New Arrival At NHCS

[Meatfoam]

Hi All!
I just graduated from Boot Camp and transferred to NHCS for A school.
Wow, quite a change of pace from Boot Camp.
It's like a college environment, including scores of kids doing immature shit. That was a bit disappointing. A lot of kids I observed were not at all squared away.
The interesting thing was that they gave us a quick brief on the basics at NHCS and then we were released into weekend liberty.
I am pretty excited, though. On monday I'll explore the premises and try to talk to some people who can give me some insight and info.
Well, this message serves no particular purpose, I guess. I was just excited to fire up the ole internet again and hit up this site after a 9 week abstinence.

Have a good day,

David

[8404]

Congratulations meatfoam. Stay squared away, the school has gone through some changes and they are real tight on regulations and people messing up on liberty. One person, can ruin liberty for the whole school house.

It's unfortunate how people can graduate boot camp and lose their military bearing in just a few days. The school house instructors and the Captain of NHCS will most certainly make short work of anyone messing up with infractions to regulations!

Congratulations and keep up the great work. Glad to have you back.

[The_Dirty_Name]

Yes. Congratulations.

Like 8404 typed, stay squared away.

Keep us posted on how things go.

Have a good'n.

[DeeDee]

Welcome back Meatfoam

Keep your nose to the grindstone and study hard - don't party like you are in college (as this has the potential to make life REALLY HARD) ;) - doesn't mean you can't have a good time just means be responsible and don't F-up :)

Keep in touch
DeeDee

[Meatfoam]

Wow, now that I've been here a week I must say that this place is not quite what I expected. It seems as if I'll be on hold for 6 weeks. No biggie, if it weren't for a few things:
BEQ 129 is in desolate condition. Really, really bad, actually. Living there is driving me nuts. Mold, roaches, asbestos, broken showers...
My back pack with medical records in it and ATM card already got stolen.
But the worst is that we spend all day performing really dumb cleaning tasks just to kill time. No studying ahead, no PT, nothing that would make sense to me... what the hell did I get into?!
3 room failures and you are out, what the hell is up with that...!? It doesn't even have to your fault, you are still being disenrolled. I've seen it twice yesterday. It seems like they are trying really hard to f**k people, everybody seems demoralized and depressed.
Well, I hope that I get to start studying soon, so my brain doesn't shrivel up doing unneccessary busy work all day. But again, I'll try to maintain a positive attitude and keep faith. In the meantime I have to keep my classmates from switching rates ;-).
I'll keep in touch. Hopefully the following updates will be more uplifting.

Bye,

David

[8404]

You're in the Navy, the military not a summer camp. I know you learned to work as a TEAM while in boot camp. There are no individuals on a ship, in the field or on a base. You are a part of a team, and that team must function to accomplish the mission no matter how mundane it seems to you.

No, they are not trying to screw with you, it's the military. It's driven by rules, discipline, and organization and military bearing. Can you make the cut?

All you have to do, is do what you learned in boot camp. Clean and be squared away. There are no reasons to fail a room inspection. You state, it doesn't even have to be your fault. There is NO I" IN TEAM! Everybody in that quarters/room have the responsibility for that room's cleanliness and organization.

My son was in 129 and loved it! Why, because in the newer barracks, it was easier for the instructors to notice any little thing wrong.

If you find yourself getting a full 8 to 9 hours sleep, you are definitely doing something wrong. Stay focused, you will make it.

[pegasusHM]

Wow, now that I've been here a week I must say that this place is not quite what I expected. It seems as if I'll be on hold for 6 weeks. No biggie, if it weren't for a few things:
BEQ 129 is in desolate condition. Really, really bad, actually. Living there is driving me nuts. Mold, roaches, asbestos, broken showers...
My back pack with medical records in it and ATM card already got stolen.
But the worst is that we spend all day performing really dumb cleaning tasks just to kill time. No studying ahead, no PT, nothing that would make sense to me... what the hell did I get into?!
3 room failures and you are out, what the hell is up with that...!? It doesn't even have to your fault, you are still being disenrolled. I've seen it twice yesterday. It seems like they are trying really hard to f**k people, everybody seems demoralized and depressed.
Well, I hope that I get to start studying soon, so my brain doesn't shrivel up doing unneccessary busy work all day. But again, I'll try to maintain a positive attitude and keep faith. In the meantime I have to keep my classmates from switching rates ;-).
I'll keep in touch. Hopefully the following updates will be more uplifting.

