Corpsman training

[danpbarry]

I'm really new to all this, so excuse my ignorance. But to be a Corpsman with the Marines, do you have to go to Marine boot camp? Or do you go to Great Lakes, then B Schooland then get stationed with the Marines?

[Navy Nerd]

Well, hopefully I don't answer this wrong for you....after boot camp in Great Lakes you will go to "A" school to become a Corpsman. After that you would go to "C" school at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton in California which is called FMSS. Once you graduate FMSS you will have the designation as 8404 and would then be assigned to the Marines. Now if I am wrong about all that, I will be corrected by others, and if so, I apologize ahead of time for my mistake.I am going to FMSS in July/Aug, but I am also a Reservist. I am however, doing the full 7 week program, not the split program which is usually for Reservists. Hope that helps.

[danpbarry]

Thanks for the reply. What is FMSS? Is that like boot camp again?

[Navy Nerd]

Field Medical Service School. Not like boot camp. Worse. LOL. Better be in shape. Basically your learning how to be a combat medic. I have atteched the website for Lejeune, so check it out. If you want to be with the Marines, this is what you gotta do. http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/fmss/

[Doc Chi]

FMSS is a blast all you need to do is stay motivated and you will do great and actually enjoy yourself. If you hate humps, long field ops, and Marine Corps games lol. You will be hating life.

Im a 6 year greenside corpsman send me a pm if you have questions.

[Doc AC]

To be a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman, you would need to go to FMSS (Field Medicine Service School) either in Camp Pendleton CA or in Camp Lejeune NC. Its a fun and intensive training for like seven weeks. If you are going, get on a good PT regimen since u will need it for the school. It's fun, rigorous and very educating. After school, you will be given orders to a Marine Unit (Air, Ground or Support) and thus the fun begins. You'll enjoy it!:P DOC AC

[Poolzer]

Doc AC wrote: After school, you will be given orders to a Marine Unit (Air, Ground or Support) and thus the fun begins. You'll enjoy it!:P DOC AC

Not necessarly, FMSS is a pre-req for other c-schools as well as follow-on orders to some overseas duties. Holding the 8404 designation does not mean you will go with the marines. Ive been an 8404 for 9 years and the only time Ive served with the marines was a 7 month TAD when I flew CASEVAC with them.

The school is well worth it and I had a blast.Wish there was a refresher course to take, would be a good way to refresh the military bearing, respect and PT areas of leadership.

[1stRadioBattDocBuck]

I spent 7 years with the GreenMachine, I had a ball, after FMSS...weeks with a lot of physical activity, marines showing the squid where the thread meets the road. The first week, getting courseline, small physical activity. Then this iswhen there is a smile on your companies senior machine, usually a gunny,you getsweating, fast paste learning. then when you, think life is? You get tear gas, with mountain climbers,sittups, pushups, and a lot more, this is where the Marine Staff, lets their hair down. Its fun, when you are getting your clothes make sure the boots fit well, these boots, will save you hopefully from many blisters. INSIDE tip, on blisters, cut the outer skin around the blister,cleanwith thewith soap & water, get some tincture of benziod(?spelling(...Othwise you get what you put into the training, maybe you will need some of classes in the future. Remember, pain is your friend, it tells you are still alive. Maybe you will designated as a scrunt = sailor/grunt..a real honor, I got thiswhen I went 2 1/2 clicks, into No. Korea, for help with 2 army personnel, called in a dustoff, took these personnel, to thr 121st Hospital, I rec'd a bronze star (V). What I am telling you, gather all the knowledge that the US Navy, when stationed at an outside organization.

HMC Walter L Buck, RET - 1st RagBag (Hawaii)

buck-online@cox.net (mailto:buck-online@cox.net)

[combatdoc]

I don't know how many times in all these replys I have seen some of you all write "fun" "enjoy". Till you have been in a battle situation, yes it might be "fun" rapelling, qualifying, one thing for sure, you'll never have to buy a beer again. Then one day, just like it did with me........reality wakes you at 0100, some gunny screaming through the barracks "SADDLE UP YOU PUSSIES, THIS WHAT YOU ALL BEEN CRYING FOR, YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES TO FALL OUT". And your wondering is this a dream, is this guy just fucking with us, what the hell is going on. Then the next thing you know, your on a beach somewhere with your hand in some guys gut trying to stop the bleeding, your hitting him with morph, everywhere around you someone is yelling "CORPMAN!!!!" all the while your about ready to piss your pants cause you got mortar fire coming in all around, small arms fire hitting everywhere around you. A few of your buddys went down on a couple choppers, all you got is a side arm and no time to use it except to maybe help one of your buddies out of his misery, ....if you got the balls, cause you know you can't save him, hell you can't even find his fucking legs. Oh hell yes, it's all just a big fucking party till the shit hits the fan. Then 35 years later, you stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself, 'what the hell else could I have done, what about so and so, wonder if he made it. Oh ya baby, one big party for the rest of your life. But then you really know why you became an FMF Doc, when you find yourself 35 years later in a Marine Corp League, or a reunion like the one we are having here in Branson this week, and you run into some old jarheads telling stories about their Doc and how fucking crazy he was. Makes it all worth it. Ya, sure does, till the next morning and your standing there in front of your bathroom mirror again, wondering 'why?'



