Enlisting Wednesday 22nd

[BronzeBow]

I’m enlisting next Wednesday as an active duty Navy HM. I’ll be DEPed until at least July 6th when I will have earned my AA degree. The reason I’m enlisting is to be a FMF corpsman, ideally with recon. If anyone here has advice on getting selected to do the physical screening test, indoc, and the pipeline, that would be great. I’d love to know as much as possible about that whole process.

However, recon is not why I’m enlisting. Regular Marines need and deserve corpsmen just as much, so I will be satisfied with serving any platoon.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

John Munis
Rochester, MN

[Da-Chief]

John

Congrats on your descision, I believe you will like our "CANOE" club.

;-)


As soon as you hit the door here in Corps School, let them know.. I believe HMC has put the requirements up for RECON screening.. I gotta look back. I am starting a Career Counselor section this week, look in there as we keep answering the same questions that can be in one spot for get this..

"ONE STOP SHOPPING!"



:-)
Thanks

HMC

[Kaymanism]

So far the best link i have found in terms of the school progressions etc. is at

http://www.sarcforum.com/nec/screening.htm

then from there the best link (the one I am using to train for the recon school) is here

http://www.ewtgpac.navy.mil/n8/basic_reconnaissance_course_info.htm

Let me know if you need anything else...I am NO expert but have been doing a lot of the same things you are about to go into...I am slated to leave March 20th so will just be finishing corpsman school when you get in...I will post the ENTIRE process and whats been going on as I go through it

Hopefully that helps

[BronzeBow]

Thanks Chief, that section sound great.

Kaymanism, those links are great. Can we talk on the phone?

[BronzeBow]

Three questions:

1) Can I get FMF in my contract, or do I just volunteer for it?

2) I will complete my EMT certification (and possibly work as one) after I enlist, but before I go to boot camp. Does the Navy do things any differently if you are an EMT prior to HM A-school?

3) What do you think about going regular FMF infantry and definitely getting to help in Iraq vs. going Recon and possibly missing the opportunity to help in Iraq due to the length of the training?

[Kaymanism]

BronzeBow wrote: Three questions:

1) Can I get FMF in my contract, or do I just volunteer for it?

2) I will complete my EMT certification (and possibly work as one) after I enlist, but before I go to boot camp. Does that Navy do things any differently if you are an EMT prior to HM A-school?

2) What do you think about going regular FMF infantry and definitely getting to help in Iraq vs. going Recon and possibly missing the opportunity to help in Iraq due to the length of the training?
1. No you cant get it in your contract...I tried and tried and its done in your A school...they reminded you that you need to be in the top 10% to ensure that you get first choice but from what I am hearing you will have NO problems getting it so rest assured

2. You will still have to go through both schools...because of my DEP being as far back as it I wanted to see if I could further my advancement as much as possible...the GOOD news is that our A school is self paced...so if you are an EMT you can get through it fairly easily and at a quicker pace than the other people...

3. (I assume you meant three and not two 2's) I will assume by this question alone you are young. War is neither pretty nor easy. I am sure the bravest of the brave cant wait to get into the thick of things...but QUICKLY change their mind once they are being fired at and the bullets are real...

Also something else to think about...this war now isnt about knowing where the enemies are, using superior technology to flush them out and kill them, and we are the big badass USA. This is about doing your day to day activities and the next thing you know that box, kid, carriage, etc. just blew up and 11 civilians are dead and 2 of your buddies are armless and legless...realize that you WILL be with the marines...they are in more wars than most of us ever realize...did you realize there were wars in Haiti etc. that barely made the news? Marines are at the control of the president and thus will deploy more than you care to know and will have PLENTY of opportunities to help your fellow marines...also, think back over the last 10 years...think of one year we were NOT at war someplace in the world, Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, Kuwait, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. etc. etc. And last but not least...as much as I hate this president...he is the BEST form of job security I can presently think of if your in the military ;)

Hope this helps :)

[BronzeBow]

Kaymanism, thanks for your reply.

[Kaymanism]

Anytime man...

There was a saying in the Army..."You can be a smart Army soldier or you can be a STRONG army soldier"

They didnt call me Private Einstein for nothing. If there is one thing I HATE its to go anywhere or do anything not prepared...from now until March 20th (or I pray to god I get the call to go early) I will do nothing but research the corpsman (ive already ordered the CD for the FMSS student handbook as well as all the other schools you see

http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Manuals/FMSS/fmss_student_handbook.htm

to looking up current standards for all the schools we are going to face from now until the end and training for the hardest...anything I can answer (from experience or I can quote directly) I absolutely will share the information...I WILL NOT MAKE ANYTHING UP (oh yeah...my friend of my father who did this once knew a guy who said we get a free pass card to get out of boot camp BS)

But I am NOT an expert...I know the difference between reading about it and having done and gone through it...still listen to DaChief etc. over anything I have to say...except for going through MEPS which I did last thursday or so he will have more current information and be more up to speed on anything beyond that...but I am also sure with the expertise we have in here I will be QUICKLY corrected if I say anything stupid or wrong.

