Composite FMF Corpsman

[vanWeyden]

Due to a variety of interesting experiences I get another chance at picking a career in the Navy. Let me start by saying that I am something of an idealist, and while I don't have a death wish, I do want to go FMF. Basically, I don't want to sit back and hear about Marines getting messed up in Iraq/Afghanistan. I want to be part of the military that is also constructive. (NOTE: I am aware that the military exists to kill people, and I wouldn't have joined at all if I wasn't 'ready' to follow an order like that. I just think it is really amazing that a member of the military can also heal people.)

With that being said, I would like to have the run-down on what FMF Corpsman do.

(Also, I'm new and I hope I didn't mess up the format.)

Thank You

[8404]

Welcome Aboard;

First things first: The military exists for far more than what you have stated. It provides, support, aid, rebuilds nations, rebuilds governments, transportation systems, delivers babies and the list goes on. The US military also deploys on humanitarian missions.

We have a great deal of information on this site regarding FMF Corpsman:

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19415&highlight=corpsman+responsibilities

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=83

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=82


Textbook version:

HM‑8404 Field Medical Service Technician
Provides medical and dental services for personnel in field units. Provides technical and administrative assistance to support the mission and functions of the Navy and Marine Corps field units. Maintains organizational level AMAL’s and ADAL’s. Assists in the procurement and distribution of supplies and equipment for field use and combat areas. Maintains field treaQMent facilities. Renders first aid and emergency medical and dental treaQMent to unit personnel/combatants. Coordinates and performs medical evacuation procedures. Ensures observance of field sanitary measures and preventive measures in specialized warfare. Conducts first aid and health education training programs.

Source Rating: HM
Course: Mandatory

Sequence Code: 7
Component NEC:
Primary Advisor: BUMED
Billet Paygrades: E3-E9
CIN: B-300-0013
B-300-0213

Related NEC:
Technical Advisor: FHP LEARNING CTR
Personnel Paygrades: E3-E9
CDP: 3387, 3388, 02FJ, 02FL

NR Ind: A
Open to Women: Yes
ECM: PERS 4011D13

Source: http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/NEC/HM.htm

Others should be coming along and can provide you with some additional first hand experiences.

Be sure to tell others about this site.

[HMC8404]

My time spent with them was during the 80s and we only played Solid Shield games every odd year in the field. You need someone's input who's serving today during wartime. I would have loved to have gone during wartime ... but I was in Japan and away from the action in '91.

vanWeyden, just because you go 8404 doesn't mean you'll end up with a unit, or that your unit will see action. Unfortunately there are always those "in the rear with the gear" to make the rest of the Navy run at our many other bases and on our ships. Be prepared for that.

[HMC8404]

Oh, I almost forgot ................
Welcome Aboard! http://forums.tccoa.com/images/smilies/SailorSalute.gifhttp://www.landofmarbles.com/phpbb/images/smilies/006.gif

[vanWeyden]

What must one do to have an increased chance of being sent to a unit? Also I wasn't trying to play down the good things in the military, I just trying to say that I am not one of those people that get about a month out basic andhas a crisis because they thought the Navy was a field trip or something. The Navy's long history of giving aid to those who need it badly was one of the reasons I joined in the first place. In any case I certainly agree with you. However, I was really wondering whether FMFCorpsman was really like the stories that I've been hearing ever since I started to enlist.

Thank you for the references!

[HMC8404]

What must one do to have an increased chance of being sent to a unit?
Becoming an 8404 is the way, but it does not guarentee you. When I was sitting in Lejeune's Naval Hospital in a "shore billet" with my 8404 NEC back in '90, we began pulling out half of my hospital's staff to augment a field hospital going up in Bahrain, as well as staffing the Mercy and other ship's medical departments for Desert Shield ... I was part of the 50% that didn't go. The orders drop from BUPERS (Bureau of Personnel) in DC. It didn't matter that I was begging to go in place of others that didn't want to go due to child care restraints. I had to stay put and they left. It's just the way it goes down sometimes. Your best bet is that straight out of school you tell your detailer that you WANT a Marine unit! That way when you're coming up for orders and you have your 8404 NEC, your detailer will just give you something. It's all about the availability of billets in each command and I'm sure there are always those with a unit available. So don't be shy, when it comes time to submit your "dream sheet" of choices for commands, make sure you fill it out right.