Koh Tang 15May75

And remember, Marines don't cry, but sometimes their eyes sweat.

Semper Fi

http://www.redenginepress.com/eddie_beesley.htm

[Da-Chief]

Combatdoc,

Thanks for your post. I wish I could convey this to our new students. I hope you stick around keep the faith!

Semper Gumby,

Da-Chief.

[combatdoc]

Ya Da Chief,

Sorry, but sometimes get a little carried away emotionally. But I will tell you all this for sure. If I knew then, what I know now, I would do it all over again. And yes, we did have some great times. And to all you wanna-be Docs, the line about never having to buy a beer, well that's the honest to God's truth. Why I remember the time back on Oki, a strip bar right outside of the air base.......uh, well maybe another time.

Semper Fi,

Once a Doc, Always a Doc.

[hm1park]

This is a great resource here for some of the new guys. Combat Doc speaks from a well seasoned perspective. The experiences like those he has conveyed are returning to our rating after a long period of relative peacetime. We hate to see our friends go whether it be in conflict or peacetime needless accidents.Every time it is the Corpsman who is there to answer the call of "Corpsman Up" We're more than just an EMT on the scene, we're a friend, Doctor, priest, counselor and drinking buddy.

Remember those before us who have led the way and fought for our precious freedoms in this country during this July 4th celebration. Enjoy your beers and bbq but don't lose sight of what this is all about.

Please don't fail to do the proper planning and hard questions prior to joining the military. Never believe the glossy recruiting poster advertisements. There are MOMENTS in your career that you will feel life is BETTER than that poster. In between times willbe long, hard and tedious.I can't imagine any better a choice than to become a Corpsman and serve my fellow Marines and Sailors defending this great country of ours. Semper Fi

[puckmedic]

I never saw combat. I want you to know that I did indeed find other strange places for my talents. On top of a mountain in California, a mall in San Diego, plenty of road side asssits, one convenience store robbery and plenty of shipboard accidents/assaults andsome self inflicted. It seems I was always there when I was needed.

One of MY sailors in HSL 4 went on to be an officer. While in Guam he and my former CO (he was the navigator) came to my house for dinner. He said "the one thing I remember was every event there you were. At parties, you were sober and always ready to drive folks home or when they needed help, you took care of them, keeping it out of sight. We always knew no matter what the need , you were gonna deliver, like the time on the saftey boat during SAR jumps..." Big story there but I won't go into it.

Despite the lack of combat, I think I still deliverd when it counted. I'm most confident that knowinghow I am, I would have peed on myself, but I woud have stood the test and delivered. Its who I am, always will be and my training will always be second nature to me.

I share the same doubts and self examination, and my response is the same "Any time,any place, all the way".

Semper FI Combatdoc and welcome home- you guys never get enough of that but I love you for the things you did then. Hopefully these kids coming along will see your story and let it enter the "Main engine room, and lube it real good to prevent evaporation of the memory seal".

If not, they better be ready for the time they need that training, that edge to keep a guy alive either in a firefight or a malfunctioning (stuck) weapons elevator aboard ship like I had to.

[combatdoc]

Hell Puck, just like you, never really thought much about it till years later like I said. But just like you, just doing a job. I never toot my own horn, Ijust like being around these jarheads andhearingthem telling stories about their "Doc", lets me know, that somewhere my 'boys' I'm sure are telling stories about me. I sure miss those guys and hope they are all doing well. God Bless you Puck and Semper Fi !!

www.luckyenoughthebook.com (http://www.luckyenoughthebook.com)



Remember, It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden.

It's the U.S. Marines job, to arrange the meeting.

Doc Cottrell

[puckmedic]

well yeah it was a job, and at times pretty darn boring. other times, it took every taught skill, every acquired bit of information and some sweet ole fashioned ingenuity to bring around a result favorable to the home team.

I honestly believe that I shall never again have that much responsibility or satisfaction from a job.