I am actually switching carriers or I would have given you my phone number...find me on IM under the name kaymanism...AOL/MSN/YAHOO/GMAIL/SKYPE and you will reach me...I am actually in Ohio and I have gotten about 7 phone calls to meet friends out...going to grab a cranberry juice with some friends and will be back in an hour...find me anytime afterwards...I have links galore as well as PDF's written about schooling etc.

Later man.

[BronzeBow]

Sounds good. My Yahoo Messenger is xxxxxxand my e-mail is zzzzzzz



John,

I edited out your stuff.. you can get Spammed to death if you leave your email and Instant Messenger stuff up here..

PM Kaymanism, he will be the only one to see it.. (Private Message) on the board..

V/R
Da-Chief

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

(1) Things may have changed, but I was able to get HM, FMSS, and initial duty assignment to the FMF guaranteed in writing in my enlistment contract. If not, just volunteer for the pipeline at Recruit Training & Corps School. With an AA degree, you should also ask for at least E3. If needed, have the contract make E3 conditional to your successful graduation with AA. There is currently up to $20k for 8404, so go for that too. There may also be bonuses for SpecWar/SpecOps and other special duty NEC's. Sign up for the GI Bill and take any kickers offered. Read the fine print before you sign and feel free to sleep on it before signing too.

Advice re: Enlistment & ReEnlistment
http://www.corpsman.com/wowbb/view_topic.php?id=60&forum_id=2

Advice re: Marriage & Enlistment
http://www.corpsman.com/wowbb/view_topic.php?id=62&forum_id=2

(2) EMT training should help you with Corps School curriculum and might help convince the Recruiter to give you E3, but I don't think your training will be any different. Ask you EMT instructors what you need to do to submit your name to the EMT National Registry. The EMT cert might help you get a different duty assignment when you report to certain commands and it is a prerequisite for certain cool training you might like to attend in the future. However, a basic EMT cert is often seen as little more than a minor stepping stone towards EMT-P.

(3) Aim for the stars now! Don't be too eager to jump in the fray. We will be in Iraq long after you are through with training. On the snowballs chance in hell that the OIF fight is over within the next 5 years, there is still OEF, HOA, and a host of other places we have Marines in action. The regular infantry will always be there if you ever get tired of the more specialized units.

In addition to Force Recon, Recon Bn and Scout Sniper Platoon, there is MARSOC (FMTU, MSOG, MSOB, MSOSG, SMTB ), and you could also play with SAR (USN or USMC), EOD, SWCC & SEAL. Yes, Corpsman can be combatant team leaders.

http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil
https://www.navsoc.navy.mil

Set personal goals like:
[-] Short term: Finish AA degree, get EMT cert, top recruit boot camp, #1 grad Corps School, etc.
[-] Longer term:
HM-8403 Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman, or
HM-8491 Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman
Team Leader, LPO, HMC within 12 years

[BronzeBow]

Thanks for all the info HMC-FMF-PJ.

[BronzeBow]

HMC-FMF-PJ wrote:
There is currently up to $20k for 8404, so go for that too.

Chief, is there a web site that has information on that particular bonus? My recruiter doesn't think that bonus is available, and he claims that he won't know if it is or isn't until he talks to the guy at MEPs. I'd like to know for sure before going to MEPs. (My enlisting doesn't hinge on bonuses, but I want to get it if it's available.) Thank you.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

HERE (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/EIncentives/N5311%20EB/EB/Released%20EB%20Messages/FY06/EB_GENADMIN_201503Z_DEC_05.pdf) is one of last year's messages (Dec05)

You can also mill about the Enlistment Incentive (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/)section of the CNRC website

NAVADMIN 085/06 and NAVADMIN 146/06 shows the SelRes HM-8404 NPS Basic Program Enlistment Bonus for a 6yr contract as $20k.

Unfortunately, for Active Duty initial enlistment, it looks like your Recruiter may be correct. Although NEC 8404 is still undermanned at the jr levels, NAVADMIN 195/06 states eligibility for 8404 terminated 30Sep2006. I also heard chatter that the new message has been delayed (which might be why your Recruiter is uncertain). However you can also call a Recruiter in a neighboring town for a second opinion. Ask them if there are any bonuses available for someone wanting to be FMF (8404), Recon (8427), SpecWar (8492), or whatever you are after.

The Enlistment Bonus for College Credit (EBCC) might get you $5k for your AA/AS and you should ask for E3.

Max Bonuses: SEAL $40k, EOD $30k, Dive $25k, SWCC $18k
SpecOp Physical Standard Test (PST) $1k -$2k

[BronzeBow]

Thanks Chief.

[bubba68]

hey bud, good on ya! corps school is alot of fun and quite challenging. if you get the chance, hook up with some of my old instructors: HM1 Brown, HMCS Leggett, and HM2 Delosreyes. they're all great guys who will bend over backwards to help ya out. for the tests, make sure you study the ltg's. main thing, stay motivated. you seem to have the right attitude and i wish ya the best. anything you need man, check me out at cowboy6868@myspace.com (mailto:cowboy6868@myspace.com)

[BronzeBow]

Thanks bubba68.

Unfortunately, I will have to bump my enlistment date forward a few weeks because a hospital in Ohio is dragging its feet with my medical report they need to send to the recruiters.