View Full Version : Meps Is Friday!!!!!
I just graduated highschool and my ASVAB has cleared me for Hospitalman Corpsman. Friday I am going to MEPS for my physical and counselor talk. My dream in life is to be a Corpsman and be FMF FMSS. All I have is highschool Anatomy And Physiology under my belt. How hard is the A School and how hard is it to be selected for FMF? Thanks!
Sorry I just figured out how to use the THREAD!
The_Dirty_Name
05-29-2007, 16:29
Congratulations on getting a shot to join the Navy. In todays volunteer Navy many people do not get the opportunity.
Later this evening I'll try to help you out with the little I know.
Unitl then, I'll bump the thread.
Late.
Citrus
You are certainly in the right place to ask all of those questions - your best sources of information are the people who have already been there and who know the requirements needed. As the mom of a Corpsman as well as a USAF veteran (although a LONG time ago) here are a few tidbits for you to think about. :)
MEPS - don't stress out - BUT make sure everything you are looking for is in your contract BEFORE YOU SIGN IT - if it isn't what you want DON'T SIGN IT until it is. If it isn't on your contract you aren't guaranteed it. PERIOD - Talk to your classifier at MEPS and make sure you are getting what you want - like I said before - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT IN WRITING - but even then things can change - you go where BIG NAVY needs you regardless of what your contract states ;)
BOOT CAMP - don't take anything with you - everything you have with you when you get there gets shipped HOME - EVERYTHING!!! Warn your parents that you will only get to call home for 2 seconds when you get there to tell them that you have arrived and are safe (this is call SUCKS for the parents at home - very emotional) - Talk to recent grads and they can better tell you what you can do to physically prepare for boot camp - your recruiter should be able to advise you on this too - if your recruiters office has a DEP program for recruits to train and study for PQS by all means DO IT! If not then talk to them about what you can do on your own to prepare.
"A" school is a great learning experience - get all you can from your courses - if you need help talk to your instructors - that is what they are there for. FOLLOW the rules - they are there for a reason not just to make your life hard. "A" school is not the place to party - there is plenty of time for that once all your training is done ;)
FMSS - you will be going there - that is something all male Corpsman are doing unless something has changed in the last 30 seconds (which you never know with the military) :D FMSS is done at Camp Pendleton CA and Camp Lejeune NC - my son did some time working at a BAS on Camp Lejeune (6 weeks) BEFORE he went to FMSS (2 1/2 weeks ago) gave him some experience in Medical and gave him a chance to get to know some other Corpsman and Marines before going to FMSS - Another learning experience - learn what you can from the people around you - no one likes having to cover for someone who doesn't know how to do their job.
Just a little advice for you to think about - ask your questions of the members here - Da-Chief and CrazyCajun are the top dogs around here and are full of information (and lots of other things - if you ask some of the other members)
You just joined the BEST online family out there - we support each other and our families (tell your parents to join too so we can answer their questions and help them adjust to being parents of a Corpsman)
If you need anything - ask - we will do what we can to answer or send you in the right direction to find the answer you seek
DeeDee
Editor - Scuttlebutt (Newsletter)
and
PROUD CORPSMAN MOM
deedee you are an AWESOME help! Thanks you showed more respect and gave more info than everyone on this site together. You sound like you went through the school with your son! Any study guides or help there besides Anatomy and Physiology. Do you think I should walk out of MEPS if they do not give me FMSS? I will try to get my mom on here, hopefully she will be able to keep in touch with you an awesome corpsman mom!
Thank you very much!
Kaymanism
05-29-2007, 18:44
I have thought a lot about a question I get more than any other...
"WHat is the ONE thing you would have done differently to prepare for bootcamp"
I am ready with my answer and you may laugh.
Ready?
Stand around for hours at a time and dont move. :) Seriously this is no joke. If you are even REMOTELY in physical shape you will be fine for Navy bootcamp. This isnt the Army or Marines...we PT'd more than any division and we were IT'd more than any other division and I was fine (And I am 34 with 3 mouth operations while in boot camp) But what KILLED my knees and everyone elses was standing at attention for inspections (One inspection was 3.5 hours no lie) and in drill and ceremonies...it was awful...and we never prepared for it and it killed us more than any run...think about it...stand at something close to attention for 45 minutes and see how much it hurts...see how much you want to move but cant...then go run 1.5 miles and see what hurts more...I have my money on one of them :)
Good luck with everything...if you have any questions I am fresh out and graduated top division so we were on point :) (always have to throw that in LOL)
Murphy
The_Dirty_Name
05-29-2007, 18:56
Congratulations on getting a shot to join the Navy. In todays volunteer Navy many people do not get the opportunity.
Later this evening I'll try to help you out with the little I know.
Unitl then, I'll bump the thread.
Late.
After weeks of searching I found the following site. Take note of the Manuals at the bottom of the page. Review this data to get a good idea of what your weak points are.http://members.aol.com/radarusmc/#m-16 (http://members.aol.com/radarusmc/#m-16)
Like Dee-Dee typed have all your boot camp PQS in order. Dig this website: http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/DEP/deppqs.htm (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/DEP/deppqs.htm)If you know your stuff, you can improve you advance to the next pay grade.
Having your PQS down and being in good shape should get us through boot camp.
3. Now our biggest challenge is going to be FMSS. Here the stats matter more so than boot camp.
Essentially we will need to become Marines to do well in FMSS. So learning the rank, creed, song, chain of command, and fundamentals of the Corp will give us an edge. Check out the PFT requirements needed to get the job done. The Corp wants Corpsman who are equal to their Marines, being in excellent shape will go a long way.
