Graduation Questions

[mestup3117]

Quick questions. Doc Hopeful and Chris will probably be the best ones to answer...
How long is it taking people to "normally" complete Hospital Corpsman School?
I'm trying to gauge a little median and any help would be appreciated.
Also, you're allowed to take some leave after graduation enroute to FMSS correct?
Thanks.

[HM_ChrisG]

Until course changes are made..

There are 13 total tests and various labs you must complete too.

Minimum test taking should be 1 a week.

I would recommend you do 2 tests a week and that should sit you at graduating in about 6 weeks if you keep on top of your labs.

Leave - Yes. I would recommend not going in the hole, unless you are going overseas. Remember, you can request leave at the travel brief and it DOESN'T mean you HAVE to take leave or that exact ammount of leave.

[mestup3117]

Haha. Thanks for the info Chris. I went in the hole big time after graduating from Apprenticeship school... never doing that again.

[HM Tomlinson]

I have "heard" of someone making it out of corps school in 26 days, but if you spend enough time around the smoke deck you will hear all kinds of stuff.

Your motivation, organization, and scheduling are the only three things that will determine how long you are here. The labs are only offered on certain days so you need to have your weeks planned out. I went as far as to plan out an entire month and that works great for me.

The tests and labs are paired together to a certain extent. One lab for test 2, two labs for test 5, and so on and so forth.

If you stay motivated you can really push through the material, but just be sure that you're not going to fast and don't retain the material.

There are a lot of people just going to the labs with no idea of what's going on, just doing enough to get their par sheet signed, and then moving on to the next lab/test. I have to say that I was guilty of this once and have slowed down a bit to ensure I take home what I am supposed to be learning.

Some tests are easy and a couple have been a little more difficult. The nice thing about corps school is you can pick when you take tests as long as you stay on or ahead of schedule, so if you've got a section where the material is easy for you to learn then blast through the test and hit the next section where maybe you need an extra day or two.

I am on pace to get out of here in 9 weeks and that seems to be a pretty comfortable pace for me.

[Corpsman77]

Just make sure you know the material rather than just doing it as fast as you can.

[DeeDee]

Speed in completing the course should not be your goal - take the time you have to learn EVERYTHING that you can and get the most out of this training period. Talk to your counselors if you have questions or concerns that is what they are there for. As for leave time - you can take 10 days leave - you are allocated one day travel time if I remember correctly from when Kahuna5150 finished "A" school in March 2007 - he finished Corps School on March 16 and left from Lansing on March 22 - check your orders - there will be a report no later than day on there - Good Luck in Corps School and keep in touch.
DeeDee

[mestup3117]

Thanks for the advice and support. 70 days and counting...