A question about NHCS. Is it hard?

[d-one-corpsman]

I have been wondering if Corpsman school is hard or not. I know its not gonna be easy but my recruiter has been saying that is pretty tough and it has a high drop out rate. So I have been kind of worried and dont want to fail and tell my family that i could'nt pass school. But i know once i get to NHCS I am going to study my butt off because there is no turning back and i really want to be a U.S Navy Corpsman.

thx for your answers in advance

[Wild.Irish.Rose]

My Petty Officer says it's not that hard so long as you study and stay on task. Don't go partying, don't go do anything Sunday through Thursday--that absolutely has to be dedicated to studying. In other words just be a good student and you should be fine. I mean, sheesh, the test scores just have to be a 70%. I'm surprised it's not higher. :] Don't stress too much, though. You'll make yourself too nervous. I'm sure you'll be fine.

[8404]

Deppers:

With regards to 'A' school, it has been stated by former Corpsman 'A' school instructors that the material is presented at the 8th grade level. That is not meant to be demeaning but done so for ease of understanding and comprehension.

The hard part is, Corpsman 'A' school is 70 training days and there is a boat load of material to cover, digest and learn. Consequently, the pace is quick and fast, as the instructors need to cover all of that material in a scheduled time frame.

However, not only are you going to be attending classes, mandatory study periods, testing times and labs, you are also expected to be successful in scheduled Physical Activity, Room and Personnel Inspections and also participate in the cleaning of the barracks and school house.

Tips: You are at a school and in a school environment. Study, study and study some more. Utilize good 'time management' and be prepared for anything. Uniforms must be ready at any given moment for surprise inspections, barracks must be kept clean and organized. Use study time wisely.

There is free internet access at the 'loft' where you can access Navy Knowledge Online or NKO. There are online study aides to help you with your tests at Corpsman 'A' school. RTC will teach you about NKO and how to access it.

One of the issues with students is that they don't ask for help when they need it. By the time they do ask, it's too late! The instructors cannot read the students minds.

In every class, the instructors will assign an Education Petty Officer or EPO. This is a fellow student, who has demonstrated academic excellence. It is this positions responsibility to help those who require a little extra help by giving study tips and answering questions.

I believe that there is an extra class there that even teaches effective note taking and study tips. Utilize ALL of your resources at the school! Don't be afraid to ask questions, because that is how we ALL learn!

Most of those who do NOT make the cut at Corpsman 'A' school are those individuals who come to party like if this is some kind of college fraternity! Believe me, it is not. You will be given time off, however, only take it if you are caught up on your studies, uniform preparedness etc.... When you take liberty, don't stay out to wee hours of the morning and fall asleep in class the next day.

It's all common sense! Act mature, like an adult, utilize your time for what it was designed for and you'll do well.

Another piece of advice, Corpsman 'A' school has a ZERO tolerance for underage drinking! You WILL be automatically dis-enrolled if caught. Don't push the envelope with regards to the rules and regulations.

Cell phones are not to be brought into building 130, which is where you attend classes. Don't even carry it on your person during working/school hours.

Additionally, if you have a learning disability such as ADHD, the Navy does not have special testing or arrangements for you. You will be expected to take tests in the same manner as all Sailors/Students.

You get 3 test failures throughout the course of Corpsman 'A' school. After your 3d test failure, you will be brought in front of an Academic Review Board or ARB which is made up of instructors at NHCS. You will be evaluated and the decision will be made to dis-enroll you or give you a second chance. Second chances are NOT guaranteed! It is suggested each student attempt to excel in every category of Corpsman 'A' school, because an ARB looks at everything.

1.) Did you do all of your homework
2.) Did you attend all study periods
3.) Class participation
4.) Did you take notes
5.) Did you utilize your EPO and/or ask for help.
6.) Are you squared away in every other category at the school.
7.) What did you score in room inspections, uniform inspections and on PT.
8.) How is your attitude and motivation.

If you fail a test, you will be allowed a re-test. Be advised, failing the re-test is counted as another test failure. So it's possible to receive two test failures on one test!

It's quite simple, follow all of the rules, take them seriously because the instructors and the commanding officer sure do. Do utilize your liberty time, but don't stay out all day, use some of that time to review, prepare your uniforms and study some more. Take a breather once in awhile, go see a movie then be responsible and head back to base!

Do all this, you WILL be a Corpsman in the United States Navy. Never give up, stay motivated and squared away. Stay away from the ney sayers and think positive! You can do this! Many who have gone before you, have and continue to do well daily!

oorah!

[scubasteve13]

Amazing post. Thanks for all the great info.

