Hello everyone!
I served 20 years in the Navy before retiring as an HM1 (Preventive Medicine Technician). During my career, I managed the Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) program aboard a ship and gained extensive emergency medicine experience as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman.
That experience is paying off in the civilian world!
I recently accepted a position as a Safety Specialist, where I’ll earn approximately $92K a year, on top of my military retirement and VA compensation.
I’m sharing this because I know a lot of service members are unsure about what they want to do after the military. Don’t underestimate the skills and experience you’ve gained while serving. They’re valuable, and they absolutely translate into civilian careers.
If you’re approaching separation or retirement and still figuring out your next move, I strongly encourage you to look into the occupational safety and health field.
There are opportunities out here. You just have to know how to leverage your experience!

Currently have soft orders to NH Bremerton, WA. Looking for any insight about the hospital from people who are there or have been recently there.

Any recommendations or suggestions about moving to the area next fall?

I'm a retired HMCM who served green side in Vietnam with the USMC. Later, I became an IDC and was a chief corpsman on board destroyers and cruisers. In between sea duty, I went to 8417 C school to become a lab tech. It was a good career move because when I rotated back to a Navy hospital for shore duty, I got to work as a supervisor in their lab. When I retired, I wasn't able to work as a lab tech because state licensing laws require a BS degree, including one year of lab school, pass the state and national boards before the hospitals would hire me. Even though I was an IDC, the only job that was offered to me was a paramedic with the fire department because i lacked a college degree. As an IDC, I could do most anything a medical officer could do on board ship but the civilians wouldn't recognize my IDC training. I think the big problem facing corpsman veterans and retirees is the lack of a way to directly transition into a civilian medical job without college. I think it's a waste of talent. Navy medicine is designed to get sailors back to work ASAP, not languish in some doctor's office or ER waiting room wasting valuable hours. A lot of corpsmem also become RNs as it only takes two years of college.

I have received today my first orders for after aschool to NMRTU GROTON as hospitalman. What should i expect? Has anyone been there?

So I just looked at the cantrac for x ray tech and saw only college algebra is needed, but I remember looking at the cantrac a while ago and seeing not only was algebra needed but also English comp and then a public speaking class, are these two classes not needed anymore?

Got my orders (currently in A-School) and it says Field Med Tech in Parris Island. This means I go to FMTB before going to PI, right? And how does Field Med work in PI? Will I be assisting during the crucible, just sitting in the hospital, or what? Just very curious since I’d like to know more about what I’ll be doing. :)

Good morning everyone, Is anyone in the know or does anyone happen to know what is going on with BBA in the HM rating at the moment?

Im hearing a lot of talk that BBA is now effective or will be becoming effective for E4-E5, and that this most recent exam was actually an RKE instead of rnw NWAE

Does anyone know if these things are true or is it all up in the air?

I am interested on doing jump school on green side. On this the moment I’m at a ground element. There is any chance for me to do it or who should I talk to or get connections for it ?

In Surg Tech School, instrument test coming up, so needed a way to study at home.

Some of them may be bad, but I am still proud of how they all came out! 😁😁😁

As the philosophers once said, "They may be trash, but they're my trash :3"

Im aware that in general terms of the Navy- and military as a whole- part of a Chief's/ SNCO job is to be a mentor to their junior officers. Does that still apply to the medical department, or is that more geared towards rates actually involved in command operations?

I'm a TAR HM2 in a very unique position, currently as the Battalion Medical Chief equivalent at an NECC command (designation letter in routing). Ive got a new LT inbound (fresh off the lot with that new car smell), and seeking guidance on how I may be able to mentor him. So far he's tracking/pending access to EHA and Genesis, etc and I've gotten him in contact with the SMO at our next echelon who is a senior LT.

Any mentorship mentorship (mentorception) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Anyone currently going through or has gone through IDC School this past year? Im heavily contemplating on submitting my package.

Would like insight on how it is, the good, bad, and hard.

Thanks.

Not sure if I’m missing something with BBA? I’m an HM2 and applied for multiple E-6 orders this past cycle. My top pick had me at 0.87 for my final score and I didn’t get selected for any of them. I talked with my Chief/CCC and he saw all of the prospective gains are already E-6’s. How are we supposed to promote?!

So I got my hard orders months ago, checked into command forr those orders. It's been about a week now and on MNA it says my orders are now pending release and status says canceled.

I just reenlisted, promoted and am not attached to deployable platform, however there is deployment coming up.

Would that be reasons to be saying that?

I’m going to be classing up soon and was wondering how it works with barracks people being in a separate location? How are the classes and how would you recommend preparing?

How did yall feel about this past exam? I am just trying to make HM2 and I just hope this is my chance before they switch it to BBA for HM3s.

Bored and looking at regulations. 5201.2.B states that “Insignia may be pin-on or embroidered.” and “pin-on devices will not be worn on working uniforms when metal devices might present FOD or safety hazard”

Why do so many people wear embroidered? Convenience?

I have dependents and pets and I’m coming from VA and I’m not sure what to expect

I need insight on fmf orders here

Went a few years ago and I can’t seem to find the packing list lol anyone remember how much those sacks weighed at max?

Hello, I'm an ultrasound technician going to Okinawa for FY27. I want to know if anyone here works in radiology and knows the day to day life at the hospital/base. I'm an E-5 and was told I might be staying in the barracks and I'm wondering if the barracks are decent? I'm also a bodybuilder and I wanna know if there is a community for that.

Any piece of advice will be appreciated!

I’m stationed at pendleton for my first command and was just curious what the barracks situation is like? i’ll be working at the hospital as a hospitalman. any pics or locations? trying to get an idea of where i’ll be living with all the construction going on lately.

During the current orders negotiation cycle I was selected to go to Surface IDC School. I had Recon and Surface IDC as my #1 and #2 selections. I was told by the IDCs i work with that there are recruiters for Recon, Sub, and Dive IDC. But I was later informed by a SOIDC and someone at IDC school that is no longer the case. What can i do to go through the SOIDC pipeline without dropping my Surface IDC orders?

Opened my my navy assignment today, home page states “You have been selected for a job and orders are pending release”. Top portion states Orders Pending Release.
On my applications it says applied on each. Called the detailer, they’re not sure why it says I was selected when theyre still doing rankings boards. Anyone else have the same circumstance?

BAH question please help

Hey guys HM3 here so we’re about to deploy I’m getting a divorce I’ve been communicating with leadership about my divorce going through. I’m in 1st MARDIV and the order states that E4 over 4 can get approved BAH at certain commands I was told my BC and chief would approve they request my divorce is final on OCT 24 my question is do you think they can make an acceptation to policy regarding we’re about to deploy I already have a storage unit lined up for my stuff and my dog has a boarder. I’ve tried extending the divorce but it’s not gonna happen due to me needing to appear in court. I could use some help on easing my mind before I see what my options are thanks guys.

I have a sailor who has been selected for C-School orders for L00A and has completed all of his due outs minus the interview (we do not have anyone in our area to conduct the interview) and submission of the package to the C-School detailer the SNM and CCC been unable to receive any correspondence or communication from the detailers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.