surgical tech school

[HM3BIGE]

Im an optician currently in va.. my command is now goin thro the face of hirin civilians.. there is a chance of me goin to ORT tech school down in portsmouth.. so i would like to know some info bout it !!?/ is it worth it?? and howgood is thisas a civilian? if some1 has info please hit me up

[Da-Chief]

First of all HM3,

When you address professoinals here.. And are asking for help.. How about typing like you got some grey matter between the ears, and not some spuds.??

As for the school, I take it your a E-4? How long you been in?

What have you done for sea shore rotation? How have you helped the Navy/Marine Corps team?

Have you always been on Shore duty making glasses?


Get my hint, time to see the world shipmate, then go to school. Time to earn your pay..

Hate to be blunt, but others are on their 3rd or 4th rotation in the sandbox..

Hope you take this with a grain of salt, I am not meaning to slam you, but you got off on the wrong foot with the way you wrote your question. Your asking me a CPO to help you out, taking time out of my night to do so, while your military ettiquete is that of a street hood.

How about re-asking and I will dig deep to help you out. Trust me, ask around..

V/R
Da-Chief

[popsie]

[popsie]

In the day I was a 8483. A O.R. tech. I was a E-3 at the time. The school was 26 weeks. Only 8 of us graduated. It was a very tough school. I also wondered why O.R.Tech were a little arrogant. I found out. The school was physically and mentally challenging and draining. If you're looking for a way out of FMF. Forget it. Half my class went to FMF. The other half already had it. At completion I was able to take the civilian Surgical Tech. Certification exam. I passed without a hitch. Back in the day there was a hitch. To take any "C" school. There was obligated service. Which meant at the completion of the school if you didn't have enough time to serve in your knew NEC. You had to agree to extend your enlistment. I'm sure not much has changed about that. The key word is committment. On the civilian side it depends on where you're going to live. A CST can make a good amount of change. However, You need the certification. It doesn't come automatically from completing "C" school. If your looking for a easy ride. You won't find there. I don't know how the training is now ,but in 1976 it was top notch. I did a little stint with the Air National Guard. The guard wouldn't honor my NECs. During one of my 2 week in the summer 1990. However, They were short in the O.R. I volunteered to go. I hadn't been in a O.R. for 7 years. It was like I never left. The training I recieved in the Navy appeared likeI never forgot it. The active duty side thought I worked in the O.R. on the civilian side. Anyway. I hopeyou caught the drift.

[Da-Chief]

Uh-rah Popsie

Semper Fi

Da-Chief

[popsie]

Thanks chief. like you you I take it personel. I am very proud of being a Navy Corpsman.

[HM3BIGE]

I apologize the0 way i wrote the last comment. But i really need some information about this school. Answerin all your questions Chief. I been in for 3 years now i just made third this pas cycle and no i have not had the chance and honor of serving wiht the marines. I wanted to go right after A school but they didnt send. I was station in CT for almost 2 years and I worked in the eye clinic for all the time i was there. I asked to go to Kuwait and my petition was denied again!! :(Then i thought i needed something a C school so i thought since i worked in the eye clinic for that long optician school would be the way to go, but i was wrong. Now the converting military billets into civilians and they trying to send people away. So thats when the said that ORT school is in demand and i as read you have to go FMSS and that would be a dream come true finally. One more thing i havent been overseas yet but im looking foward to it.

Like i said before i apologize they way i wrotew my last comment but i guess i thought it was fine but i guess not.

[Da-Chief]

HM3,

No problem, Just understand when asking for help to maintain your military bearing. In other areas (Sports, gaming etc) you can go off with whatever lingo you want. But when asking for help in a career area.. better to maintain bearing.

It's all about perception. If you sound and act like a dirtbag/hoodlum (Which BTW I don't think you are) who is going to step out and help you out?

Tell ya what.. WHen is your PRD window etc.. I will help ya out.

V/R
HMC

[HM3BIGE]

my prd is sept 2010 but my command is going th military to civilian convertion ( you know about that right chief) and they have to send military personnel to other locations and one of them is ORT school since thay are in high demand right now Im thinking why not. It would be good for me. I have assisted my doctors in small procedures and i like it and besides it gives me a chance to go FMSS which would be good for my carrer.

We got off on the wrong side Chief hope you can help me out because Im going to talk to my carrer counselor and see what she says and I would like to have a pretty good idea of what im going to get myself into.

[Da-Chief]

HM3,

Were not on the wrong page, and I am glad you take criticsm well this is the mark of a good leader always willing to learn.

I know of a few people who are on here who have just completed OR-T school and like it.. Here is the lowdown....

Good Schol, like someone said before 6 months long offered both in CA as well as VA. All HM's now are going to FMSS after C-Schools, And I can pretty much tell you, you will be one of them.

You will most likely be assigned to a "GROUP" billet (MLG) or on a ship, since you are coming off a shore duty tour. Do yourself a favor, make sure you get a "SEA" tour. If they don't offer you one, ask for a memo or letter to explain why later on when your record has to go before a board for whatever reason. This must be produced as most boards will S-Can a record if they are not on their Sea Shore rotation without documentation.

If you do go to school, and are asssigned to a hospital, you will be assigned in a surgical unit. Work hours generally are early as most surgeries start early, but when finished, your done. (Depending on the COC!) Duty is usually as OR-T Duty incase of Emergency surgeries. Your Platform will be a sugrical response team, expect to be recalled to the great Sandbox overseas at least once or twice a shore tour.

Marine Duty, your assigned to a group position. You work as a doc though in all aspects sick call etc if not working incountry in the OR. You stand duty with all HM's not just Surgical Tech's. A DOC IS A DOC with the Corps..

Same goes with ships..

Hope this enlightens you.. I can tell you this, you can make a pretty penny on the outside if you get State certified.

V/R
HMC

[popsie]

Chief, I believe the certification is a national level. When I was certified it was national. Also it is recommended to belong to Association of surgical technologists. I believe there is a web site. I'm not positve on that one since I changed my carrer field to the streets some time ago. I hope this is useful information or at least a start. HM3, I went through my O.R school in Oakland. I don't know how much has changed , but how it was . The first 4 weeks was classroom and theory learning instruments and concepts and the like. That was the easy part. The next 22 was the beast. Normal work week in the O.R. about 72 hours minimum , that included a 4 section modified duty watch. You basically lived in the O.R. When you weren't doing hands on . There was reseach and writing case reports. Basically you were ran to the point of exhaustion then judged hoew you worked under pressure. The purpose was they didn't want you to go postal when a little stress became a factor. Even though O.R school was over 30 years ago . I remember as if it was yesterday. We were a little envious of the eye techs. They got to work with pretty cool equipment and less mess.