Bye,

David

Easy there...you are just being held accountable. Just like an adult. The reason we stress cleanlinessand hygene is because there are not dirty Corpsmen. Yes we know that 129 leave something to be desired, however you are not staying in a shelter half on the soccer field. Breakfast and lunch is brought to you and you have a safe place to live. If you can't keep your room or yourself clean, then you have no business in a job where you are responsible for the care of others and you could get someone sick because you didn't wash your hands. Why would cleaning be considered dumb? If you had your own appartment or house, would you not clean it? Well, for the next few months, this is your home. Why would you not want to live in a clean one? As far as studying, I know you get off in the afternoon, so instead of going to Gurnee Mills, why not study then? You are not here to make friends, however I am sure you will. You are here to study and be a professional student. It doesn't get any better than that! As far as the asbestos goes, THERE IS NO ASBESTOS IN THE ROOMS!!!! The showers...well, if the showers are broken, have you done your part and put in a trouble call? Have you told someone? Staff, that is? If you don't tell anyone about it, you have no room to complain about it. This is actually the EASIEST "A" school in Great Lakes, so if you think you have it bad here, then feel free to try one of the others. All of the instructors here take pride in the product that we put out. We are a filter, not a pipeline and if you can't cut it here, then you need to find another job more suited to your expectations.

[Meatfoam]

Yes, I figured that the replies would look just like that. It is partly my fault, as I forgot to mention a few details.
I am frustrated because I am idling. At least we were issued study material today, so I could start studying. I am happy about that. I was surprised that there was such thing as a 6 week hold. My research did not indicate that and I was not aware of the changes NHCS is undergoing at the time. Shit, everybody told me that the school was self paced. Now I am waiting to class up!
I am glad that they are trying to increase the quality of corpsmen that they produce.
As far as the cleaning goes, it is frustrating because there are no cleaning supplies in our barracks. And that's unsat.
Everybody stresses cleanliness, and that makes sense. As corpsmen we want to work in a medically clean environment. I get all that, I don't need to be told. Hell, I like my stuff clean. But when bring to their attention that there is no soap in any of the heads, I find out that they ran out of soap 7 weeks ago...well... And before you all jump the gun, yes I did go out and buy hand soap and sanitizer.
I understand what the Navy is about and that NHCS is a filter, I simply vented some of my disappointment. As a matter of fact, I am very confident that I will be doing well.
Thank you for all your replies
Have a nice weekend,
David

[bjpete]

Hi Meatfoam, Thankyou very much for your service to our country. One thing you'll learn about the military, if you haven't already is "hurry up and wait" which is what your going through right now. As a Corpsman you will learn accountabilty and also to keep good written records, what I'm getting at is this, don't say or do anything that will come back to haunt you later especially with the lack of cleaning supplies, I'm sure if your not tactful and whine all the time you'll regret it later. However, if you approach things with a positive attitude and tell your chain of command " sir I really want to complete the job at hand but am greatly limited by the lack of supplies" you'll get better results. Also, if the equipment you need is lacking, request that the person in charge state it in writing and sign it that way you've covered your backside with written documentation, if that person gives you any crap about it, just document his name, what he said regarding the issue along with the time and date of the event. I'm sure you remember from boot camp the importance of an accurate log book, well, the same thing applies here also. Just remember that this too will pass.
Take care,
Brian (HM1 USNR retired)

[8404]

I never did understand why the barracks run out of cleaning supplies. I remember my son saying they had to buy their own in order to maintain cleanliness. Not sure why the Navy doesn't supply those items.

It may be because nobody requested them. Again not sure.

[pegasusHM]

Part of that is because of the new changes. The barracks now have a dedicated staff, not just 1 or 2 CSs assigned to them. The cleaning supply issue is kind of like a viscious circle. No supplies are ordered because the students buy their own, and since they buy their own, no one ever says that they are out, so none get ordered, and so on and so on...

