hello all,

i enlisted into the navy about a month ago as a hopsital corpsman, being an HM is the reason i joined, i eventually want to be a firfighter/paramedic when i get out. i am currently waiting as a depper to be shipped out in feb of 08, i wanted to ask some questions about boot camp and about the hospital corps.

first off my vision is HORRIBLE its something around 20/400 uncorrected, but is correctable to 20/20. i was guarenteed the posistion of corpsman, but will it affect me later on?

on average after HM's get done with corps school were do they go? field medical service school? a specialty school like, radiology, x-ray, phlebotomy? and what places do they usually get sent to right after school? a ship, clinic, hospital?

what are going to be my main dutys after school? taking vital signs? or something cool like blood draws and stuff like that?

are corpsman respected among other sailors?

do most male corpsman get sent to play with the marines as a combat medic? will my vision stop me from doing so?

cant think of any more.

thanks seaman recruit reinhart

Well, I can half-ass answer some of your questions. Hopefully someone else can come along and help you out with the rest.

I don't think your vision (as long as correctable is 20/20) will have any affect on you at all as a Corpsman. I know that it won't stop you from assignment with Marines. And no, not all male Corpsmen are sent straight to the Marines. There's plenty of them. I know the USN does a rotation of "shore duty" and "sea duty". I THINK right after A-School you head to a sea duty (aboard a ship, with Marines or other deployable unit...there's even some in Gitmo). As far as duties, well, "nurse" type stuff-- yes drawing blood and all that, but caring for and cleaning minor wounds and illnesses, conducting "sick call", etc.

And, I'm pretty sure other Sailors respect their Corpsman.

I know the Marines love theirs. You are literally their lifesaver and they will protect you at all costs.

So where are all the questions about boot camp? Patoloco was right about "a" school and the type of duties you might see on a ship or a shore command. You will be workiing with Marines in A school and I hope for your sake that you are not afraid of parachuting out of an aircraft as it is part of the trainig. We used to call the HM's on my sea commands "doc" or "pecker checkers" It was all in fun though. Best of luck recruit! Enjoy BC

thank you all, now im stoked about A school considering i get to jump out of a place!!!! i love that shit!!! about boot camp, i know i can write letter, but can people write letters to me while im in boot camp?? is A school alot like a basic EMT course, beacuse i already took a EMT course at my community college, and passed with a 94 so i think i should do pretty good in the class.

Yes, you can receive mail at boot camp. It will all be explained. EMT training should serve you well. I don't know exactly what the school is like, but I know they're not EMT qualified because I've heard of our Corpsman going out to get certified after school on their own (I think the USN pays for it though).

i have another guestion

currenlty i am gaurenteed my "A" hospital corpsman school, after boot camp. i am really thinking i want to go FMF so....

can i change my current contract to say after my corpsman "A" school, i go directly to FMF FMSS school?

and also if i do go to FMSS school will i automatically get sent with the marines right after i finish the class? or will they let me go on a ship, or clinic to get EXP. ?

greg( A) school is a Basic Hospital Corpman school you may be able to qualify as FMF as E-3 I don't know.I always thought being a FMF was strictly Vollenteer.The US Navy has their Qualifactions and USMC Have their school and Qualls also.greg one other thing the Crimson & Gold have been known to lay down their life for their Doc.just remember a huge number of the Medal of Honor holders in the US Military are US Navy Corpman.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SULLY1,

thanks sully!

i talked to the master chief at the recruiters office today, hes also a hospital corpsman, he said that all corspmans got to FMSS school after "A". and i also told him i am a state and nationaly certified EMT and he told me that he might beable to rank me up to E-3 before i go to boot!!

Congrats on being a Navy Corpsman. Being any rank after E-1 before you go to boot is also impressive, keep up the good work.

I'm also working/studying my way to be an Officer in the Staff Corps too.

if your an officer, and you join the hospital corps, you can become a nurse, correct? can you even becomea doctor?

quote:

Originally posted by greg:
if your an officer, and you join the hospital corps, you can become a nurse, correct? can you even becomea doctor?

Yes, you can.

I'm going to join the Staff Corps as a lawyer or Judge Advocate (JAG). By the time I enter the Navy, I will be an 0-2 and be promoted to O-3 within the year from what I have read. That is if I do direct appointment.

good luck mulder!!

greg-the Navy has always had special programs for personal that are more Military advanced such as ROTC which was the Companys Recruit PO's and yes they had a few privileges that others did not have.As for becoming a Doctor you have go to School just like any other Doctor.A Corpman advancement comes from dedication and study passing exams a Corpman has no room for error because most Corpman performs the duty usually assigned by Rate in other words if you are an E-5 an you are ask to do a job you better be able to do that job.Also you stated that you have certified EMT it might help I don't know maybe at first it also might help your selection when your A school is completed.

well my EMT-B certification might help me get E3 before i go to boot camp, but help with A-school selection? what do you mean?

i should find out by tommorow if my cert does help me advance. i will post.

i think if anything my cert and knoledge of going through and EMT class will help with the corspman class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_ratings greg use this page and go down to Hostpital Corpman and highlight each blue Rate might help.

not sure what you mean by highligh the blue.

greg when you scrool down to Hospital Corpman just click on blue links it will give the discription of the job.

thanks sully, but i pretty much already know what a corpsman does.

Sounds ok for me Good Luck

Greg, i just got out of the Navy. I was a corpsman for 5 years. I too have bad vision, though not as bad as yours. You vision wont affect you unless you have a color deficiency and even then it is only if you apply for special programs. During Corps School you will fill out a "dream sheet" where you will list the three duty stations you want the most. They TRY to accommodate you on this, but it's the "needs of the navy." YOU WILL NOT JUMP OUT OF ANY AIRCRAFT IN CORPS SCHOOL!!!!!" Corps school is your A school. you will also NOT be working with Marines there. When i went it was in Chicago, but i am pretty sure it's in Corpus Christi, Tx now. Corps school is a little more in-depth than EMT. You can do a LOT more as a corpsman than as an EMT. all that EMT cert is going to get you is extra duties, although they are better than regular duties. Your duties after A school vary with where you go. I got sent to an ER in San Diego. But you could also go to a supply duty station and that just sucks. I strongly recommend going to FMSS. You have to go there before getting to play with the Marines. When you go, just forget all the things you learned from EMT. It's different in the field. Not all Corpsman are respected. There is a big difference between "green-side docs" and "blue-side" corpsman. Earn your FMF pin. It's a big deal. You have to go to a "green-side" command for a year before getting it, but it's worth it. That will help you get some respect. Other than that, just take care of your Marines. They are YOURS. Take care of them and they will take care of you. I'm babbeling now, look, if you have ANY questions, email me. I will be glad to help.