Also I wasn't trying to play down the good things in the military, I just trying to say that I am not one of those people that get about a month out basic andhas a crisis because they thought the Navy was a field trip or something.

Thank you for the references!
I didn't read you that way, not for a second. And you're welcome. We always help each other out. http://www.corpsman.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[FMF_DOC]

Well what to say...A Marine gives you the run down on an insurgent in a building across the road. You are the only one with him that isnt doing anything to take the insurgent out. He runs across the street after yelling, "Go"! As he turns to look behind him, you not there. He shouts back, Why the ()*# are you still over there Doc? and you reply," I have a heros heart, but cowardly legs". If you want to be a part of the military that is constructive...Be a Military Analyst. Personally, I got in trouble for clearing a room on my own. Would you follow me into combat and do what you were ordered to do without question? Thats what I would like to know...The military does not exist to ,"Kill" people,
The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, detering agression and maintaining freedom of the seas. I researched all other branches and no where do they state the word kill. It is a bad word in my book and has a bad meaning. We in the military dont kill the enemy. I hope you find what your looking for in the Medical Field. If you feel you will make a good corpsman then by all means, welcome to the field. But it's my job as an instructor to challenge your ideas and pull them out of you for reasons unstated here on this web site. Want more...See you at Field Med...OORAH !! FMF Corpsman

[vanWeyden]

I think that I have chosen some very controversial words. It was certainly not my intention to be offensive (I came to you for help after all!). But my point was I'm tired of intending; I want to actively contribute to results. Honestly, I only added that line because I have read a few other posts where people do not want to go FMF, but would rather be traditional HMs. Since my situation is reversed, I thought it prudent to note the difference so as to receive more specific results at the risk of being discounted as an uniformed person and controversy.

[HMC8404]

The military does not exist to ,"Kill" people
Michael Moore would disagree with you. ;)

[Corpsman77]

Michael Moore would disagree with you. ;)

My, my, my... someone went there. ;)

[HMC8404]

I have been known to test waters everywhere. ;)

PS ... I despise Michael Moore and every time I can take a jab ... I don't shy away.

[DeeDee]

LOL Mark - had to laugh at you both for those comments :D

[tact.medic]

I'm 8404, and love it. I suggest you do it too but don't stop there- make sure you get a "real" C school- I was just learned from some techs that "8404 still = 0000" (I fought them tooth and nail though- and won). Reality is that in the "world" being 8404 is not going to help you much unless you take advantage of it and get EMT and maybe even paramedic certified. if you get a C school, you will learn a skill that can be applied when you leave the military. Some of the best schools are x-ray, pharmacy, OR tech. One of the cool ones is IDC but you still get into that trickbag that if you don't certify in something (such as LPN, medical assistant, paramedic) then that NEC will be a waste of time.

Make sure that your contract states the following- you want a c-school and you will gladly go to FMTB. If I were you I would try and do C-school first, something to discuss with your recruiter and detailor. remember this is YOUR life, don't feel pressured to take any crap from the recruiter because he/she has a quota to fill. Stick to your guns, and if it doesn't work out walk away, I'm sure they will call you back soon ;)

[navcorpmom]

I see you mentioned pharmacy as a C-school. From experience, the best rate of pay you can hope for right now would be working at a military treatment center as a GS-5 or GS-6 with the *possibility* of making GS-7 at some point. I do know of technicians that have been working for nearly 20 years that have only just recently (withing last 5 years) made GS-6. However, the pay as a pharmacy technician is much greater working for the federal government than it is working in the private sector.

Bottome line...it doesn't pay as good as you might think. Most pharmacists are GS-11 and 12's so the difference in pay is substantial. Not only that, but the pay and sign-on bonuses in the private sector are WAY better than working for the federal government. PharmD graduates are bringing in $120,000 per year+ right out of school v. *maybe* $31,000 for being a pharmacy tech. If pharmacy is what you want to do, go to pharmacy school and get your PharmD.

[dvldocjoe]

When I was in NHCS, our class went by average on assignments from the dream sheet. There was one ship and so many C-school billets. I took Surgical Tech and automatically got FMTB. My first junior HM billet I drew was a ship (FFG) due to availability. The point is there are many options but it goes by training, assignment availability, and which choices you make in school or in assignments afterwards. Good luck.