[Da-Chief]

MeatFoam..

It'll get better.. Don't worry.. Soak it up...

Why do I say this??

Dee Dee's son who was in your shoes just a few months ago.. Leave's for IRAQ this month..

I would bet, that if you get deployed as fast as he is you would "WISH" you were back at NHCS cleaning.

I just had a dinner with a fellow Chief IDC who just got back from IRAQ 2 months ago.. Watched a video that he had taken while driving in a convey...watched a IED go off right in front of him... I saw it myself in the video.

I know we are all gung-ho..but trust me NHCS is much better then that shit-hole in the Desert.

Da-Chief
Former Staff NHCS.
Learn this...
Adapt and Overcome.

[pegasusHM]

Ahh yes......130 degree heat, body armor, sleeves down, kevlar, gloves, 20 lbs. of magazines, hot wind in your face, sand, sand, and more sand. and of course playing rocket & mortar dodge-ball.....good times.

[Lil Miss Kenya]

I just got here a week ago, and I thought i'd be starting on the 28th this month. Not so much!! And what makes it worse is that it's not selfpaced anymore. I was expecting to get through it faster since I have medical experience, but oh well. Hey! At least we're getting paid to muster 4 times a day and do busy work. They should really have us doing more productive things in my opinion, like making money for the MWR, or even better, just freaking studying. Hey, I'm in class 251, one of the females in front when we muster. Try and spot me out one day!

[The_Dirty_Name]

[QUOTE=Meatfoam;20599]It seems as if I'll be on hold for 6 weeks./QUOTE]

Wow! Six weeks. :err:

Is that because of it being the fourth quater and money is running out?
If not why?

Could one spend some of this down time studing for their PQS? At least for the next paygrade not rating, or the Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist Insignia.

Could one spend some of this down time training with Dive Motivators, or improving their fitness?

Could one spend some of this down time talking with petty officers and getting some knowledge from them.

Could one have a parent/family member mail them some medical books to read?

___

Six weeks is a long time. If I have this type of time I would try to make the most of it.

The best part is, it will all come to an end and week one of A school WILL start. Also the Area of Operations is pretty safe.

__

[supercharged05]

It will start bud, no worries. Don't sweat it. It is ridiculous some of the things they make you do, I will not deny that. But at least your not spending 2 years on a ship as a deck seaman, that is what you could expect everyday ;) You picked a good rate.. Lol, I stayed in 129, that is a pretty terrible place. No worries, it will come to an end, and you will start school. In all honesty, learn what you can from school, make sure you take it in, not just pump and dump. However, you don't want to spend too much time there, you will learn way more being out in the field.

Haha and The dirty one, some of those are not merely ways to pass the time. As a former dive motivator, I will be the first to tell you that you don't pt during your free time.. They make sure it takes up a 3rd alloted time... not work, not free time, but sleep. I was up 5 days a week at 0400 running/swimming.. And you won't really be able to study for PQS until you are stationed with the marines/on a ship and get your PQS, because every ship/division is different.

Well I hope everything goes well for you guys, being a Corpsman is an amazing thing, wouldn't trade it for the world.. Good luck!

[pegasusHM]

Wow...I have to say that things are changing. Yes, we know there is a long wait period before you class up. We have over 600 on hold awaiting a class, and right now, it is only going to get worse. It happens every year. it is the surge from the summer. And every year we get through it. Take it upon yourself to study and ASK QUESTIONS!!!

[The_Dirty_Name]

Thanks for the feedback supercharged05.

As always, thanks for posting and sharing what is going on at NHCS peqasusHM.

[supercharged05]

Thanks for the feedback supercharged05.

As always, thanks for posting and sharing what is going on at NHCS peqasusHM.

Love your motivation though man, keep it up, with that attitude boot camp will be a joke for you. Good luck btw

[pegasusHM]

I will tell you what we tell the students here: You are here to study and being paid to be a student, not go to Parchizzis or Gurney Mills. Learn to prioritize now, and we won't have to take the choices away. Everyone here is legally an adult and we will treat you like one, untill we are given reason to do otherwise.