Dig this website and read over the manual to get a feel for your weak points: http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/fmss/
No worries on walking out of MEPS. We are volunteering to do a job in the Navy that is very dangerous. Hell, there is actually a $20,000 enlistment bonus for those who want to be a battlefield medic!
Finally, here are a list of C schools you can look into post FMSS. Mind the pay grade and the Component job rating (NEC) to be eligible.
http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/NEC/HM.htm
If we try hard; be diligent in our academic pursuits, and be a team player; our transition into the Greenside of the Navy should go well.
Let me know your ship out date after MEPS. We may go in together!
Let me know if you have any questions.
Late.
Edit: Nice info Kay.
Da-Chief
05-29-2007, 20:18
Ok I will go over every point The bad word or whatever is "ALMOST" right..
After weeks of searching I found the following site. Take note of the Manuals at the bottom of the page. Review this data to get a good idea of what your weak points are.http://members.aol.com/radarusmc/#m-16 (http://members.aol.com/radarusmc/#m-16)
While This is nice, notice he was in during "KOREA"? Nothing wrong with that just hat quite a few things have changed for both the Corps as well as the Corpsman.. (We don't wear red crosses on our helmets or our shoulders number 1) ;-) IF you want real info ask here..
Like Dee-Dee typed have all your boot camp PQS in order. Dig this website: http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/DEP/deppqs.htm (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/DEP/deppqs.htm)This is a good sight, but like DeeDee said, Get "EVERYTHING" and I mean "EVERYTHING" in writing. Don't believe a "F'in" word recruiters say unless it is in writing. I don't know how many times we have had new Sailors come to us at "A" School telling us we are supposed to be so and so rank etc, but nothing was in writing, Hell I like ya dude, but BUPERS doesn't go on my word or yours..
If you know your stuff, you can improve you advance to the next pay grade.
I agree, Find a way to at least get E-2 in Dep or something.. there are always new programs, but like above.. Get it in WRITING!!!
Having your PQS down and being in good shape should get us through boot camp.
3. Now our biggest challenge is going to be FMSS. Here the stats matter more so than boot camp.
Essentially we will need to become Marines to do well in FMSS. So learning the rank, creed, song, chain of command, and fundamentals of the Corp will give us an edge. Check out the PFT requirements needed to get the job done. The Corp wants Corpsman who are equal to their Marines, being in excellent shape will go a long way.
Dig this website and read over the manual to get a feel for your weak points: http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/fmss/
Good Web Site, Go with this for PT, Do not go by what the "NAVY" says. Corpsman are tougher and harder then Marines, (At least the good ones are!!) Why you ask? Because after you are humping/pumping 25 miles and the Marines stop for a break, guess who goes to work? You better not be sitting your ass down.. It's time to take care of those who take care of you!! You better not be sitting your ass in the recovery vehicle either.. Get your "FAT ASS" out and prove yourself to them. Why? Because it is "1" less thing the CPL or SGT has to worry about during a firefight, if Doc can handle it.!! Don't get behind the curve stay in front!
No worries on walking out of MEPS. We are volunteering to do a job in the Navy that is very dangerous. Hell, there is actually a $20,000 enlistment bonus for those who want to be a battlefield medic!
Finally, here are a list of C schools you can look into post FMSS. Mind the pay grade and the Component job rating (NEC) to be eligible.
http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/NEC/HM.htm
If we try hard; be diligent in our academic pursuits, and be a team player; our transition into the Greenside of the Navy should go well.
Truth be told, don't go for a "C" school!! Experience the Navy and Marine Corps Team right out of the gate, this way you are not locked in to a Job in a NEC that you don't know anything about and are wondering why everyone else is making rate because they know Sick-Call, CBR and stuff that Lab-Tech's or Radiology Tech's don't know because they don't work with the line HM's or Air side etc.. Just my advice.. Also if you are in it for the 20K bonus, or college, please step over to the Air Force Side of the house where they make nice drapes for ya.. We eat and sleep and Cry in the Dirt.. (At least I did and I made HMC @ 12 years! I must have done something right!)
Let me know your ship out date after MEPS. We may go in together!
Good Luck both of you.. I mean it.. Keep your heads in the game and you will be alright! Remember when someone gives a order it is not personal..It's just that a Order!! I have taken the best ass chewing of my career as a HMC from Maj Mike Gann.. I was so pissed I couldn't see straight.. After work.. we all had a beer together.. He taught me it's not personal. I wish the Navy did this as well..
Let me know if you have any questions.
Late.
Edit: Nice info Kay.
Suckup!:p
HMC Da-Chief!
Thank you all for the info, it calmed my nerves. So far in writing at MEPS I'm being offered Hospitalman, E-3 because of ROTC, and the bonus will change from what I choose I don't care about all that money, FMSS may be offered in my contract more than likely if I go 6 years. It's like a bargaining unit lmao! Tuesday is my final sign up day but I know Corpsman is the way to go, as long as I become FMSS!!
Da-Chief
05-29-2007, 22:21
Shipmate your going "ACTIVE" right? If so I don't think they Guarantee FMF.. I But I can assure you here that Every male is going now..
Hope this helps..
HMC
Active Duty yes Chief! I will let you all know Tuesday what happened. If I don't get FMSS should I still sign and trust you guys that I will be sent to FMSS and the FMF?
Da-Chief
05-30-2007, 13:22
Citrus,
If you walk into see HMC Siefert and tell them "HMC Crone" sent you and that you want a "DIV" billet and FMSS... I promise you you'll get it.. Email me your "REAL NAME" so I can forward it to her..
Make sure you email it to me though as you might not want others to see your real name, the mafia and all.
;-)
HMC
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.