[Da-Chief]

Dang Tony!!!

:panda::panda:
D/C

[d-one-corpsman]

man thx a lot 8404 that helped me out real well. it gave me confidence to stive through this school when i get there haha...so study study and study is the goal. i got this!!!! lol

[indolence]

Read the book, stay awake, go to CRC and you will pass.

[pegasusHM]

Read the book, stay awake, go to CRC and you will pass.

And do your homework...correctly!

[hancock]

so what are the perks of getting academic honors. i know that i strive to be the best i can be. i know i have been through army basic and ait (a school) and i know i have to do it for the navy as well (long story) but i know they are going to be expecting me to be leading at least the younger crowd by example so i like the pressure of leading. and what are the requirements of academic honors. and thanks for informing we can bring cell phones i know the wife is going to like that news

[indolence]

Letter of commendation, valedictorian can get bumped up a rank if e1 or e2. Other than that its like everything else, it pays to be a winner. You get first choice in clinicals a lot of the time, you get looked at more for the available C schools; those sort of things. The better you do academic wise the less extra stuff you will have to do in corps school.

[indolence]

And do your homework...correctly!

Well what do you mean by correctly?

I know some people did the homework before class as a way to prepare for the material and there were others of us that liked to do it after the lesson was taught to see how much we had learned.

Or did you just mean not follow along in the book and fill in the blanks?

[pegasusHM]

Wow... what I meant was, it does no good to study homework with the WRONG answers. Perfect practice makes perfect, or words to that effect.

[Doc_Stevens]

Hmmm. I looked at it this way. I joined the Navy, my job was to be in school. I took that job with zeal and studied my butt off. Very little of my liberty time was spent wasting it away. I was either studying, standing watch, or in church.

Did I waste some time? Yes.
Could I have done better? Yes.
Did I do my best? I could have probably done better?

I did fail one test (by two points), but on the re-test, I passed. It brought me to the realization that I needed to better apply myself and took advantage of better study habits. I always was an average student in high school, but the competition in Corps School was high and made be a better student.

Let's not talk about the competition in Independent Duty School.....sheesh.

[mm3toHM3]

hmmm.... College for me was 25,000$ a year outta my pocket..... going to Corps school, getting credits... and the Navy pays me on the 1st and 15th to go? sounds like a good deal to me,

getting paid to go to school.... why wouldnt you do your best?

;)

[Kaymanism]

Hey its been a while since I have posted here but I figured now is as good as ever right?

Trust me when I tell you that if you JUST pay attention you will pass. Our class was huge and whittled away pretty quickly. Thats what you hear. Class size of 80 and graduate 40. Right...must be hard?

No.

I would say (and not rumors...I was a class officer and was in the middle of most things because of age and honors) about 10 of the people dropped on request...they thought they wanted this school and most chose MA or CS. What a waste if you ask me. We had 8 people kicked out for alcohol related instances. Not a waste if you ask me...if you cant control it for a few weeks while in school whats going to happen to you later on down the road when it REALLY gets hard. We had 12 people get held back a class for one reason or another...some by their choice while others had the choices made for them. Thats neither here nor there.

The rest? Well they became corpsman. The classes are no longer self paced and I was the last class to be allowed to do it. Chief remembers this. He made a call to inquire about C schools for me and the LAST batch of C schools were in 4.5 weeks. I was in week 3 of my school. I literally had exactly 10 school days to get through school in order to do my clinicals to get the C school. Not only did I do it in 10 days but I finished with a 96 average and graduated second in my class. Am I bragging? By no means...I am simply saying it can be done. You will have ONE test and ONE lab a week to study a subject. The rest of the time is spent in preparing for that lab and test and drilling everything into your head. I PROMISE YOU THIS. The hardest part about this school is staying focused out of sheer boredom and NOT doing anything stupid because you are bored.

Why such a lengthy post? It drives me crazy when someone tells you its really hard and quotes to you a drop out rate. This discourages many people that I think can do a great job. While on the other hand it gets a lot of cocky know it alls that will barely get by and end up seriously hurting someone out there.

If you think you can do this...then by all means do it. The material is already out there...the SAME book that I got off a website while in a 6 month DEP, is the SAME textbook I received in school which is the SAME book I used to study for my exam to pickup E4. There are going to be times when you SHOULD be nervous (like placing an IV for the first time) or giving a shot. But trust me when I look back at that nervousness at being afraid of hurting my roommate with a needle on a Wednesday in Chicago and laugh. Especially when I volunteered with our flu clinic here on base and gave almost 350 shots in one day like I was eating popcorn.

