North Star Study Guides.....

[Devil Doc 96]

Hello everyone! HM2 here. I was wondering if anyone had any good information on the North Star Study Guide? Alittle information about myself. Im a hands on kind of Corpman and have had poor advancement scores in the past, so looking to raise the bar, HYT is < than 4 yrs and I will be eligable for 1st Class Sept 07. Any and all help would be great. Thank you!

r/

Devil Doc 96

[Da-Chief]

Devil Doc..

Hey.. The Navy gives you all you need.. Look at the bibs when they come out for the next few exams. We also have all the reference materials posted on here.

Northstar is good, but can be overload as well.. Best to see "WHAT" is on the exam..

Just my FYI,

Although, if you start studying now for a hour a day off the last BIB, then pick up the next one when released, you shoudl be fine..

We are even thinking of starting a STUDY hour once a week here for all doc's who want the help.. 1 hour for E-4, one for E-5 and one for E-6...

We do it at CORPS School all the time..

HMC Crone

[Poolzer]

Exactly Chief. There really isnt a reason to look for outside help for our exams. As soon as the bibs for the spring are out, grab them and look them over.

Head to http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/HMTraining/index.asp (http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/HMTraining/index.asp%C2%A0) and download every instruction on the bibliography. If you have or can find someone with Adobe Writer (or adobe professional) use that to cut the instruction down to the specific chapter(s) you need. I did that when I took the E6 exam for the 1st time this spring, and with minimal studying (was out in the desert) I pulled a 64/80 on it, which I think is pretty damn good for the 1st time taking the e6 exam.

Once the instructions are cut down, go through them and use the highlighter in the program to highlight sentances that just scream test question. No flash cards, no ditties, just read thru the cut down instructions and got a 64 (which was higher than the e5 exam I picked up on ironically). There were 74 total chapters/instructions to read through, some long, some just a couple pages, so spaced it out and knocked em out one at a time.

So thats my way..

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

Devil Doc 96 wrote: (I)have had poor advancement scores in the past, so looking to raise the bar, HYT is < than 4 yrs and I will be eligable for 1st Class Sept 07. Any and all help would be great.

The first thing you will need to do is make sure you are eligible to take the exam. PO2 and above must have a formal leadership course under their belt in order to participate in all future exams. If you are a "salty" HM, then you need to have your HM/DT difference training completed as well. Completion of HM/DT material is linked to your recommendation for advancement. This went into effect for AD in 2006, and goes into effect for SelRes in 2007.

Furthermore, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure your Service Record is complete and accurate. If your record is missing something, then you are missing something and it is up to you to get it in there.
(1) No one cares more about your career than you do.
(2) If it is not on paper then it does not exist.
(3) If you do not have a copy of that paper then it does not exist.

The next thing to do is probably change your view of the exam and advancement process.

Your Final Multiple Score determines if you get promoted, but what determines your Final Multiple Score?

E-4/5/6 Final Multiple Score = Performance Mark Average (evals) + Experience (SIPG, Awards, PNA) + Exam Score (Standard Score)

To simplify things, I'll say:
() Performance
() Experience & performance
() Academics & performance

People who simply focus on last minute attempts to study for an academic exam to raise their Standard Score fail to be advanced because they have often neglected the most critical factor: PERFORMANCE.

Performance = better Performance Mark Average (eval)
Performance = more Award points
Performance = higher PNA points*
Performance = higher Standard Score**
Performance = higher Final Multiple Score and promotion

For a PO2 trying to become a PO1, performance is roughly 51% of your Final Multiple Score, while academics is about 35% and experience 13%.

*(PNA points are determined using eval PMA &exam SS)
**(Top performers tend to know more about the job & PMK, have better study habits and can apply their knowledge in all sorts of settings; including exams)


If you are really good, you can be promoted through performance alone and won't even need to take the Advancement Exam. Some CO's may meritoriously advance designated E-3, E-4, and E-5 to the next higher pay grade through the Command Advancement Program (CAP) and the Combat Advancement Program is available for units in combat zones. A few years back, my LCPO wrote up an HM2 to become HM1 for outstanding performance. Last year I assisted an LPO in writing up an HM3 to become HM2 for his extraordinary deeds in Iraq. This year, an old classmate (http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23382)from Hospital Corps School was meritorious advanced to HMC for being selected as Sailor of the Year (SOY). http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23382 (Another thing to note was that 3-out-of-5 SOY finalists were HM1's and all served with the Marines.)

