reserve 8404 wannabe, have some questions

[Meatfoam]

my name is David Hess, I am 26 years old, live in Cleveland, OH.
I currently work as a paramedic for Cleveland EMS.
I've been trying to educate myself about the Navy and its medical service in particular.
Yesterday I visited the local recruiting office to get some more answers.
Unfortunately, the recruiters were not able to give me specific answers and seem to know even less about corpsman duty than I do.
I told them that I would love to join the Navy reserve and be a corpsman. However, The only way I will sign the contract if I can be guaranteed FMSS right after A-school and a FMF assignment. Due to my prior pertinent experienceas a paramedicI asked them if I could join as an E-4 and I asked about sign on bonus eligibility. They did't really have any concrete answers and cringed when they heard my requests. Iunderstand that they primarily seek to satisfy tough quotas and tell me whatever may be necessary. But I am not 18 and gullible anymore. I don't need therecruiters to give me a bunch of bologna.
My visit was somewhat disappointing, as I was under the impression that 8404s are currently in demand and volunteers gladly accepted. In all honesty, I want to take care of marines, I am not that interested in the blue side, even though I would do what the Navydeems necessary, as long as Iwill be FMF in the near future.
What's your take on this? Are my requests absurd and my expectations too high?Can I request the green side right from the start?
Thank you so much for your help. Your website is awesome.

In addition to that: Do HM assignments require security clearance? I am a non citizen with a greencard. I understand, that there may be problems.

[Da-Chief]

David, (Or MeatFoam?),

Really Recruiting are the only people who can answer this. The Navy is all about "BILLETS" if a billet is available for a certain rate, they recruit to it etc.

Make sure anything you do though, "GET IT IN WRITING" prior to signing your name. Most are lucky to Get E-3. Not many get E-4 right out of bootcamp unless you have much more specialization education. I don't see you getting it as a EMT. Be happy with E-3 if you can get that.

I do know that we do have people in the Navy who are not citizens are are guarding a place that is not even their home country, to that my friend I salute you. I wish people who were born and raised here would take more care and love of this place I call home...

Anyways.. off soapbox, yeah you should not have a problem as long as you have all your documentation in order.

One thing you have to realize about our medicine in the Navy, Yes Medicine is Medicine, but we "PRIORITIZE"a much different way then you would on the outside. Drives me nuts when we get Paramedics in and EMT's who bitch moan are always telling me how it is done outside..

Good, was anyone shooting at you while you were tying off a tourniquet on the outside??

Were you trying to get that person back to the fight as soon as possible? I wish we could always take advantage of the golden hour in Iraq.. Hope you get my drift.

Anyways.. let me know what your told, I have no problem, pulling up any instructions for you anything, Just don't sign a damn thing until everything is in writing you were promised.

Hope this helps!

HMC

[Meatfoam]

Thank yo so much for your quick reply, Chief.


What I am wondering though, is what kind of things I have the right to request. Or better, how much flexibility do the recruiters have in accomodating my requests?

What kind of requests can I expect to be contractually guaranteed? So, the Navy makes me a corpman as I requested, but what happens after that? Are requests like FMF duty worked into a new recruits contract, or is that too much to ask for? Can I steer towards the greenside after A school or am I going to be a... let's say a Urology tech:)
Still willing to join, though. I am fine with getting deployed, that's just part of the game, and may be awelcome break from the daily routine here. Yeah, I am still adventurous. Andas cheesy as it may sound, but somebody needs to stand up and do the job! Especially in times like this! Thanks to all who serve freedom and democracy in the US Military!

Furthermore, this website is the bomb! Browsing around, I have had many a questions answered within the last few days! Thanks for that, too!!


Sincerely,

David

P.S.: I have been shot at on a single occasio while rendering aid ( the only reason I didn't shit my pants was that I had just gone to the bathroom)and have been assaulted multiple times:P It's no walk in the park for the urban EMS guys. Not a warzone, I realize that, but not a walk in the park either.