[Caudle]

I will be reporting there in a few days. I wanted to know if anyone knew anyone knew any contact information to the school to arrange transportation from the airport to the base? So how is the school now ? Heard alot about the school from a few shipmates from my previous command.

[8404]

Caudle;

The school is instructor led now. Obey all the rules or yours and your classmates liberty will be secured. Three room inspection failures and you're dropped from the school. I also believe they have an academic, three failure rule as well. Study, study and study some more.

Mind your military bearing at all times while there. If you are a fleet returnee, the instructors will expect more from you.

Keep your uniforms ready at all times for unexpected uniform inspections.

I believe you are on your own, with regards to transportation from the airport to the school/base. Take a cab to the train station located in downtown Chicago. Make sure you are on the train that stops at Great Lakes, Illinois RTC bootcamp. The school is a short walking distance from there or you can take a cab from the train station.

Best of luck to you at Corpsman 'A' school.

[pegasusHM]

8404 is absolutely correct. It is your responsibility to find transportation to the school. Just remember to bring your bearing with you and I am sure you will be fine.

[8404]

With regards to bearing:

When my son reported in to FMTB, he just saunterer in like he was 'back on the block' and talking to an old friend, and said, "hi, is there we report in?"

The instructor behind the desk flew off his seat, and berated him like a Marine drill sergeant, replete with spit flying and in your face yelling about his "military bearing". You never drop your military bearing ever!

I absolutely could not believe my son did that. I told him, what were you thinking, I know bootcamp teaches you how to report in.

[Caudle]

Thanks alot for the information . what is the pt routine there? Do i go directly to the school to check-in

[8404]

Caudle;

You will have organized physical training, however you should keep in mind that it's your responsibility to maintain a constant state of physical fitness and readiness. Strive to be able to pass the Marine PFT test. That is what will be expected of you when you join up with FMTB.

"Do i go directly to the school to check-in?"

What do your orders say? If I remember correctly, your orders tell you exactly where and what base or building to report to!

[Caudle]

So is everyone required to do FMTB ? In my orders it just tells me my NLT an NET Date as well as the day my class starts. It doesnt mention anything about reporting and checking in procedures.

[pegasusHM]

Military Bearing... what's that? Oh yeah, I think I left that at the front gate of RTC when I left. Don't worry, the fleet is full of mystery and wonder... but not Military Bearing! But if you do need some, you can always make a trip to Great Mistakes and pick up some outside of RTC. Hey, you might even find yours you left there! People, the Military is a game (except Combat, that is Game ON!); your enjoyment of the Military will be a direct correlation of how well you play the Game. Any A/C School (Even Spec War School's), you will be treated as if you don't know anything (you really don't know about the Job, hence you being at School.) Just show up, Play the Game, and do the best you can. When you get out to the Fleet you might even find one of your instructors as a Fellow sailor (and then you can ask him, where his Military bearing is????) HAHAHA!!!! Enjoy!!!

I don't even know where to begin with this one. The military is a game? Clearly you have some underlying experiences which have influenced your view. If you are in or out, I am sure that at some point you must have had a sense of pride in what you did/do. The Military is, sad to say, comperable to a job which requires you to act and behave a certain way, which is not unheard of these days. If you have a hard time adjusting to it, or can't get over someone younger than you giving you orders, then you should find another job which does not have so many requirements for you. Bearing is the cornerstone of any military, for it requires discipline. Without it, the military would simply be a mob without order. Ask those who were in Al Fajr if they thought it was a game...I guarentee they will say otherwise.

[8404]

Thanks Pegasus:

Caudle;

All males, after Corpsman 'A' school, will attend FMTB! Prior to leaving Corpsman 'A' school, you should know which permanent duty station you will be assigned to after FMTB.

[Caudle]

Ok Thank you. One more question i will be reporting there tommorrow does anyone know the check in procedures? where exactly do I go because my flight lands at 1600.

