Navy Corpsman

Is anyone else on here a Navy Corpsman or former Navy Corpsman? I already have a BA but am interested if anyone on here has a similar background!

I am former Navy Corpsman and Paramedic prior to becoming a PA-C. You got questions?

Yea hi my nave is jeff i am curently a corpsman on camp jegeune working with the infranty battallion 2/6

Rob, EMPA-C in Cincinnati, Ohio said: I am former Navy Corpsman and Paramedic prior to becoming a PA-C. You got questions?

Hi Rob!
So I have a BA in International Relations; out of college I did some aid work in Africa, loved it and wanted to make a career out of it.
Long story short: I was going to get a part time job, go to city college to work on my hard science prerequisites, shadow a doctor and take out student loans.
My uncle was an Officer in the Navy and my grandpa was a Chief so when they suggested corpsman... well it sounded great!

How did you find your transition from enlisted to a practicing PA? Did you do an officer program through the Navy, or the GI Bill when you got out? Does being a Corpsman give you an "edge" over other applicants?

PA wasn't what I originally set out to be, but it seems like such a gosh-darned great fit!

Any response would help me out!

HM Goedert

Hello HM Goedert,

I like you was an HM as well, I discovered the PA profession while I was an EMT-B and thought it just seemed to fit for me. So I went on to become a Paramedic and worked through my degree. I graduated with a BS in Biology/Chemistry and applied to PA school. My background made all of the difference in the world when I applied. I graduated with a 3.2 GPA but knew that I would have NO trouble getting into a program because of my background....I didn't....I applied to 4 schools and was accepted to 4 PA programs. In my class the majority of us had experience, some were RN's, most were EMT's and military medics/corpsmen. During the academic year, the background didn't really matter that much...but let me tell you..once we started clinical rotations, you could tell who had experience and who didn't. I would also strongly recommend that when you finish PA school, do a residency program. It is one more year that will set you apart from your competition for the rest of your career. Check out the website www.appap.org Hope that helps.

Im a corpsman getting ready to EAS. I dont have a 4 year degree but am applying to a PA program that doesnt require one- only certain prerequisites and documented experience with letters of reference. It seems like going back to get a 4 year degree first would be a waste of time due to the opportunity for just going through without the degree and getting a bachelors in PA studies upon graduation. Does anyone have any comment or advice?

mphena in Carlsbad, California said: Im a corpsman getting ready to EAS. I dont have a 4 year degree but am applying to a PA program that doesnt require one- only certain prerequisites and documented experience with letters of reference. It seems like going back to get a 4 year degree first would be a waste of time due to the opportunity for just going through without the degree and getting a bachelors in PA studies upon graduation. Does anyone have any comment or advice?

I am a Corpsman Veteran with 8 years of service. Which school are you applying to that doesn't require a 4 year degree? Every one that I have checked out does require that. Please email me with the details: navydoc80@yahoo.com

Thanks, Doc Holcomb

Doc Holcomb in Hobbs, New Mexico said: I am a Corpsman Veteran with 8 years of service. Which school are you applying to that doesn't require a 4 year degree? Every one that I have checked out does require that. Please email me with the details: navydoc80@yahoo.com

Thanks, Doc Holcomb

I believe there are schools in California, that do not require a four year degree, you have to search the schools out there but there are still some. You would have to be willing to relocate if that is what you choose to do. the pre-requisites are the challenge, as each school has it's own and the differ from school to school
Good luck
Brad

Rob, EMPA-C in Memphis, Tennessee said: Hello HM Goedert,

I like you was an HM as well, I discovered the PA profession while I was an EMT-B and thought it just seemed to fit for me. So I went on to become a Paramedic and worked through my degree. I graduated with a BS in Biology/Chemistry and applied to PA school. My background made all of the difference in the world when I applied. I graduated with a 3.2 GPA but knew that I would have NO trouble getting into a program because of my background....I didn't....I applied to 4 schools and was accepted to 4 PA programs. In my class the majority of us had experience, some were RN's, most were EMT's and military medics/corpsmen. During the academic year, the background didn't really matter that much...but let me tell you..once we started clinical rotations, you could tell who had experience and who didn't. I would also strongly recommend that when you finish PA school, do a residency program. It is one more year that will set you apart from your competition for the rest of your career. Check out the website www.appap.org Hope that helps.

Hello. I too was a corpman completing my associates for respiratory therapy. I got out on 06 and did a total of 8yrs in navy. I am glad I found you here because I was thinking applying to PA school is very competitive when being matched with students with a 4.0 GPA and was ready to give up the idea of applying to PA school. When I complete my associates I will do the bachelors completion(which doesnt include prereqs) and then work on my prereqs taking my time while hopefully working the night shift. I plan to save money and use my post 911gibill to accomplish this goal. I do have a family however I just have to manage my time wisley. I dont want my goals to fade away because I had a fam. I do have some questions for you though..Where did you practice after PA school? What is starting pay like? and would you reccomend joining the reserve after school to retire in?

Hi I already have a Bacheloor degree in science, and this april 30 I have to go to boot camp, but rigth now I am a E-3 but I want to be a PA, some can tell what I have to do, or what I have to start to do because I am lost in this process.

Rob, EMPA-C in Cincinnati, Ohio said: I am former Navy Corpsman and Paramedic prior to becoming a PA-C. You got questions?

If I get my Masters Degree in the medical field as a Physician's Assistant, would I be given the opportunity of being a Navy Corpsman for the Marine Corps? If so, what level does a PA stand on compared to a Corpsman?

First off your mistaking the two
A PC-C in the Military is a commissioned Officer.
A Navy Corpsman is enlisted.
You can as a PA-C be assigned to a medical unit assigned to the Marines. i.e. Fleet Marine Force, but the two have very different levels of medical training, you need to do some more research first

TO Cody,

A PA-C is a medical officer. If you become a PA, you will be commissioned and assigned to (at best) forward med stations, you will not be going on patrol with the Marines. You are too highly trained and cost the military too much for that. But that doesn't mean you are going to miss all the fun! A Corpsman is an enlisted job rating. You are a higher level training and a higher rank than Corpsman.
But as a new PA, listen and learn from your Corpsmen, some of them are awesome and can share alot of knowledge with you, some of them are idiots....but that's true of all professions.