Good luck. If you have ANY questions please feel free to email me at anytime. Its usually late at night when I finally get home from the hospital and relax but I will get back to you.

[doc tes]

It's not that HM "A" school was hard. The classes were made so that 8th graders can pass the test. It's not that HM "A" school was hard, but I failed 3 tests and still graduated with an average that was higher than most students (not that I’m proud of my failures), but my point is... I got bored and became complacent. I focused more on other things than what I was getting paid to do. I regret failing the tests because they were literally easy. Sitting in front of an academic review board with HMCS Constantine, Lt something (forgot her name) and an HM2 that wanted me to get kicked out so badly was not an option for me. Getting counseled by my Senior Chief Legget, HM1 Asidao (back then), Chief Velasco, Chief Batac, HM1 (the guy that put his brand spanking new eclipse in the ditch because he would rather get distracted by his iPod), HM1 Miko(something lajic), HM1 Turks, HM2 Eads (currently an HM1), everybody was counseling me. Even HM1 Mangaran (I think he’s a chief now, but not sure).

My point is… The easy road for me to take was to just drop and become a CS or BM or an Airdale, but I didn’t want that. I wanted the to have the Pride in wearing a caduceus… Sure it can be hard, but the only way to find out is to actually finish NHCS and look back and say. Damn that shit was freaking easy. And then you can breath easy until you go to Field Med. Which I think was easier.

Look at me now, I can proudly say that I am a Petty Officer in the US Navy and that I am a US Navy Hospital Corpsman, but not just say it. I always say it loud and proud!

You can make everything easy for yourself or harder. Only you can decide which path you will take. Just ask all the people on this site that actually became a Corpsman.

[Da-Chief]

Doc Tes,
So you were there when I was there.. By the names you put out..
;-)

The thing is.. you took control. I can say that I went down the same route as you.. I did the same thing way back in 1985. (Failures etc) but I took the kick in the ass and did what I had to to do pass.. All my other schools, I was in the top 5 percent of every C-School, Or other school.

Matter of fact, I was the "1st" HN back in the day (at NAS DALLAS) that passed the National Registry for the EMT program back in 1986. No HN's were passing etc.. But I roomed with a Gung Ho HM2, when we took the class in Corpus Christi. Studied my "ARSE" off. But Passed.

Then with my "COCKY" HN'ness... I went back and told my HM2 that was my boss, that When we stood duty togethor.. I WAS THE BOSS. (She was a driver could not pass the test.. Too Funny).. She didn't take it so funny though and it was one of my "MANY" ass Chewings (Rightfully So) That I recieved when I was a HN..

Too Funny..

Heh.. Look at me now..

HAH!

Thanks all for your input.. this is a great thread..

D/C

[doc tes]

I was there exactly the same time Chief! I loved being at Corps school I actually didn't want to leave anymore! Someday I will go back to active duty and I will do all 3 rotations for being an instructor. Someday I will be an RDC, Corps school instructor and Field med instructor. OOoohhhh it's gonna be great!!! :D

[Tim Bates]

My son who is at NHCS says they are moving all military med training to San Antonio in 2010. i was at NHCS Great lakes in 1974 and he says it hsnt changed since then except the building is falling apart and the Rathskellar is gone

[YardDog]

:panda:GO TONY GO! that was awesome. :panda:
:not: We salute YOU! :not:

I wish there was more I could do......I miss my HM material, but I am hoping I can get that Athletic Trainer Cert.!!!!!!

[HN DEEKEN]

hey man i just got out of core school and if you really want to know just do what your told and do your work and keep your nose clean man that all you really have to do

[Da-Chief]

Man you just got out of "CORPS" School and don't even know how to speel "Corps" ;-)

D/C

[8404]

Aw man, you beat me to the punch Chief!

I wonder if he knows how to spell eligible?

[indy]

...that all you really have to do...

Don't just settle for what you have to do - strive for more. You don't have to graduate #1 in your class, but it's a damn good goal. The Navy has many benefits both direct and indirect, and if you settle for the minimums, you won't realize many of the best parts that make up life in the services.

[HM Jones]

Great post, no one could explain it better

[EchoDoc]

i went to Great lakes Corps school in 75.sounds like the only thing thats changed is the internet availability.i remember some good times in Chicago,we even had a great graduation party in Milwaukee.but i also remember late nights studying and weekends sitting in the lounge studying.Navy Hospital Corps School is just like everything else youre gonna experience in your hopefully long and well rewarding enlistment youll get out of it what youre willing to put into it.good luck with your decision.

[indy]

...youll get out of it what youre willing to put into it...

Excellent words of wisdom there EchoDoc, we've got some folks around who still haven't figured that out.