[8404]

Caudle:

http://navmedmpte.med.navy.mil/nhcs-gl/index.htm

WELCOME ABOARD INFORMATION
Congratulations on your orders to Naval Hospital Corps School. We look forward to meeting you and are committed to doing our best to make your transition to the Great Lakes/Chicago area a pleasant one.
I am sure that you are excited about your upcoming move and must have many questions and concerns about the command and the area. The links provided on this page are a great source of additional information on resources provided by the base. Your Command Sponsor will be able to answer any specific questions or further explain other items of concern to you.
If you have orders and would like to contact your sponsor, email the Command Sponsorship Program Coordinator.
Command Sponsorship Program Coordinator:
Contact Number:
COMM 847-688-3412
DSN 792-3412
Email: Lequisha.shines@med.navy.mil (Lequisha.shines@med.navy.mil)
Useful website links:
Naval Station Great Lakes:
http://www.nsgreatlakes.navy.mil/ (http://www.nsgreatlakes.navy.mil/)
Child Development Center:
http://www.mwrgl.com/child_youth/cdc/cdc.htm (http://www.mwrgl.com/child_youth/cdc/cdc.htm)
Moral Welfare and Recreation:
http://www.mwrgl.com/Default.htm (http://www.mwrgl.com/Default.htm)
Base Housing Office:
http://www.nsgreatlakes.navy.mil/housing/index.htm (http://www.nsgreatlakes.navy.mil/housing/index.htm)
Standard Installation and Topics Exchange Service (SITES):
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/sites/ (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/sites/)
MAILING ADDRESS
Commanding Officer
601 D Street
Building 130-H
Great Lakes IL 60088

[Da-Chief]

Report to the Quarterdeck of Corps School. You have to be in your Dress uniform to report in. Make sure your squared away with a proper hair cut, Shave (If needed) and not Drunk as a Skunk.
Trust me it has happend numerous times.
V/R
HMC

[Caudle]

Thank You Chief and 8404

[Corpsman77Wife]

Report to the Quarterdeck of Corps School. You have to be in your Dress uniform to report in. Make sure your squared away with a proper hair cut, Shave (If needed) and not Drunk as a Skunk.
Trust me it has happend numerous times.
V/R
HMC

I can not believe some ppl have reported Drunk as a Skunk. Do ppl not take the military seriously anymore. Man oh man.

[8404]

Caudle:

Here is the direct number for the Corpsman 'A' school: 847-688-3412

Best of luck to you and take care

8404

[macram45]

I would really like to say I graduated from Corps School. I will one day. I just have to be Patient!

[therealme]

Hello, I don't really know where to begin. I am sitting here on my computer and I get this e-mail from someone saying some very untrue things. So I follow the link provided by that person and it leads me to this site and so I register and can I believe my eyes. I have an e-mail, that I haven't used for about 7 years... sence high school! tngnome@yahoo.com and here it is. I read all these post and I cannot belive my eyes! A Navy SEAL!!!! I wish!! I don't know what to do? I am sooo heated right now!!!! Well, I guess all I can do is say NO to all the stuff this person says! I don't claim to be anything but a father and husband! Is there any way you can let me figt this guy? Look here people I repeat this is not me! Please donnot send any e-mails to me at the account info listed on that one guys post. I really don't want to hear it. Well, I really don't know what else to say. I need to see how to stop this guy from posting things or I just need to update my address on the alumni site! THank you all for what you do.

[manningrr]

It has been a while since I have been on the site. I have been busy with getting ready for deployment. The working up is worse than the deployment. Hopefully I can find time to visit and chat.

Thanks for clearing that up therealme. The guy using your email is in store for a wake up call. I was an instructor at NHCS from 03-06 and would personally love for an old student to show up to 2d LAR and ask me where my military bearing is. I can tell you that his military bearing would soon return. Obviously that person has never set foot in Iraq. I can tell you that Rawah and Anah was not even close to a game. Football is a game, and war is not a game.

Good luck to everyone going to NHCS and FMTB. Enjoy because it really is not that bad. Just roll with the punches and you will look back and realize you had a good time.

What is this about the self paced going away at NHCS. I am happy if it did. Nothing personal, but I disagreed with it from the beginning of blended learning.

For everyone out there flaming other people. Remember that everyone has a job to do. That is all that matters. Do what the Navy ask because that is what we agreed to when we joined. Enjoy the site because HMC worked hard to bring us a site and make it what it is. Everyone have a fine Navy/Marine Corps day.
HM1

[pegasusHM]

Nothing quite like hijacked e-mails.....

