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National Naval Medical Center to Begin Fleet Marine Force Course

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060818-01
Release Date: 8/18/2006 7:18:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heather Weaver, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Chiefs at National Naval Medical Center are creating a Fleet Marine Force course to help educate hospital corpsmen before they deploy.

The course is still being structured and will not qualify Sailors for their warfare device, according to Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Aaron Vandall, but it will better prepare them overall for the fleet.

"The course is still in the building phase. But basically, we are going to take the Fleet Marine Force [personal qualification standards] and break them into classes, as well as have practical training evolutions with Quantico," Vandall said. "Sailors will [do weapons qualifications], land navigation, communications and casualty evacuation radio messages."

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Jeremy Moore, the hospital's Career Development assistant leading petty officer and a former Fleet Marine Force deployed Sailor, said a course like this will help Sailors who have not had prior field experience understand the world they are about to enter.

"The Navy, especially [Navy] Medicine, is constantly growing and changing," Moore said. "For a Sailor to keep up with information, … they have to be annually trained. This course will help the Sailors understand a little better the situation they will be in when they get into a Fleet Marine Force situation. [It will also] help them not be so shocked when they are put into that situation."

Vandall said classes will target recently graduated 'A' school junior enlisted corpsmen and field medical school students. He said deploying Sailors need to have a basic understanding and knowledge that is not currently being provided to them.

"We owe it to them to take our operational experience and impart that on Sailors who have not deployed," Vandall said.

Generally, Sailors coming from a shore command are unaware of the Marine Corps way of life, Moore said. He said this course will help Sailors become more familiar with Marines and give them better care.

"Someone coming from a hospital command that has never been deployed is accustomed to the Navy way of life as opposed to the Marine Corps way of life," Moore added. "It’s quite a bit different. Things are more vigorous, including training, the physical aspect and it’s harder for Sailors who aren’t used to it."

Vandall said the course should start this fall and experienced, formally deployed Sailors will teach the classes.

For related news, visit the National Naval Medical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nnmc/.