Preperation to be a corpsman

[Navycameron]

I have been reading some threads on here and have been seeing that people have been saying that corpsman just out of school aren't really that usefull. So I want to ask how I could better prepare myself for when I get into the fleet. I was thinking about doing work in a hospital in a ER to prepare. But if anyone has suggestion to prepare that would be appreacaited.

[The_Dirty_Name]

Greetings.

I can't help you out very much, I am a new guy to the Navy myself.

Get in good physical shape, because all roads go through FMSS to be a Corpsman.

Start swimming and go from there.

If your body is tough enough to handle things you will be a better student to learn things. If you are tired all the time and beat down, you will be more prone to lose motivation and focus.

__

Sadly, I do not have a A school guide to share.

From what I looked at from someone who went through A school was that BLS (Basic Life Support) was hard. I recommend looking into this subject before shipping out.

The person also typed that understanding Operational Emergency Medical Skills will be needed when you get out into the Fleet. Study that also.

Last, but not least. Remember this line for line.

Hospital corpsman pledge
"I solemnly pledge myself before God and these witnesses to practice faithfully all of my duties as a member of the Hospital Corps. I hold the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust and will assist the Medical Officer with loyalty and honesty. I will not knowingly permit harm to come to any patient. I will not partake of nor administer any unauthorized medication. I will hold all personal matters pertaining to the private lives of patients in strict confidence. I dedicate my heart, mind and strength to the work before me. I shall do all within my power to show in myself an example of all that is honorable and good throughout my naval career."

Hope that helped out a little.

[8404]

I disagree; Between Corpsman 'A' school, and Field Medical Service School, FMSS you should be trained fairly well. Of course, you're not going to be experienced, but you should be able to handle an emergency.

Do not hurry through Corpsman school, learn the material and digest all of it.

[The_Dirty_Name]

I disagree; Between Corpsman 'A' school, and Field Medical Service School, FMSS you should be trained fairly well. Of course, you're not going to be experienced, but you should be able to handle an emergency.

Do not hurry through Corpsman school, learn the material and digest all of it.

What goes on in-between ‘A’ School and FMSS?

[8404]

The_Dirty_Name

If a FMSS class is not available at the time you graduate Corpsman 'A' school then you are stationed somewhere close to the FMSS school you will be attending. In the case of my son, he was sent to 29 Palms California, a Marine Corps base and was assigned to the Battalion Aide Station, BAS where they treat Marines for sick call etc.. You could be stationed at a base hospital as well, while you await orders to FMSS.

My son attended FMSS at Camp Pendleton, California.

[KentuckyBoy]

If your going to Pendleton for FMSS, you will be at the hospital here on base most likely. I was TAD to Port Hueneme for about a month or so. I know some guys that got TAD to somewhere in Arizona. If your in the hospital I don't think you get to do too much. At Port Hueneme I worked in the lab and drew blood all day. It got repetitive but I can find a vein on fat civilians and kids no problem. Between Corps School and FMSS is called PSI. Your PSI duty can be great or suck, depends on where you are put and what you make of it

[8404]

KentuckyBoy

A great and useful statement for those in the military.

"depends on ... what you make of it"

[The_Dirty_Name]

Thanks for the feedback crewmen.

I am starting to understand this world more and more.

Seeing how FMSS classes are loaded with all new male Corpsman0000, how long is the wait to get in?

Do you'all think that a third FMSS school will becom operational because of the need?

[8404]

Not sure what you mean operational. I think what you're eluding to, does one third of the FMSS graduates get orders to Marine units? I believe that to be true, but again not for sure.

[The_Dirty_Name]

Not sure what you mean operational. I think what you're eluding to, does one third of the FMSS graduates get orders to Marine units? I believe that to be true, but again not for sure.


Sorry for the confusion.

My question was, will there be a third FMSS school because the first (Camp Lejeune/ Camp Pendelton) are so filled up now?

[8404]

Probably not, remember just a short time ago there were military base closings. I believe that was done to save money. Also, remember the struggle President Bush had getting the current congress to grant additional monies to fund the war on terrorism.

However, anything could happen. I'm sure the powers that be have or are looking into how they are going to train every sailor for FMSS. There are only two bases and classes get filled pretty quickly.

[Da-Chief]

:nah:
Nope won't happen, they can't even get the services to combine our schools now much less open a new one.

HMC

[HM Tomlinson]

Here are a few things to brush up on:

Study skills
Anatomy
Basic math - leave the calculator alone.

Those subjects never change.

[KentuckyBoy]

They are actually about to make FMSS longer than the current time. They are going to extend the current training by 2 weeks for more MCMAP and M16 training. Thats coming from the FMSS CMC and CO.

[popsie]

a question for the da chief. What is capacity of a full class for fmss school these days. When I went through 2 months before the fall of saigon. We were told we were one of the largest classes than went through in a while. There was over 160 of us. I went through Camp Pendleton.

[Da-Chief]

Right now it is 60-80.. All depends.. Females only to to CAMP L now, as they are re-furbing the barracks in CAMP P...

V/R
HMC

[KentuckyBoy]

Chief is correct on the barracks. We are living in a building that, while nicer than 129, is still pretty bad. They are doing the construction on the other building right now, and it looks like they have a long way to go. So yes, all females to the east. My FMSS class right now has 203 people in it. The Lejeune class has almost 300 I believe. I talked to a fellow corpsman over there right now, and I know the number was around there but I don't remember exactly.