[popsie]

Hey chief, Civilian EMS personel are a pain at times and there is definately a difference between the military side and the sand crab side, but the past decade or so hasn't been all peachy for us on the civilian side. Will continue later gotta a job

[popsie]

The places we go officially isn't a war zone, but under favorable conditions wouldn't wanted visit. We're also at a disadvantage we don't carry the same toys. Like Body armor and defensive weapons. Also when we're shot at the public gets real annoyed if we shoot back. Another disadvantage we have is EMS is the third service , we're the redheaded step children.However, my corpsman training helped me on the civilian side , but I had much adapting to do also. Being sh*t hot in the military doesn't also carry over to the civilian side all the timeand vise versa. Also there is a difference between Paramedic anda EMT. I can see being a paramedic goingin the military helpful to a point. They'll have some advantages in some areas of training , but not all by a long shot. Paramedics are specialty trained. We can adapt ,but it takes a little time. Sorry Chief ,but like you get a little defensiveabout my trade when generalties are made. Although I do agree with you that my fellow EMT's and Paramedic's do feel the world revoles around them at times. However, kick them in the b*alls once or twice , they become trainable.

[Da-Chief]

Hey no sweat, what I was trying to get at was the "TRIAGE" is different on the outside vice the military.(Backwards).

Also we don't have Paramedics in the Navy (They supposedly were going to have a NEC a long time ago but it never got off the ground.) We as EMT-B's can do pretty much what a paramedic does on the outside now in "Theater" We have "MUCH" more training then a EMT-B as well as a EMT-I.

I speak from experience as I used to be a EMT instructor back in the 90's and was affiliated with NEW Orleans EMS, so yeah I understand what your talking about going into the Fischer Housing Projects in the dead of night.

I hope that you all didn't take it as me slamming EMT's I'm not, Hell I think all Corpsman should at least be nationally registered. The Army does it, but we don't as our rules in the field don't dictate EMT-B,I, or P.

Besides Uncle Sam does "NOT" want to train you in something where you can get out and make more money now...:?..does it?

As for MeatPie or what ever his name is..(Grin), Ask for the NPSB program with 20K bonus.. If you look at the message NAVADMIN 146/06 @ http://www.corpsman.com/npsb.htmlyou will see they need plenty of 8404's It is "GARUNTEED" in your contract.

Hope this clears this all up.. Had a bad day, Tranny seal went bad in my van today in -9 F. you caught me blowing a gasket earlier.. so it might have come out a bit harsh..(Gasket is fixed already..).

Semper Gumby..

HMC

[popsie]

At least you didn't fall off your bike in the snow and do major dental damge. No offence about the other stuff, I just take pride in my proffession. Like the pride in my roots as a Corpsman. I miss the stuff I could do with the Navy. It was a rude awakening coming out to the civvy side. Chief , Hope your tommorrow goes better, we all know it could be worse. I had a good day, just chilled . Nothing major, but Iwasn't looking for it either. It was my Birthday and I wasn't going to let anybody pee on my cake.

[Da-Chief]

Thanks Pops,

I am sure things will go better. Hopefully soon I can get you all more involved once I get this PODCAST thing going..

;-)

Later

DFC

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

Meatfoam wrote:
All Recruiters are not created equally. Tell them you don't need to be sold on the Navy, you need to get the deal (things you want). Like buying a car, you may need to shop around and haggle to get yourself the best deal in town. Starting the process with a heads up call/visit just to introduce yourself, ask quick questions, and coordinate a follow-up visit so the Recruiter has time to go research your questions usually works pretty good. If they try to sell you a lemon, go to another office

My info is dated and I'm not able to look up the current stuff right now, so take all this with a grain of salt. 8404's are always in need, but sometimes the school's quotas are filled and you may need to adjust your desired schedule or wait for an opening that fits the training cycle. Being a Paramedic should at least get you E3 and might get you E4 but that doesn't happen that often any more. You'll still be treated like an E1 in Boot Camp, but you'll be paid more and the stripes will be there once you fulfill all requirements. There is a $20k bonus for signing 8404. Since obtaining 8404 and filling a FMF billet is a condition for payment, getting the bonus is pretty much a guarantee that you'll get FMSS after HM A-School and then go to a Marine unit. Try to do the Active Duty version of the HM A-School and FMSS. While in training, remember that you are a FNG student and conduct yourself as such. Be sure to get your EMT-P into the National Registry and documented in your Service Record. Most HM jobs do not require a security clearance (some do) and being a non-US-citizen is not an issue in most case. Mil service will also help you get US citizenship & fee reductions. (We mistakenly got a Canadian HM2 who is now a LT Nurse and US Citizen with a security clearance)

Listen to Da-Chief and be sure to get it in writing before you sign. Verbal promises & assurances mean nothing.