I suggest you schedule a meeting with your current Rating Senior and find out what he expects of you and how you can improve your performance rating. Don't be afraid to request a combat tour or career developing transfer. Seek out greater responsibility, don't settle for "minimum requirements", set the example,and make it a habit of going above & beyond. Perform at the next higher level and conduct yourself in accordance with where you want your career to go, not were it is.

As for tips on studying & taking the exam, I'll cover that 35% later...

[Da-Chief]

Uhh-Rah Chief..

HMC Crone out..

[Devil Doc 96]

HMC-FMF-PJ, HMC Crone & all others !

Thank you for the great insight and advice!As for as the leadership course I completed that last yr, after returning from Iraq. The HM/DT training was mandatory for the entire Naval Hosptial here to be completedin May 2006. As for as the service record... I will need to double check on that to make sure everything is complete and upto date! The thing that I'm struggling with is time! I was very close to HYT for HM3 and went to Psych Tech School to stay in the Navy in 2004 and STAR to 2nd! The Psych Tech community is fully stacked with PO2's and also in this hospital! Alsonow im locked into a 72 month shore rotation for being a Psych Tech.I thought I was in the clear for retiring and hopefull formaking1st Class before 20 yrs, but with the new HYT that came out last yr I'm in the red zone again! I will be eligable Sept 07 for the 1st class exam. Even with studying the information of the Bibs,i.e. instructions I usually cut around mid 40's on all exams. I've came to realize that I'm just not a test taker. High School was the same way. ( Did the homework great, just didnt excel on testing for the knowledge) The senior enlisted advisor our section is currently a 2nd class, who is on her way out of the Navy in < than 1 yr. I have constantly volunteered for deployments, not only for the experiance, but to be away from the " Hospital Enviorment "! Others have said try for MCEP, but I just dont see that in me. I joined the Hospital Corps. And will get out being in the Hospital Corps!Just a die hard salty HM here. I still apperciate all views and insights.

Semper Fi,

Devil Doc 96

[Da-Chief]

HM2,

Tell you what.. We "meaning You and I" will work out a schedule here and I will help you out. You will have to do the time.. I cannot make you study, but I promise you I can lead this old horse to water then Beat the$&*($*&%($%&*$( to make it drink..

;-)

Lets wait for the bibs..



HMC

[Devil Doc 96]

HMC Crone Thank You!!!!! Any and all help is wanted here !!!

Devil Doc 96

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

Devil Doc 96 wrote: The Psych Tech community is fully stacked with PO2's and also in this hospital! I will be eligable Sept 07 for the 1st class exam.The senior enlisted advisor our section is currently a 2nd class, who is on her way out of the Navy in < than 1 yr. I have constantly volunteered for deployments, not only for the experiance, but to be away from the " Hospital Enviorment "

First off, the status of the Psych Tech community, or staffing of a particular duty station, plays very little in the overall advancement opportunity of Hospital Corpsmen. There are also plenty of forward deployed Psych Tech opportunities out there for qualified individuals motivated to make it happen.

Secondly, if I understand the new HYT rules correctly, sailors with 10 or more years of service by July 1, 2006 will be grandfathered under previous HYT guidelines that allow them to remain on active duty until they reach their 20 year retirement eligibility.

Third, you control your own career. Your SEA is but one stop on the road to success. You have a LPO, CPO, CMDMC, DivO, XO, and CO; not to mention your Educational Service Officer (ESO) and Career Counselor. Furthermore, as a HYT candidate, you should have already appeared before a Career Development Board.

Now have you "officially" volunteered in writing or just sorta said you kinda like to go? If you really want OIF or OEF:
() submit a request chit in writing to your LPO/CPO
() volunteer via the NPC website
() volunteer via NKO
() respond to a Call for Volunteers Msg (IAW inst)


Regardless if your goal is an exam or deployment, since you are the one who will reap the benefits of success, you are the one who must push for success.

While you are checking your Service Record, check the math too. It takes 36 months Time-In-Rate (TIR) between E5 and E6 before promotion, however many candidates fail to understand that the TIR cut-off date is set well past the test date. In other words, you may take the exam around the 30-month mark but cannot be promoted before the 36-month mark. (In case you're not reading between the lines, see if you can test before Sep)

Visit this website below and start studying now.
http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/HMTraining/index.asp

Use the "Study Material / Info Presentations" for now and then when the Bib comes out you can focus your studying even more; but get started now and make it part of your duty day.