USNS Mercy

[WaveBrigade]

How would one go about picking orders for the hospital ship Mercy after A school? What's the environment like on the ship? I know that they go pretty much everywhere when they deploy like 20 countries in 4 months or something close to that number. O and Im hoping I will be surrounded by plentiful nurses if I do decide to pick the Mercy after A school. :bluv: hehehe

PS; I also left another post in the FMF section I'm hoping that gets answered for me as well,, trying to decide where to go after A school, whether to go on the Mercy, pursue Physical Therapy if i can get it, or just be stationed in San Diego. I am willing to go FMF but I want to enjoy the "Blue Pastures" first before I get down n dirty with my Marine comrades.

[8404]

Welcome Aboard;

This question has been asked before and answered by a former CPO Instructor at NHCS 'A' school. You can read the response at the following link:

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29775&highlight=orders+ship
(http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29775&highlight=orders+ship)

[Poolzer]

Actually the billets for both Hospital ships are augmented billets assigned to shore hospitals and clinics throughout the west and east coast for each respected ship.

[YardDog]

USNS....wow what a nice resort....oops I mean duty station. But, most consider to call it "The LOVE Boat"....mmmm sometimes I dream of being one of only 80 males with the 300-400 females on that Lovely and talented duty station.....single man's paradise, married man's divorce.....be careful of what you want.....choose your battles, and most of all always have a rain coat handy, you never know when you might get wet!

[YardDog]

P.S. I am talking ocean water hitting you, or the actual rain.

[8404]

Oh no, you just had to remind me. My favorite!

1mc, "Captain Stubing report to the bridge on the double"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icAwcByaNtY


Love
Exciting a new
Come Aboard
Were expecting you
And Love
Like sweetest reward
Let it flow
It floats back to you
Love Boat
Soon we'll be making another run
The love boat
Promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure
A new romance
Love
Won't hurt anymore
It's an open smile
On a friendly shore
It's Love
Welcome Aboard
It's Love

[indy]

Heh, I spent three years in San Diego, and saw it depart precisely once (although I gather it's been a little more active in the past few years) - we had a PO2 report to us after being stationed on board the Mercy (he was part of the admin dept, not an augmentee) and I couldn't believe what he'd spent his tour doing.

A word to the wise though WaveBrigade, being surrounded by Nurses is one thing, crossing that boundary however is another thing entirely, and not something that you want to get mixed up in.

-indy

[docfish]

I am attached to the USNS Comfort platform, and never had the opportunity to go on any "Loveboat" crusies, most likely due to my NEC 8404, and for the Physical Therapy "C" school out of A school seems quite dim I would think. Lab Tech and Surg Tech were only schools offered when I asked the career counslers, and Lab is a 60 month obligation post graduation. Needless to say I think what detailers are looking for are 1.) If you are a male, straight out of Corps school, beat feet straight to FMTB, 2.) If you have been deployed. I can only offer what I have gone through personally, and all the advice on here by senior enlisted is right on point.