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Old 12-12-2008, 04:21 PM
 
Location: Eastport, Maine
312 posts, read 723,066 times
Reputation: 211

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Hiya everyone!

My 18-year-old son was just sworn in and will be going into the Navy as a Corpsman. He has a date of October 7, 2009 to start, however, if an opening for a corpsman comes up sooner, he will go then.

My husband and I are very proud of him. He got a 96 on his ASVAB!

Since this will be our last Christmas with him living at home (kinda sad for us, actually), I was wondering what types of things would be good to get for him for Christmas that he could take with him to the Navy and/or things that might come in handy being in the Navy or do you have to leave everything at home?

My husband and I already bought him a laptop for Christmas a few months ago, however, it was before he got in the Navy, so I don't even know if he'll be able to take that with him or not.

Anyway, I want to get him a few more things for Christmas, however, I don't know what he'll be able to take with him...can he take any clothing or will he have to just wear their uniforms? Will he be able to take the laptop?

I hope this isn't too dumb a question, however, I'm new to things regarding the military and really don't know what to expect...

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for your help!
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Old 12-12-2008, 05:44 PM
 
1,004 posts, read 2,692,702 times
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This isn't a dumb question at all, and I wish my recruiter had let me know when I went in. Assuming nothing has changed, he is better off to not bring anything, just make sure he has good sneakers, not too worn, that are comfortable for a lot of marching. He should consult his recruiter though, to advise him what he should bring. Most of the time he will be wearing these black boots they will issue him, but sometimes the guys gets blisters and they let them wear sneakers if sick bay permits.

When he arrives at Great Lakes, he will go through an in-processing where they will go through all his belongings. During the time I went in (1996), we would end up mailing a big package home with most of the stuff we brought with us, that we shouldn't have brought in the first place. I also had a high ASVAB score, and wanted to be a corpseman. At the time, if you had a high ASVAB, they wanted you to go into electronics (firecontrolman), or become a "Nuc" (nuclear specialist). If he truly wants to go into the medical profession, then this is a good choice, because medical/nursing schools in the public sector are very hard to get into right now.

Last edited by 1979; 12-12-2008 at 06:35 PM..
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Old 12-12-2008, 06:11 PM
 
Location: Minnysoda
10,659 posts, read 10,678,336 times
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Great just great You should be proud. I would agree with the previous post He won't need much at basic. Good running shoes perhaps shaveing stuff. If you folks are believers he will be able to keep a copy of the bible with him but no other reading material (it is actually good reading) If I may be so bold as to offer an opinion the trick to basic is to realize it's a mind game. The body can be forced to overcome the phyiscal strain but you have to have an open mind to overcome the mental side of the process. (My son leaves for basic this summer and this the same thing I tell him.) Will he be serveing with the Marines or staying with the fleet? I'm sure thats a voluntary thing but most if not all marine combat units have (or had) a USN medic attached. Good luck to him and to your faimly as well.

P.S. I could tell you all the nicknames we had for the corpsmen when I was in the Navy. Very funny but a bit more risque then "Doc"

P.P.S. Alot depends what his ultimate duty station, is if it's a shore station he'll have room for all kinds of junk. If it's a boat or a sub you don't get a bunch of room to store lots of stuff on those things so you only keep the important gear!!!!!!.
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Old 12-12-2008, 06:18 PM
 
Location: Eastport, ME
400 posts, read 792,093 times
Reputation: 345
Quote:
Originally Posted by my54ford View Post
Great just great You should be proud. I would agree with the previous post He won't need much at basic. Good running shoes perhaps shaveing stuff. If you folks are believers he will be able to keep a copy of the bible with him but no other reading material (it is actually good reading) If I may be so bold as to offer an opinion the trick to basic is to realize it's a mind game. The body can be forced to overcome the phyiscal strain but you have to have an open mind to overcome the mental side of the process. (My son leaves for basic this summer and this the same thing I tell him.) Will he be serveing with the Marines or staying with the fleet? I'm sure thats a voluntary thing but most if not all marine combat units have (or had) a USN medic attached. Good luck to him and to your faimly as well.