LISTEN UP NEWBIES AND WANNA BES: This isn't just some job. It's a responsibility to your fellow man. You must be able to have a serving and gracious attitude. It's not a job to go get medals, its all about keeping enough marines on the line, about keeping sailors at their stations, in order to fight.

Do it well and you will come home with more than medals, you collection of thank yous will be huge. Do it poor and some one may very well die. Do it with mediocre feelings and it will show them you don't care.

COMBATDOC and others are heros just for stepping out there amid those incoming rounds. I for one am awed by their presence in my life. YOU BETTER BE AT LEAST HALF AS GOOD TO BE ANY GOOD!

I just hope the ones I helped train along the way paid attention.

Nothing is more important to me than you new guys doing what you're supposed to do.

[SWEETDILL]

hey everyone!well im definelty new to this, but im a striker in j-ville,fl and awaiting to go to school. i really want to go fmf or fmss once i get out of core school. i just want to know info on how to request it or what? do i just tell them im willing or what?i really want to go over seas some where. im way excited. and also im a cali girl, and so i was just wondering how they treat the femme's that go green side?? are they sexiest. i totally stand to my own so im ready! thanks anyone.

sweetdill;)

[Da-Chief]

Ahem...

First of all if you are a girl.. I hope you like to get dirt under you nails etc if you serve with the FMF. You are not there to be sexy etc.. You are there to be a "FIGHTING WARRIOR" who cares for Marines and Sailors.

If you are there for a picture shoot, please go down to the next recruiting station as the Air Force and Army are looking for people. We are here to fight wars..

V/R
HMC Crone

[puckmedic]

WTF is all that crap about being sexiest? Look here dumba$$, I don't give a rats tailrotor if you're cute or uglier than me. You want to be treated equal all the time or not? I wish I could contact your comand and yank you right out of the striker program.

I saw way too many women not pull their wieght. EEO my shi- shooter!!!! There was always some one telling us that lil miss HM2 was a female (NO kidding? I think the differences were covered in A and P) and that she couldn't possibly carry her load, because well she was a female. So when furniture got moved, I did it. When cruise boxes were loaded aboard, I did it. When patients needed lifting, I did it.

I have a very weak back now from all the abuse, so thank you sweet dill for every aching morning you're already probably heaping on some one. Just go get out of the freakin program so you don't ruin what I and others did to upkeep the honor of this fine rate.

Others and I'll group you in here, figured "I'm cute, young and I'm gonna get in there and twist the LPO around my finger. I'll flirt and be soooo full of inuendos, every one will want toflirt with me andcover for me".

Had one of you in my shop and when I didn't do like she wanted, she tried to burn me with BS allegations of harrasment. All I wanted was her to pull her load and stop acting like the bimbo cheerleader.



I sure don't believe you actually came in here with that bull shi- . You need to find a new career path, sounds like FMF is a stepping stone for partygirl here to get her groove on nightly. NOT IF I CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Some one track her down and get her command involved.

HELL REALLLY HAS FROZEN OVER!!!!!

[puckmedic]

Gee I still got it. If that was too harsh well shoot me for my cave man mentality, I would have said it to her in person on active duty, so I sure won't back down from it now. I'm furious over this person's gall.

[Da-Chief]

Your call but do me a favor.. Think about it.. We do have a shitload of HM Females out there in the FMF now who are pulling thier weight. I don't want it to be grouped that all females arethis way because reallythis one is in the minority.

I could tell you stories how my wife who was a FMF HM could run laps around her Marines.. I could tell you the story how the young PFC was hurting from his firt run with her unit and was whining.. My wife road him like there was no tomorrow how this PFC could ruin her run he was aname I cannot putup here now..;-)



It scared the hell out of me..

;-)
That my friend was why I married her.. She can take care of me..

Heh.

Da-Chief..

[puckmedic]

OH crap no way was I grouping all of them in one sock. If it came off that way oh crap I am sorry. MY sister the retired HMCS would kick my tail if I did.

I'm more than aware of where some are, and it galls me even more that this person would dishonor our female HMs this way. Please chief first accept my apolgies for sounding like I was calling em all lazy and second, do what you can to ID this person and ensure she never sees the inside of the school house.

To any females of the HM type who do indeed lift, tote and carry their end of the EEO deal, ty for that. My apologies to you especially for sounding as if I didn't appreciate it. I just don't want this type of person in the rate, it's no place for her.

[SWEETDILL]

well good morning everyone!

im really sorry who's ever feelings i hurt. you obivously dont like or had some confontation with females in your time. ANYWAYS! i would just like a little bit of advice. i really do like to get my hands dirty and want to be in the mess. just like how you said chief. i was wondering, are you still there??? so when i check ini could possibly check in with you? see if you can give me some heads up? i thank you so much!

sweetdill

ohh and by the way Mr. pat your self on the back, if you felt good to express stuff like that!:D

[puckmedic]

Look your post was inappropiate. You came in here and aske dus "are they the sexiest?" in regards to females on green side. You further , in my opinion, sounded as if you were expecting special favors or treatment based on gender.

