medic training

April 18 2010

Corey is pretty busy day and night with his medic training and has given me permission to continue his blog. My Mom, Corey's grandmother, and I went to San Antonio to visit Corey April 8-12 and had a great time playing tourist and catching up with Corey's army life. It may take me a few entries, but I'll try to capture some of what has occurred already.

After too many weeks in reception, Corey moved "down range" to begin the EMT portion of his medic training, on Jan. 25 if I recall correctly. Most of the kids expected that army life after basic training would be a little different, but the first phase of AIT offers few privileges and continuous "smokings" for the slightest infraction. Corey began his training with CPR and then moved into the EMT training. This is largely hours upon hours in a classroom setting and not too fondly identified as 'death by powerpoint.' Corey did great, maintaining an honors average with grades over 90 on each of his quizzes and tests. The experience was pressure-filled with at least 3 tests a week. The ongoing intensive physical training and 8-10 hours a day of classroom and study time wore everyone down on occasion.

Each soldier lives with the fear of failing the tests and being reclassified out of medic training. That means that if a test is failed twice, a soldier might be forced to go back to week one and start again, or might have to select a different MOS - army job. It is crummy when that happens because there are far fewer choices when reclassified and many wind up as a foot soldier in the infantry. Corey started out with about 320 people in his company and it is down now to about 250. Fortunately, he passed everything on the first try and is now certified as an EMT just like the folks who ride in ambulances in our local towns.

Corey says he is enjoying the practical skills he is learning. He can now start an IV, give injections, perform a tracheotomy, insert a nasal breathing tube (really gross - you can see it being done on utube), splint broken bones, apply tournequets and a bunch of other stuff I forget. The trainees practice all these things (except the trach)on each other and Corey showed us his 'battle scars'...needle marks all up and down his arm! Once they learn these type of skills, they practice and practice to do it faster and have it become second nature.

This coming Friday, Corey goes to Camp Bullis where he will live in the field and learn more battle field techniques. David, Evan and I are going to Ft Sam for Corey's graduation on May 14.

Still in Reception

I'm writing on Corey's behalf again. As he suspected would happen, Corey and the other 399 men assigned with him are in a holding pattern and stuck in recepion. The soldiers who arrived earlier than his group did in fact go down range on January 11. Rumors are flying and Corey's company hasn't been told the real date when they will begin their medic training. He is major bummed out with the prospect of perhaps having to wait until early February.

He did have the chance to identify his preferences for a permanent duty station assignment...stateside he chose Fort Drum in upstate New York, Fort Stewart in Savannah, GA or Fort Sam Houston where he is in San Antonio. Fort Drum is the base closest to Boston, but is the home of the 10th Mountain Division - the most heavily deployed division of all. He selected overseas options as well: Korea, Germany or England. Apparently the Korea posting is a year in the DMZ - I'm guessing to protect the world from N. Korea's nuclear threat. While anywhere is dangerous, Korea is probably safer than the "sandbox" - Iraq or A-stan. In any case, the army will send Corey where they believe he is needed regardless of his stated desires.

Corey is now living with his friends from Fort Knox BCT and that helps the time pass a little more pleasantly. He is posting on facebook and is on AIM at night, so he hasn't written here. He would enjoy snail mail and while in reception can be reached at:
PV2 Mindlin, Corey
232 MED BN G Co
2950 Koeler RD Suite 1350
Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234
I will update address when he moves.

Laurie

In Formation

Spoke to Corey on Facebook last night. Reception is horribly boring and there seems to be a mix up that will result in 400 people having to stay there until January 25th. It seems as though two classes were scheduled to start January 11. One group settled in at FSH before Christmas Exodus, went home and came back. Then there is Corey's group that just arrived.

Each day they wake at 6:00 am and have 3 or 4 periods of 1-2 hours when all they do is stand in formation. No marching. No training. No PT. Just 800 privates standing in one place, sometimes getting "smoked". They had been allowed to go to the PX during the day but all are now being punished for the sins of one soldier who went AWOL and was hurt in a car accident.

Corey doesn't know if he will start this weekend or have to wait the two weeks. He is being housed in a bay of 40 soldiers, most of whom are from the group that arrived first. We'll just have to wait to see if he will be in Delta Company or Echo Company and then find out his platoon assignment.

Stay tuned,
Laurie

On the Road Again

1-1-10

Corey is on his way to San Antonio today and will report to Fort Sam Houston on Sunday. He will have about a week in reception before he begins his 16 week training to become a 68w - combat medic. The combat medic MOS (military occupation specialty) is very difficult and has a high drop out rate akin to that of special forces so he will be studying hard! If you want to get a sense of what he'll be up to, check out the home page of the 232nd army medical battalion. http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/32medbde/232medbn/defaultVI.aspx

(Cut and paste this link if it doesn't connect.)


Laurie

Boston GLOBE article on this Blog!!

Check this out!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/20/a_needham_soldier_writes_home_and_mom_starts_a_blog/?page=1

You may need to cut and paste the address above to get to the article. Congrats to Corey!

Laurie

2 Days and Counting!

December 15, 2009

Hi All,

Corey just called me and even though he was hoarse from having bronchitis again, he sounded great! He's knows it's been some time since he's written a letter for his blog and he plans to post a complete update about his last several weeks of basic.

His company was delayed getting into blue phase because several kids in another platoon were caught stealing and gambling with a home made deck of cards. This made things tougher than necessary and frustrated Corey...he says the worst part of basic is doing everything right and still getting punished because of others' mistakes.

The weather has been awful in Kentucky, raining a lot and very cold. It caused his final field exercise (FTX) to be cut to 2 days. The cool thing though is the concluding ceremony when the recruits formally transition into soldiers. Corey said the senior drill Sergeant (his DS) spoke to them all and then they were given their berets. They can't wear them again until graduation.

The 15k wasn't too bad. It is on the hill named "misery" which is flatter than "agony" and thus easier, even though it is longer. Corey's backpack strap broke and he had to march holding his pack on his back.

Corey did well in his final PT test and came in 4th in his platoon. (That's the top 10%!) He will also be wearing 2 medals on his dress uniform, 1 for sharpshooter on the rifle, and 1 for expert in grenades. He will have the chance to earn others at AIT.

Corey came in 2nd to be the guidon bearer for his platoon at graduation. His DS called him and another soldier together and said they were tied. He asked Corey a question about the chain of command and he missed it, ...

Corey's made some very good friends and David and I will get the chance to meet them and their families. The boys have made plans that we will all go out to lunch together after graduation. Also, Corey's become quite friendly with a fellow named Jeremy who will also be going to Fort Sam Houston for Medic AIT. They plan to meet up to travel to San Antonio and tour the city the day before they have to report for training.

Can't wait to see Corey. Kentucky, here we come!

Laurie

Coming Home

Corey called his Dad this afternoon to tell us that he can leave the post after graduation on 12/17 . (Instead of 6:00 am the next morning!) Corey said he is well, sounded great and is happy that tomorrow is the last day of training.
~Laurie