P.S. I could tell you all the nicknames we had for the corpsmen when I was in the Navy. Very funny but a bit more risque then "Doc"
Although Mom (Tap - my DW) wants him to stay with the fleet, at present he wants to go with a Marine unit. As his plans are to get a bachelors and eventually go to OCS, we both think he's better off on a ship.
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Old 12-12-2008, 06:28 PM
 
Location: Minnysoda
10,659 posts, read 10,678,336 times
Reputation: 6745
Quote:
Originally Posted by dano19606 View Post
Although Mom (Tap - my DW) wants him to stay with the fleet, at present he wants to go with a Marine unit. As his plans are to get a bachelors and eventually go to OCS, we both think he's better off on a ship.
That's a concern indeed but if it helps you can rest assured the Marines take of thier corpsmen
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Old 12-12-2008, 06:33 PM
 
1,004 posts, read 2,692,702 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dano19606 View Post
Although Mom (Tap - my DW) wants him to stay with the fleet, at present he wants to go with a Marine unit. As his plans are to get a bachelors and eventually go to OCS, we both think he's better off on a ship.
Are you sure he would have a choice in this? The Marines depend on Navy corpsemen. Also, a small Bible will be given to him before he leaves for basic. Don't give him one to bring, there will be no room for it. He will only have a small drawer, which will be stuffed with necessities. He also won't have anytime to read it anyway.

He will be going to Great Lakes IL for basic, then he will stay in Great Lakes (across the street) when he goes to his "A" school for corpsemen (nursing). This is an intense program which will require a lot of study.
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Old 12-13-2008, 09:52 AM
 
Location: Forests of Maine
37,244 posts, read 60,976,905 times
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He really cannot bring anything to bootcamp.

Later he will still be limited to things that fit within his seabag. So hold off on giving him a bunch of stuff.

I would recommend that he consider taking correspondence courses on nursing. He could start now, he could continue them while he is enlisted. He could earn a degree while he is in uniform, and he could use that degree to apply for a commission in the Navy.

I did 20-years in the Navy, working on degrees in not uncommon in the fleet.
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Old 12-13-2008, 10:12 AM
 
Location: AZ
1,046 posts, read 3,472,032 times
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A pretty sure it's a mostly voluntary choice if you want to serve with the Marines or not(Not sure about the situation now). If that's what he wants, after his school and before he joins a Marine unit he will attend another school taught by Marines to get into the "Marine" swing of things.

If he plans on getting his degree while he is in the Navy it will be next to impossible if he is attached to a Marine unit.
I was in before the wars started and we did 2-6 month deployments on a ship. 5- 1 month training exercises and many 1 to 2 week ones. At the least we would usually be in the field t-th. We had it figured out that during our 4 yr. enlistment I slept on a ship or in a sleeping bag over 2/3 of the time.

If he really wants to be a corpsman he better make sure its in his contract. In writing. With a good ASVAB they will try to get him to switch. If its not guaranteed they will switch him even if he doesn't want to. Thankfully I has my MOS written in my contract. I had to go in front of a t different officers, because they were trying to get me to switch my MOS. It can be pretty intimidating saying no when you're a brainwashed recruit.
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Old 12-13-2008, 02:28 PM
 
Location: Eastport, ME
400 posts, read 792,093 times
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Corpsman is written into his contract (guarantee) and both the recruiter and the people at MEPS told him serving with the Marines is voluntary and he doesn't need to make that decision until he's out of A school. If he still wants to go that way he'll be assigned to Field Medical Service School in either Camp Pendleton or Camp Lejeune.

He's in for 8 years, 5 active and 3 reserve. At present he plans on re-upping and possibly making it a career. My next-door-neighbor is a Marine who served in Iraq. He told me that the corpsman who was with his unit is now in Bethesda and is on his way to an MD. I don't know if Matt (our son) wants to go to that extent (it'd be nice, though), but it's good to know that it can be done.
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Old 12-13-2008, 03:37 PM
 
Location: Prescott Valley,az summer/east valley Az winter
2,061 posts, read 4,120,108 times
Reputation: 8190
Save anything you wish to give him til after boot camp~ with possible exception of some cheap stationary and some stamps~ he will have a better idea of what after he gets out of boot camp and they allow him posessions again! And normally he will get some small amount of leave between boot and Corpsman school!
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