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[bsmith35]

Hello everyone!

My name is Brian and I am in the process of enlisting in the Navy Reserve as a Corpsman. I have been a Firefighter and a Paramedic for about four years now with career experience. I am also a special topics instructor (BLS, Peds., Misc. Medical Emergencies, etc.). I love my country have always wanted to serve, andI'm definately not getting any younger. I took the ASVAB and scored an 81 a few weeks ago. Bad news is that I have to have part of the Tatoo on my back removed because it goes up about an inch onto the back of my neck. I had my first treatment a few days ago and the next one in September.

Now questions:

1. I am enlisting NPSB with HM rating, I want to go FMF and the recruiter says I probably won't have a choice (which is good), but is there a way at all to get it in my contract? We have two Marine units here in Columbus and I know a few of the guys in the units (I work with one at the firehouse) and they need Corpsman. They told me about "Program 9," which, according to them, would assign me as an FMF HM in my contract. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this. They even said before I sign I could call the 3/25 and ask the CO if there was anything he could do for me.

**Edit: I asked the recruiter about "Program 9" andhe doesn't know anything about it.**

2. I've read on here that A-School can be completed at your own pace. How does that work? I read that a few of the enlistee's who were Medics for their careers had a much easier time with the classes. I would like to know this so I can tell my wife I won't be gone as long. We are preparing for the long haul but it would be nice to know if this is a possibility.

3. From your personal experience (those who have been through before), is there a way to make things easier at home? I have a wife and daughter and I want to make sure they are comfortable while I'm gone. Our financial situation is fine but with me being gone for 5-8 months for training and possibly longer with my first deploment she thinks she can't talk with me at all. Is there any advice you have that I could tell her to make her feel a little better? She is not a happy camper about this, she supports the military but not me in it.

Thanks for any info, and I look forward to chatting with you before I ship.

I would also like to say that this forum has helped me a ton. I have been reading it for some time now and a lot of good info comes from here. Thanks again!

[HM3_JD]

Brian,
Hi there! I joined the USNR about 2 years ago under the NPS / APG program, mainly because of the "2 week bootcamp" that it offered (I couldn't afford to take a paycut down to E-1 pay for 2 months at the time). Looking back, there were some good points and bad points to the program, but regardless, I believe the program has gone away now.

So, on to your questions:
1.) I should know the answer to this (Chief will kick my butt probably since I just left his reserve program less than a month ago!) but I can't remember at the moment.
(Hey Chief, it's midnight here and been a long shift at the firehouse!) However, I know someone here will give you the correct answer.
As for going FMF... heh... sure, if you want it, they'll give it to you. There are 2 options for FMSS for reservists. First is a 5 week resident course at Lejeune or Pendelton, the second is a 12 month course cumulating in a 17 day trip to one of the above mentioned Marine Corps Camps. The 5 week course is recommended.

2.) With your experience, I can't see why you couldn't go through the Reserve HM "A" school. It's a 12 day course that you attend at NHCS after finishing 94 courses online (translates into doing all of the labs you'd normally do up there, but you do the classroom / online portion at home instead of the computer lab at NHCS.) HMC Crone is in charge of that program, and could answer better. Like I said above, I just finished it, and thought it was a good program. The regular corps school is self paced, with online and lab portions, and can be finished as quickly as you want to (I think some people have finished the whole thing in about 2 weeks?)

3.) The family part is always the hardest for everyone. My experience so far has been pretty good. In boot, you'll have very limited contact with anyone other than your RDCs, unless you bust butt and do something really good. Then they may let you take a trip to the phone booth at the exchange on the RTC side to make a 10-30 minute phone call (their discretion). They're not unreasonable though, and I think the full booters get a few phone calls during their time at RTC.
At corps school, you're allowed to bring a cell phone, but it must be stowed and turned off during school hours, and never ever brought into the schoolhouse. You are out of the BEQ at 0615, and released from school for the day around 1630, so between 1630 and 0615 M-Th, and from 1630 Fr to 0615 Mon, you're free to talk to them as much as you want. Liberty means you can do whatever you want (within reason) on the weekends, so they could even come to Chicago to visit you.
I haven't been to FMSS, but I don't think they would be too big on the idea of cell phones...

So, here's what you're looking at:
Ship off to boot. 1 phone call.
8-10 weeks of boot, maybe 1 or 2 phone calls during that time.
Come home after graduation (full boot graduation is pretty neat, and your wife will want to come see it)
Go to your reserve center for a while until you're ready for "A" school (just during your drill weekends, not full time!)
Go to NHCS for a minimum of 2 weeks, phone calls all you want, visits on the weekend if you want.
Come home after graduation. Go back to the reserve center during your drill weekend.
Go to FMSS for 5 weeks. Unknown how many phone calls / visits, but I'd think it'd be pretty limited.
Go have fun with jarheads and watch them do weird things (like jumping out of 2nd floor windows with matresses strapped to themselves for padding yelling for you to watch...)
Eventually get called up to go support the GWOT. I think (again, not positive) that Marines are doing 6-8 month tours.

Good luck with it! Be sure to sit down with the wife and talk it out. Her support will help you more than you can imagine!

[bsmith35]

The way Non-Prior Service Basic was explained to me is:

1. 8-10 weeks of Boot

2. Automatically go to A-School 14-16 Weeks (at my own pace, possibly 4-6 weeks)

3. FMSS (if offered or requested) for 7 weeks

4. To my reserve center or Marine Corps Unit

Is this wrong?

A few people told me that the APG Program is done. I wanted to do that butIfeel that I won't get the full "Military Experience." I have 90 + college credits so I will go in as an E-3, which will be nice. I appreciate your help and answers to my questions. Thanks!

[Da-Chief]

Shipmate,

The Non-Prior Program is the best way to go. you get the full experience and you are totally indoc'ed to the Navy's ways and customs.

The APG while it looks good on paper, and you are trained in your specialty, you aren't trainded in the full way to be a Sailor or a HM. We as HM's have many many many job's and functions. This was really experienced during Desert Storm and now with the War. Active Duty do not have the time to re-train a Sailor when we should be playing in the sand.

;-)

Hope to see you soon!
HMC Crone

P.s I retire in April, maybe you will be here before then.!!!

later