Afghanistan

[LAGRAND]

Hello all!

Some quick background info: I am currently in the DEP (since March) and set to ship out to RTC in a month, followed by Corps school. My buddy just got back from RTC and has told me that all HMs (well, wannabe-HMs) were informed by the instructors that they will be deploying to Afghanistan within 6-12 months of graduating.

Question: Is there any truth to this? Would this all be dependent upon the President's request (or non-request) for more troops? Yes, I want nothing more to deploy as that's why I joined the military. I am hoping I will get my chance.

Also, when speaking of "FMF" orders, is this referring to MarDiv? Or the entire Marine Corps (Med Battalion, MLG, etc)? I am trying to understand the structure. Much appreciated!

God bless.

- Jacob

P.S. Can someone explain the purpose of a Shock/Trauma Platoon and what those duties entail? Thank you.

[Taylor]

Well, I only have the prospective from the guys working with me here at NHJAX that are fresh out of corps school and field med.

I have one 8404 (marine medic trained) guy that's been here for 9 months and does not have any orders or heads up for deployment. I have 3 guys fresh from field med that were told not to hold their breath as far as deployments. Though a couple of them are chomping at the bit to get out of this hospital.

And the only deployments I have seen non 8404 corpsman go to in the theaters of war has been field hospitals WAY in the rear or Kuwait.

I am not saying that you won't deploy once you finish up your grace period at your permanent duty station, but it certainly isn't a definate that you will deploy within the time frame that you heard.

[LAGRAND]

Can you explain why these guys would attend Field Med before arriving to a Naval Hospital? I would, in my oh so infinite wisdom, send them to FMTB prior to deploying seeing how the knowledge would be fresh in their minds. I appreciate your response!

God bless.

- Jacob

[dvldocjoe]

Orders to FMTB and deployments will depend on numerous factors as discussed in several of our threads. They include but not limited to:

"Needs of the Navy"

# of qualified HMs currently in service
# of deployable orders available
# of billets available at "C" schools
# of seats and funding for FMTB
Sea / Shore rotations
Training level of the individual HMs
Amount of units being deployed or rotated in/out

I had orders to FMTB at Camp Pendleton followed by O.R. Tech only to go to a FFG as a Junior Hm since it was the only available billet in San Diego on the particular day I went to get orders and I was on spousal co-lo. Needs of the Navy dictates it all.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

You want your baseball players to go to spring training and get some field experience before you have them start in the World Series right??

You want people deploying to go into combat to know their $h!t before they get there. Why would you want all your Corpsmen to be newly graduated rookies with zero experience outside the classroom that have never trained with his command or figured out their role in their unit?

FMST at FMTB provides the foundation and building blocks on which additional training is developed. It also provides Sailors with rudimentary knowledge on how the Marine Corps is organized and operates.

The HM's assigned to the Marines and 8404 HM's assigned to hospitals (& all other Sailors) get various predeloyment training and work-ups before they head off to the big game.

Waiting until the Super Bowl to teach your guys the fundamentals of football is a recipe for disaster.

[LAGRAND]

Thanks DvlDoc. FFG is a classification of a naval ship correct?

Thanks for putting it into perspective Chief. Roughly, how long are the mandatory work-ups that most HMs get before deployment?

Appreciate you guy's help. Just trying to soak in the knowledge before I step off. Ya'll take care.

- Jacob

[indy]

FFG is a class of ship - the frigate, not quite the smallest in inventory but part of the small boy collection (the others being CGs and DDGs, cruisers and destroyers respectively).

The workups depend on the mission assigned, and the command that the HM is assigned to. Some require longer training cycles than others, there really isn't a standard timeline any more due to the ever changing global "goings-on."

[dvldocjoe]

Work ups can consist of anything from classes in Close Quarters Battle, Mountain Warfare, Desert Warfare, and Shipboard Operations.

I have seen Marines go to ships for a week to a destination to see what its like be onboard and train for amphib ops and seen others go to the desert for combat training.

[Triple Doc Dare]

I have known 8404's to go their 5 years in the Navy without ever having seen either sand box. And then there has been Corpsman who go from boot camp, Corps school, FMTB and are on the first thing smokin! It's the luck of the draw.

[oorahcorpsman]

This is true. I am an 8404 and all I have done is deliver babies...kind of wish there was a NEC for that! :)

Still deployment wise, I can't go to Haiti (Damn you safe haven!), but was told will most likely get a spot on the Mercy...if not its to the beautiful Middle East.

[dvldocjoe]

I wonder if they still deploy the Mercy yearly up to the exercises at Camp Pendleton like they used to?

The ship used to sail up near the ACU 5 hangars and do casualty drills from the field ops.