hotels, base access, maps etc. PLEASE, if anyone has been there recently, share your experience there so other moms in our group can benefit! Posting in that Discussion keeps all the info in one place. Thanks! Visiting your student at METC
Etrue2blue - Everything you learn along the way will help a new mom, so share away!
I just added a new video at the top of the page - "Intro to Medical Training Campus San Antonio." Enjoy!
You may notice I call a A School student "future corpsman," "student" or "Sailor" because they aren't a Navy hospital corpsman until they complete A School and graduate. Corpsmen are VERY picky about this, and will straighten out anyone calling themselves "corpsman" until they have graduated A School. Just a heads-up. (And per the U.S. Navy, the word Sailor is always with a capital S unless referring to foreign navies.)
Last but not least - Welcome all new members!
Jun 7, 2017
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
While I'm thinking about it...Some question why NAVYforMoms.com vs. Facebook groups?
First and foremost, your Sailor's privacy and safety is of utmost importance here. NAVYforMoms.com (N4M) does not allow members to use last names or post photos of uniforms with names. Everything you post on social media is out there and can be seen by instructors and chain of command and can reflect on your Sailor and affect them. Yes, instructors etc. are in FB groups.
On N4M we stress the importance of Operations Security (OPSEC) and make sure our members follow it. USS Bataan once had to suspend communications between Sailors and home during a deployment because of OPSEC violations and bickering on its Facebook page. Please check this out from the Navy: Four Things to Know about Operations Security
Finally, NAVYforMoms.com was created by the U.S. Navy, and is overseen by it and The Navy Partnership comprising its agency and administrators as a means for experienced moms to safely share information with new moms, because our connection with our loved ones serving is unique.
So please don't be a lurker! Ask any questions (there is no "dumb" one) and share what you learn. The Navy family is as strong as we keep it. GO NAVY!
Jun 7, 2017
Antsmom
My son just flew out of San Diego, I hope, this morning. I'm in Florida so I'm not sure what his schedule was. His girlfriend will let me know when he arrives in Great Lakes for boot camp.
The good thing about him going to San Antonio is my sister lives there and works in Brooks Army Medical Center as a nurse. We'll be staying with her when (if) he graduates. But, taking one day at a time for now.
That's it for my first day with the group, glad to meet you all.
Antsmom
Jun 13, 2017
mikes mom
Can't stress enough regarding the safety of our Sailors ....
Jun 13, 2017
mikes mom
Welcome to the group ☺
Jun 13, 2017
chcabr90
My Sailor arrived at Ft Sam yesterday for A school. We are from central Illinois. What do I need to know?
Jun 18, 2017
T's mom
My son is currently in boot camp PIR July 21, then heading back to Texas for HM. Looking forward to him be a few hours closer.
Jun 20, 2017
HM247365
Our Sailor had PIR 6/23. She flew out of Midway Sunday afternoon. We researched likely scenarios and elected to not purchase airline tickets to return until after our Sailor reviewed her orders and knew the 'what, when and where' Southwest Airline was not an option so........all other options for flights kinda sucked. Our sailor flew out of Midway at 1600 and we flew out of O'Hare at 1610. She was arrived at Midway at 0230. We arrived at Midway at 0700. Midway's protocol was, 'go to the ticket counter of the airline providing the flight. Tell airline employee you would like them to call the USO and have your Sailor come get you and escort you through the passenger security area so you can be with your Sailor. Give your photo identification to the airline employee and they will generate tickets that get you through the security gates'. We told our Sailor Friday after PIR we would be willing to collect other sailor cell phones at the Great Lakes NEX Saturday evening and bring them to the airport Sunday morning. Three Sailors told her heck yea on Friday night. On Saturday night at the SR NEX (store) we collected 15 cell phones (lol). we arrived at MIdway at 0730 and were able to sit and visit with several of the Sailors till about 1100. The drive From Midway to our rental car place just outside O'Hare late Sunday morning took just under an hour. If you and your Sailor are up to the task, think about helping out the sailors with their phones. Every one of the Sailors had ear to ear smiles on their faces and called or texted someone immediately.
Jun 27, 2017
mikes mom
That was so sweet of you to do that ....
Jun 27, 2017
Lynn77
My son is at Fort Sam A-school- just entering Phase 3. We have plans to visit him later this month. One visiting family member is going to be a complete surprise. Does he need to have all names of visitors approved in advance to get on base like we did at PIR? I hate to ruin the surprise, but not sure if visitors must be on a approved list. From my understanding, he can meet us at the front gate, and as long as he is in the car with us, we can go on base? How does that work if we are dropping him off after our visit... Can we drive him to his barracks or we have to drop him at the gate? Thanks for any clarification.
Jun 30, 2017
MerC
My son graduated from PIR today and we are pretty confused by the travel instructions. The only thing he knows is his flight, do they meet him at the airport? HELP! The numbers the gave him for COD is not working!
Jun 30, 2017
jennifer
Jun 30, 2017
Tobie
This comment wall is so confusing...how do you reply to a certain person??
Anyway, for Lynn77 - if it's like most regular military bases, only one person in the car has to have a military ID and the rest have to just show a driver's license or other form of official ID. Once he meets you, he should be able to take you to Pass and ID to get a temporary post pass for the time you're there.
I haven't been to Ft. Sam recently, but that's how it's been at the other military bases I've been to.
Jun 30, 2017