[DocScarface]

I think all corpsman should go straight to FMTB from Great Lakes and serve with my beloved USMC! This is the only way to do it. I am currently serving with the Navy's new brown water force and it's ok but you can't beat green-side. The blue-side is to "PC" and for most of us we rather be serving with the boys than having to worry about who's feelings are getting hurt with this new kinder gentler navy.

[KentuckyBoy]

I disagree Scarface. I don't think all corpsman should serve with a Marine unit. This is for two reasons:
1) Not all corpsman want to serve with a Marine unit. I knew a LOT of people in corps school that didn't know corpsman could get stationed with a Marine unit or go to combat. I know a decent amount of people that quit corps school just because of that possibility. If a person doesn't want to do that kind of work, that will only be a determent and hazard to their unit and Marines.
2) Not all corpsman (even the ones who desire to serve with Marines) are in shape or have the right state of mind to serve with a Marine unit. Even at the graduation of Field Med, when you should be in great shape, we had corpsman that were physically pathetic.

I think that they need to be much more selective with the corpsman that they send to Marine units, especially with corpsman going division. I personally asked for division when I graduated corps school. They lined us up and said stand to the left if you want division, to the right if you want group. I stood to the left. I got group. When I graduated field med one of the worst medically and physically prepared guys was going to 2nd MARDIV. I honestly didn't want him to go because I knew he would tarnish the reputation of corpsman everywhere.

I know that the military is huge and it would be very difficult to process all corpsman one by one. If they are going to send all males to Field Med I think they should have you run a PFT on the first day, have you come in and talk to a counselor, and cut you orders to DIV or MLG based on your physical fitness, and desire. Your medical skills can be honed as you progress through the school and at your unit. I would rather have another corpsman reach me that barely knew what to do than to have a MD never reach me.

My rant and rave...blah blah...

To answer the original question in this thread, which was....???? I forgot.
I'm a FMF corpsman with 3rd MLG. Corpsman are attached to any kind of Marine unit you can think of. I'm currently with the MEU and every couple of weeks we get on a ship and travel around providing medical care to people in remote areas of 3rd world countries. It's a great eye opening experience. My main mission is to keep the unit medically ready by seeing Marines for sick call. I do that underway and while in the rear. I like it but would rather be with a grunt unit. Hope that helps.

[Doc Hickman]

I think all corpsman should go straight to FMTB from Great Lakes and serve with my beloved USMC! This is the only way to do it. I am currently serving with the Navy's new brown water force and it's ok but you can't beat green-side. The blue-side is to "PC" and for most of us we rather be serving with the boys than having to worry about who's feelings are getting hurt with this new kinder gentler navy.
No way!! Too many ****birds out there that need to go to a Hospital and take vitals. I met more than one HM out in the fleet that was almost an embaressment to the rate, it's never a fun time tring to explain to a Gunny "what's the deal with Doc So&SO". When we go to the FMF we're the Navy's version of the Marines "The Few and The Proud" It's definetly NOT for everyone!

[8404]

I agree Kentucky Boy and Doc Hickman!

[dvldocjoe]

I definitely agreed with the previous statements that NOT all HM's should be able to go FMF. The reasoning behind this is the motivation factor plus the pucker factor of stress and other $_it in combat situations. If you can't handle yourself in school or a hospital setting, forget the field. Even street medics have those who they don't want to work with. You have to be able to prove you can handle the stress, multitask, and ADAPT AND OVERCOME!

[8404]

...the pucker factor...

ha ha ha.......a very accurate unit of measure!

"...a scale by which a numerical value can be assigned, from one to ten, to an occurance or encounter that frightens or terrifies."

[cbrennan85]

Beyond all of this great info, I highly recommend getting on youtube and doing searches for "Navy Corpsman", "FMF", "Navy HA" or "FMSS". You will find a lot of great first hand videos giving you an idea of what your life in training will be like, a-school, FMSS, and even life in Iraq/Afghanistan.

My favorite FMSS video ("THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR PATIENT! - lol) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7aePxBlohk

Great Iraq comp - http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=30543676

Another great FMSS video (this one should be used for recruitment) - http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=11625461

[dvldocjoe]

just remember that videos can be edited for time and content..... not so with life!!!