As a Corpsman and a PT Tech, my advancement quota is one of the lowest. Can we not just cease corpsman A school for 1 year to bring it up?

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:05:47 -0400

Navy corpsman are constantly over manned on paper and yet every command I've been to is short on them and is always needing more corpsman for patient care. A schools and C schools are always full so there is a constant rotation of new corpsman being sent to the fleet. And yet our advancement quota is one of the lowest because people keep getting pushed out. Would ceasing 1 year of school not help?

Response by PO1 Robert Johnson made Jun 7 at 2017 5:06 PM

PO1 Robert Johnson — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:06:24 -0400

PO3 Grimm one of the problems for advancement in your chosen specialty is that you have few sea billets so your point score is lower than other HMs in the exam cycle. As far as cutting out A and C schools is concerned, "Son, that ain't gonna happen!" Fortunately or unfortunately, as the case may be, the Navy provides the highest quality education to its people over all of the other services. That is a well known fact in the civilian community and makes it very attractive for the techs to finish out their enlistments and go back to the world. The Navy could do better in designing its advancement procedures but there is always going to be the need for fresh new corpsmen to man the wards and the ships. Best of luck in your future.

Response by PO3 Delmar Clapp made Jul 3 at 2017 10:35 AM

PO3 Delmar Clapp — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 10:35:55 -0400

When I was in advancement was decided by who you knew. After 10 years in I was only a HM3 8404 I was forced out. Maxed out time in service, award points and time in grade (over 6 years). Even though I aced the exam still could not advance. Pesky little thing called the eval. Never could get the early premonition box checked. Still had 4.5 and above evals. Guess it is who you blew instead of who you knew. That and no certification of knowledge when you leave despite some of the best training in the world. What a waste.

Response by PO1 Michael Crowe made Jul 17 at 2017 11:02 PM

PO1 Michael Crowe — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 23:02:53 -0400

Majority of my NEC retired at E-6 as there was so few Chief Billets. We once went 3 years without making a Chief. We used to joke they either had to retire, or we killed one to open a slot.

Response by CPO Kathryn Robbins made Aug 16 at 2017 7:12 PM

CPO Kathryn Robbins — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 19:12:38 -0400

Congress established the Manning rates for Medical Department representives based on the Active Duty military population so despite the fact that we always look like we are undermanned, we aren't making it difficult to advance. Consider looking for positions that your NEC manger will release you for. Even if you can't get out of your NEC excel and study, study, study.