FMSS???

[Hooli]

Hey guys,

I joined the Navy this month, and leave for bootcamp and Corpsman A school in November. I've been thinking of going FMF and to an FMSS, and was wondering if any of you would provide any feedback on your opinion of women (I'm a girl by the way, haha) in FMSS - are they just seen as a big joke, or do they have to simply earn respect like everybody else? ( I know that their physical abilities are their responsibility.) If any of you went through FMSS with women, I'd like to know your observations.....

Also, do you really get to choose between Carolina and California for FMSS? How does that happen - who do you talk to to get your "location of choice" :0)

- Curious

[FubijarIDC]

Hooli,

Boy did you ask a loaded question and opened a can of worms!:P

Ok, my two cents: even in this day and age of the "New Transforming Navy," there are some pretty simple minded people out there. They will look down at you and consider you lessor than the guys. Again, they are simple minded - probably have mom issues too.

Then there are those that will look at you and be scared because you are a girl. They will be afraid that you will play the sexism card and put kid gloves on. These people will not help you either.

Then you have the real Sailors, Marines, and Corpsman (yes, I personally think that Corpsmen are a seperate breed and deserve recognition for that). They will look at you for your efforts, commitment, desire, and capabilities. I have done over half my career with the FMF and done the Fumble Stumble (Group) and Div. I have met some female HM's that I would have taken first into combat over some guys.

For me, and I am a little bit of a throw back, you either can do the job, or cannot. True effort and desire makes a big difference. Do not try to go over the top and carry a chip on your shoulder.

Be true to yourself and the heritage of the Corpsman rating.

As for choosing which one to go to,who knows? I just go where the Navy tells me to go. Hope this helps.

[Hooli]

Thanks for taking the time to answer - and thanks for the honesty!

[crazycajun]

Hooli,

This is a very difficult question to answer. Though my observations is that women in the Fleet Marine Force, is they can and do get the job done.

The toughest part for some people (women and men), is the hikes while going through FMSS "C" School. Some even find running 3 miles difficult. My advise to you if you decide to go to the Fleet Marine Force, is start training now. While in school you willhave to not only take the Navy Physical Fitness Assestment (curl-ups, push-ups and 1.5 mile run), the Marine Corp Physical Fitness Test (Hangingin the pull-up position, curl-ups and 3 mile run), and you'll have to complete 3 hikes of various lengths (I believe 4, 6, and 8 miles) with a loaded pack roughly weighing 50lbs. I'm not saying this to scare you out of serving with the Marine Corps, I just want you to get physically fit to esure you excell if you decide to go this route.

My back ground is 10 years blue, and i'm working on my 9th consecutive year with the Marine Corps.

Good luck,

Semper Fi,

crazycajun

[FubijarIDC]

Hooli,

I just wanted to throw another bit of advice in too. If for some reason you were to get offered a shooter or small boy (like a destroyer or cruiser), I would pesonally recommend it.

Though my preference is the FMF, you can get a lot (and I mean a lot!) of good experience being a baby doc. Stay away from the bird farms (flat tops), if you go to a ship, small boys are the way to go. It will give you a taste of independence and much responsibility. In some ways, a small boy is a bigger challenge than the FMF. They are also hard to get.

In the long run of a career, it looks good and helps. Just something to think about. Try to keep all your avenues open and you will not be disappointed.

[DevilDoc]

Hooli

Although I see you posted this back in April (I have been away for a while), I see you aren't leaving till November. So I thought I would put in my two cents worth, as it may be. I am a female with the Marines. I went to FMSS in 2004 at the age of 29. So I was no young chicken. I was an HM3 at the time, now I am an HM2. I was also put into a leadership position because I was a Petty Officer and there were a lot of young kids there. As far as respect goes, they don't much care there if you are male or female, but whether or not you can do the job. If you act professionally, do what you are told, don't cry like a baby, then you will get respect. I recommend training ahead of time. You should be able to run at least three miles minimum when you get there, to make it a bit easier on yourself.

The hikes will take a lot out of you. There are four, a 4 mile, a 6 mile, a 7 mile and an 8 mile. There is no training for these. You can fail one and continue in the program, but it CANNOT be the 8 mile, or you fail the course. Not something you want to do. The packs now weigh around 80 pounds, where in the past they had lighter ones, with lightweight aluminum frames. Not the case anymore. The packs are definately not designed for a females body, so you'll need to adjust it before the hikes to make sure you can handle it. Carry as little as possible in it.

I chose where I wanted to go to the school. I simply did this by finding a date and location I wanted and submitting for a BCN and a quota. Whoever is helping you get orders to the school can assist you with this. I went to Pendleton. I wanted to go there because another female I knew had went to Lejeune and said that the land nav. was in the swamps with the water moccasins and the gators...not for me. Plus, CA you are close to the beach, Disney, and alot of other great destinations. You get your weekends off, so it's worth it.

Hope this has been helpful to you. Feel free if you want to ask anymore questions, from a female perspective.

Devil Doc

[Da-Chief]

A little bit of news for FY-07, Females are only going to Lejeune, No Pendleton.

Sorry..

;-)
Da-Chief

[DevilDoc]

Oh, that sucks. Glad I got it done in 2004. I hate water moccosins! However, I have heard from other guys in my unit, that Lejeune wasn't near as tough as Pendleton. I have a video from my FMSS and they said we were worked a lot harder than them, especially since our hikes were all uphill. So, it could be a break for the females. There were a lot of broken feet at Pendleton. It was the hardest thing, physically, I have ever completed. I felt proud to stand at Graduation, pinned as an FMF Corpsman.

Devil Doc

[puckmedic]

I went through FMSS as a second class. I was a squad leader. By the middle of the second week my three fire team leaders were my three females. I fired two males more senior. I really loved the way they were in many ways better at it than I was.

Two were dental techs and one was an HM reservist. Bottom line is you better be able to give all you got every day and never say out loud "I can't" . It just enrages them at FMSS beyond all definition! :X

I would want them in my life in any capacity and I'm sorry I never bothered to keep in touch with them. I don't even remember their names.

Good luck keep us posted when you can on the progress. When you feel drained emotionallyand physically we WILL be here to support you.

Those Marines will treat you well, but you'll get no respect playing "Barbie" on them. Be tough, fair and openly honest with them, do as they do tothe bestof your abilities and they will all come around even the cave men. Do it right and you will earn more than being called DOC, you'll earn life long friends!



Did some one say worms?:cool: I'll take an order to go with hot sauce please.;)



ps hey guys how was that reply to the topic?