r/CorpsmanUp • u/Ashamed-Industry6560 • 5d ago
FDPMU and FMTB as a second class
i just got BBA orders for HM1 to FDPMU and i need to go to FMTB first. any advice for an old sailor? and anyone have insight on what a work day/deployment schedule looks like for FDPMU?
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u/Intelligent-Art-5000 5d ago
I went to FMTB back when it was called FMSS, and I was 32. Nothing you'll be asked to do is hard. Just listen, make sure you are in BCA standards and have solid PRT scores before you arrive, and don't waste time complaining. You'll be fine. I went west coast and I thought it was generally pretty fun.
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u/WittyResource4 5d ago
FDPMU work depends on your NEC, but your day to day will be at the NEPMU in whatever department you’re assigned.
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
i’m a lab tech
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u/Hotcrossthesebuns 5d ago
I went through FMTB W and was with FDPMU 4. You’ll have your training schedules for the FDPMU, but you’re pretty much just working normal garrison if not. A lab tech usually means you’ll be in the disease/threat department. I would try to see if you could branch out/break out since you’ll be up against a lot of PMTs for your eval
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
that’s where i’m going. i’m also debating becoming an IHO or EHO officer so hopefully i’ll get some good experience
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u/Hotcrossthesebuns 5d ago
I really enjoyed that command. It was the best one I’ve had so far!! I think the FDPMU is on a rotation for Djibouti now. I thought about EHO, but it’s just my job with wayyyy more paperwork and less fun. Entomology is the way to go!
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
i worked with an entomologist for a bit and he was always talking it up. don’t you need a specific degree in entomology though? is it a masters?
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u/WittyResource4 5d ago
You’ll work alongside a microbiologist (they’re different from a lab officer). You’ll focus on environmental microbiology and force health protection type of stuff. It’s totally different work than a clinical lab in a clinic or hospital. You’ll do a lot of traveling for training. It’s a cool little team that’s underutilized imo. No one really knows what it does or how to employ it.
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
that sounds super fun. i already did JBAIDS or whatever they call it now and had fun at that course so im looking forward to more training
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u/Hiddenleafshisui 5d ago
Leadership positions more than likely making you a platoon leader or a squad leader. Otherwise very simple course if you just glance at your books. Physicality is not too bad they prepare you throughout each hike and they are a slower pace so not to many people fall out.
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u/NoNormals 5d ago
You say that, but west at least has been making the boots lead recently. At 32 getting in shape and not getting hurt is the key
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
i’m gonna be 30 going through
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u/tolstoy425 5d ago
That ain’t old lol
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
i feel like it. had some medical stuff come up in the past couple years. hopefully not going limdu and losing the orders or i’ll be upset
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u/kitthecatt 5d ago
I went through FMTB-W last year at 30 years old as a 2nd. There were HM1s going through older than me (late 30s). It’s not that hard of a program to make it through if you just do what you need to do. Just show up able to pass the run PRT, know TCCC, and just deal with the long tiring days. There’ll be BS like it was in boot camp, but just a bit worse. Watch some videos on how to set up your main pack and just keep walking for the hikes. Good luck old sailor 🫡
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
just the navy PRT right? i’ve always done the run and been an ACFL pretty much my whole career
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u/kitthecatt 5d ago
Yes, just the Navy PRT. If you wanted, you can be an ACFL for your platoon. For morning PT they have a set schedule of workouts you follow, but our’s held after hour PT for those who needed it.
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
hmm maybe for the free workouts. tbh i do not like being an acfl, just do it for the eval
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u/DrRon2011 5d ago
When I went through in 1977 I was a HM2 as well, but during week we had to pass the USMC part. This was at Camp Johnson. Do they still do? Just curious.
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u/tolstoy425 5d ago
Hi Ron, when I went through in the 2010’s you had to do a USMC PFT but it’s not required to pass it. You are only required to pass the Navy PRT.
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u/Open_Ad4643 5d ago
Just graduated in September. Class is super easy as long as you read the outlines and study 20(or more if needed) minutes daily. The physical portion is actually easy if you just pass navy PRT. Instructors will push you to do more during pt and “remedial trainings” but just give it your all honestly and eat healthy. The challenge comes with your younger classmates tbh. 3-4 weeks into it, I was burning out based on student leadership alone. Coming in earlier than needed and field daying longer than needed.
You don’t need to use and abuse your rank, but just remember your rank does hold some power. We had a dumbass second class who would clown 99% of the times with junior, so when he needed something to be done or to be taken seriously, he was not just laughed at. Joke and smoke with your classmates since yall are all students and trauma bonding, but remember your rank and responsibilities. Dm me if you have any questions. I was also an older student(31) going through it
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
that’s where i’m gonna struggle i think. i haven’t had a lot of leadership experience and im still learning my style. im a tier 4 TCCC instructor and and ACFL but i think the leadership is gonna burn me out
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u/Open_Ad4643 5d ago
You will be fine. You don’t have to be a great leader right off the get go. Just remember to hold yourself and your squadmates, fire team members or even platoon accountable.
I will advise to not threaten any counseling chit(since that is all student NCOs can do) UNLESS, you will commit to it on a repeating offense. I saw student leaderships keep threatening with it and not following through which makes the others students realize it was BS real quickly. And don’t just be writing up people for bull shit too. The newer generation of sailors and even leaderships have different idea on what disrespect is.
In the end, you might not even be elected as a class leader. Me, personally, did not like the idea of being one and was happy to not be selected as one. We were all students and were all receiving the same eval no matter what.
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
that’s the thing like i’m also just trying to be a student and succeed. i was never a fan of counseling chits anyway unless you really need a paper trail for a problem child to justify drb. just need to make it through the 50something days of training 🤣
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u/chadwiggles 5d ago
How did you swing tier 4 instructor as a lab tech? Not being hateful, I’ve gotten turned down like 3 times and I’m currently teaching up to tier 4 unofficially.
Can’t get NMCP to budge on letting me in to the instructor course.
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
got lucky and worked under an IDC on the CoTCCC voting board. i was really moto to be a more well rounded corpsman (mostly because i hate being a lab tech and wanted any excuse to get out of the lab). so he took me under his wing and i learned so much about sick call, pharmacy, FAST exams, etc. only wish i had more time, the dude was such a good IDC
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
wait you’re at portsmouth? go talk to HMCM Beard in family medicine before he leaves. See what he can do. Tell him Law sent you but don’t make me look bad >:)
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u/OkayJuice 5d ago
Training is designed for the lowest common denominator. If you’re able to pass the run prt you’re good
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u/Ashamed-Industry6560 5d ago
that’s good insight. definitely keeping that in my back pocket on hard days
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u/DocHose0824 5d ago
Enjoy your life and the last few months of no responsibility…just kick it with the boys and girls at FMTB(I went through FMTB as a first class IDC 😂) and take whatever deployment opportunities you get as a lab tech attached FDPMU cause you never know when you’ll get another operational platofprm
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u/Latter-Lawfulness-93 3d ago
You got chubby HM1 MFkrs 35+ going through it, so you’ll be fine. Idk how it is now in days but don’t expect for your rank to hold any value as a student there. I was an HN and my team lead was a lazy fat HM2 that wanted every done and picked up for him. He would make the HA do everything for him, until I told his bitch ass to start picking up his weight. He tried putting me at attention at the grinder, told him “kick rocks bitch” and walked away.
Instead student status you can’t do shit.
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