Trident86. Question about SEAL HMs

[HALO11]

Or anyone in the teams, I really want to enter the Navy under the Navy SEAL Challenge contract and get the HM rating, (I love medicine) but I have been told by many people that SEALs right now are overmanned on HMs, and that the fleet is undermanned. Someone said there are only 12 slots each year for HMs at BUD/S, thus it is very hard to get the HM rating and go to BUD/S. Is this true? If so would I still be able to get a garaunteed HM rate and BUD/S? Or is it better to get in the teams and then rerate? Any anwser would be much appreciated. I would have asked on the medic forums but theres a lot more traffic here and this is fairly important to me, thanks.

[HALO11]

So... does anyone know what the status is on HMs in the SEAL Teams?

[trident86]

I'm not blowing you off. We have numbers on all that at work, but I was diving all day Friday for requalification. Let me get on my computer at work, and I'll give you a more educated answer. We are opening the pipeline back up for corpsman, though.

[HALO11]

COOL. Thanks a alot Trident86 I will eagerly await your reply, oh and by the way I would just like to thank Trident86, Fred, and Frog for their many contributions to this forum. I think it's great that they're willing to contribute their time to a bunch of wannabes and goingtobes.

[forpath]

I have asked this question before, but I never received a response. How long is A-school for hospital corpsmen following basic?

Forpath

[HALO11]

I believe it is 12 weeks but im not sure. It's around in that timeframe anyway, and it is taught at Greak Lakes.

[trident86]

The corpsman pipeline is still closed for now, but we'll let a couple in here and there. My thought is that it will reopen around October, when our manning numbers settle out.

Last I checked, HM "A" School was 10 weeks. Remember, though, if you sign up under the SEAL Challenge, you'll skip "A" School, go right to BUD/S and jump school, then onto the Special Operations Combat Medicine course at Ft. Bragg. Upon successful completion of SOCM, you'll go on to SOT (Special Operations Technician, or Diving Medicine), then on to STT in Coronado to start your probation.

[frosty]

when does elimation of the probation period come into effect? I read on a different post that changes were being made such as after BUDs student would go to STT phase, get their trident, then airborne. The Teams would not be responsible for Seal Tactical Training, meaning when seals get to their teams they're mission ready. Sounds great! But when does this take place?
thanks
frosty

[Meridian]

If you are refering to the Navy Times article, Airborne still came before STT...

[DL125]

Trident86,

Did I read that right?? If you sign up under the SEAL challenge, you skip "A" school and go straight to BUD/S??

[trident86]

Only if you're a corpsman. The Special Operations Combat Medic Course (SOCM) counts as your "A" School instead. You will get your shot at SOCM immediately following BUD/S and Jump School.

[Meridian]

Uhm, what happens if you fail SOCM? You make it sound like its a common occurance.

[vladnox]

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[This message has been edited by vladnox (edited 11-24-2000).]

[trident86]

No, guys don't normally fail SOCM, but it happens occasionally. Depending on why you dropped out of the course, your commanding officer will either make you a SEAL Boatswain's Mate, extend your probation, or ask you to leave and go to the fleet. Guys who don't make it aren't usually losers, they just run into academic or personal problems. If you are a discipline problem, or poorly represent SEALs in front of the Special Forces students, you'll probably wind up on a ship chipping paint (extremely rare).

[DL125]

Trident 86,

Is the SEAL challenge contract only offered to those coming into the Navy for the first time, or the armed forces in general for the first time? Also, when is one considered a "SEAL", after completion of BUD/S, or after completion of your probation?

[vladnox]

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[This message has been edited by vladnox (edited 11-24-2000).]

[Meridian]

Sorry to belabor this topic, but I just have one more question. Since SEAL Challenge Corpsman don't have any "A" school training prior to BUD/S, what happens if they drop/fail BUD/S? Do they go regular HM "A" school? Thanks.

[vladnox]

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[This message has been edited by vladnox (edited 11-24-2000).]

[HALO11]

Thanks for the info Trident86, this really helps a lot.

[forpath]

Originally posted by trident86:
Only if you're a corpsman. The Special Operations Combat Medic Course (SOCM) counts as your "A" School instead. You will get your shot at SOCM immediately following BUD/S and Jump School.

I'm afraid I don't understand. I thought "A" school was where you were trained into a field, but how do you skip something that you had to go through in the first place to attain the title to be eligible to skip "A" school??

[trident86]

If you enlist as a SEAL corpsman (meaning that is your intent upon completion of BUD/S), you will go directly to Boot Camp, then BUD/S, then jump school, SOCM, SOT, and finally your Team. You will actually be considered a SEAL corpsman after SOT school.

[forpath]

Trident,

So you're saying that feasibly one could be at BUD/S (or at least Indoc) within about 2-4 months of starting Boot if they intend to be a corpsman? Just out of curiosity, will the Navy try to help a student that is pushing the age limit get to BUD/S as soon as possible, or does everyone have to wait in line just like everyone else?

Thanks,

Forpath

[docbryantusn]

Last time I checked SEAL's were 165% manned for HM's. This does not preclude you from going special warfare. My suggestion would be to come in as an HM and opt for Marine Force Reconnaisance. Force Recon has a lot of the same perks as SEAL's and you do get to operate with the SEAL's too as you must be able to cross over.

A fantastic page for SARC (Special Ampibious Reconnaisance Corpsman) is www.8427.com. (http://www.8427.com.) If you want Specwar and HM this is not a bad way to go.

Doc

[frosty]

Vladnox
could you explain osvet? I don't fully understand.
thanks
josh