[coastie16]

Meatfoam,
Reading on your posts here, I wanted to drop a little advice to you about your "selection" of language. It is not going to get you too far, especially as a Corpsman, keep in mind you are talking to people on here a whole lot senior to you, and you need to show some respect. Not spew foul language out.
Yeah sure we all drop a few bombs out in the fleet on board ship , and out on the field (some of us know this is how Marines communicate with one another), but tighten up a few notches when your in here talking to retired CHIEF's, Active duty SPO's, ect. its a small world out there, you never know who you might be swearing at.
Patients will not find you very professional if you tell them that their "sh&* is all fu*&ed up". Think about that.
Hope all is well in Corpsman School.

-HS2-

[Da-Chief]

In a word it is called "BEARING" (Not something in your wheels on your car)..

I still remember SGTMAJ Saunders telling our young Marines to correct their "BEARING" all the time..

As he put it.. why spend all the time if your squared away getting your uniform to look 100% Perfect then come out Spewing out garbage. It makes you look trivial and also immature. No CEO's of major corp's spew trash like that. And I can tell you the way we select for SOY's and BJOQ's.. you had better have awesome "BEARING".

;-)

HMC

[Meatfoam]

Foul language, eh? Well, I sincerely apologize to anyone here whom I offended with my 'foul language'. It was not my intention to be abrasive. Believe it or not, but I swear more now, that I am in the Navy than I have ever before. It seems as if profanity is everywhere around me.
Update: I am finally classed up, have been for 2 weeks now, and I must say that I like it. The actual Corps School is fun, somewhat well organized and it makes sense. There are a lot of punk kids around who spoil some of the fun, but my Chief and HM1 won't take any, ehm, poo from anybody. It is disciplined and fair. I love it here. The instructors are very knowledgeable. They seem passionate and want to put quality corpsmen out to the fleet.
The curriculum keeps me pretty busy, not much time to do anything else, as I am one of the classes EPOs. I have to make sure that I am on top of things to support my classmates didactically. Good. They say that the one who teaches learns the most.
All in all I must say that things have gotten a lot better since I classed up. So, to anybody out there wasting away in NMT: Hang in there. It will pay off.
Finally, a question: Are there provisions for meritorious advancement upon finishing Corps School?
Thank you all for your feedback and help,

David

[DeeDee]

David - glad you are classed up and getting into your schooling.

Keep your chin up and your nose clean :)

Good Luck
DeeDee

oh yeah - get your classmates in here to join too - it is an excellent networking opportunity :)

[pegasusHM]

Who are your instructors?

[Meatfoam]

Who are your instructors?

My instructors are Chief Coffman and HM1 Gold. Both are very knowledgeable and most helpful.
And now I almost regret that I joined the Reserves and not the active duty Navy. I would love to pick a C-school and just keep on studying. I currently have a 95% average and would love to take it further as a Corpsman. Ah well, maybe the reserves will offer some decent opportunities, we'll see.
Does anyone here have any input on reserve opportunities?

[pegasusHM]

As far as meritorious advancement, not out of here.

[Sailor85]

i've been here in NMT for 2 weeks already and when i first got here i was in shock. after a while i got over it. man it was hectic. the school is trying to push students out quick. i cant wait to class up and graduate and go back to fleet!

[pegasusHM]

Remember that when we push you to take more than 1 test a week...

[MCDGexx]

I enjoyed the test every 2-3 days, forced me to study even harder, and I did better. 9 days till Grad :D

[8404]

MCDGexx;

Congratulations on your success thus far. You will do fine.

Best of wishes to you.

[MCDGexx]

Thank you, now on to AVT school and hopefully SAR if I can get into it *cross fingers* I pulled about an 89 average through the school so I think that helped me alot getting into AVT :)

[8404]

MCDGexx;

Have you submitted your paperwork or let anyone at NHCS know you want AVT school or have you already been accepted?

Yep, school, school and more school. Then on to a very exciting new job. Best of wishes to your ongoing success.