I showed that post to seven other former and retired HMs (2 females, five males, HM1 ret, HMCS ret, three HM2's when they left,and a guy who is now a LCDR (former HM2) as well as an HN who got out due to injury.) Each one said basically the same thing I did.

I'm harsh and vocal. I say what I need to. I took no pleasure and I didn't pat myself on the back.

If you go HM BE ONE, not some girl lookin for a hand out , hook up or what ever.



HM1 (AW) RET

[Obnoxio]

puckmedic wrote: Look your post was inappropiate. You came in here and aske dus "are they the sexiest?" in regards to females on green side. You further , in my opinion, sounded as if you were expecting special favors or treatment based on gender.

I showed that post to seven other former and retired HMs (2 females, five males, HM1 ret, HMCS ret, three HM2's when they left,and a guy who is now a LCDR (former HM2) as well as an HN who got out due to injury.) Each one said basically the same thing I did.

I'm harsh and vocal. I say what I need to. I took no pleasure and I didn't pat myself on the back.

If you go HM BE ONE, not some girl lookin for a hand out , hook up or what ever.



HM1 (AW) RET


Not to change the subject, but that LCDR wouldnt be a guy named Leviness would it?



I read her post, and I think she was saying "sexist". Not sexiest. Just my .02

Semper Gumby

-HM3 (NAC/FMF) ret.

[puckmedic]

OK if she was asking if Marines are sexist, the answer would be probably. However, just based on her words I responded, if she meant to ask that question, I would not have responded in that way.



Now I'll apologize again if that is what she indeed meant, but I'll stand up and holler like a wounded horse in a calvary movie any time I see some one trying to come along and pretend this is all some sort of highschool keg party.



We got folks dying, and it's time some one takes it serious, not just the guys out there. In no way was I blasting ALL females either, although in my haste to admonish her for her comment, I omitted the fact that my sister is a retired HMCS, and that I served along side some pretty good female HMs.

I also on the other hand served alongside some male and females not worth a nickle and if we were ever in combat, I'ld probably would have pushed them in front of me, as they were of little use elsewise!!

So sweetdill, if you indeed meant to say sexist vs what you wrote,then I apologize.

[combatdoc]

Sweetdill,

First off you need to learn to punctuate and structure your sentences.

Second, what the hell is a cali girl?

Third, read my post on the previous page.

Just an old dumbass Doc.


www.luckyenoughthebook.com (http://www.luckyenoughthebook.com)

[Hooli]

puckmedic, and Doc Crone -

I think it was a typo, guys: I think she meant 'sexist,' as in, "will the guys dissme from the beginning simply becauseI'm a girl?"

Thanks, Da-Chief, for sticking up for the women who CAN hack it...props up to your wife.

Sincerely,

Hooli

[DocNanninga]

Thank you Chief!!!!

You are so correct, not all of us FEMALE HM's are here to just flirt and look pretty, we are here to do a job, take care of our Marines and Seabees and make sure they get home tothier families and loved ones. I havebeen with the Marines and currently with the Seabees and if I did not pull my weight Iwould have let everyone of them down. Being female can be a curse also, many they think I will be the secretary or do all of the paperwork, yes I am responsible for my part of paperwork but I am there to take care of my guys.

Regardless of your sex, if you go are a Corpsman and expecially if you go FMF you are there to take care of your troops. Don't ever take that lightly!!!!

[puckmedic]

Heck doc N- I again apologize for not letting it be more clear in my first post. I have served with enough females to know that you do wonderful things. good on ya for the attitude, it's one I always tried to be an example of. Take care of them, never let yourself be seen as uncaring.

[Doc_Konkle]

Poor puckmedic! Doc K forgives you...

Men have more muscles, but women have more tact. (Of course, that is a generalization...) You can't help it. It's genetic, I'm afraid. That ol' Y chromosome will get you in trouble sometimes. Try lifting weights before you reply to a female next time. Burn off some of that excess testosterone. That stuff is deadlier than 100-proof! :D.

I have a feeling you might be single. LOL!

P.S. I appreciate your dedication to the duty. That must be said.

[PrairieSon]

[puckmedic]

I don't know how to reply to this. I'm not sure I really care to. Thought I did, but all day I'm thinking "why bother?" It certainly isn't going to change anything.



I am not pissed at you. Just read this today and it hurt, don't know why but it did.