I am currently on ECRC orders to Afghanistan and except the mobilizing and being nearly 15 months, I really do not have anything negative to say about it I'm actually having a blast. I am working as a Military transition team medic with the US Army, ...yes the Army but it's not as bad as it sounds. I'm on a 16 man team with an Army Medic and 2 HM3's and the thing is we get pushed out to 3 Satellite FOB's which as a 8404 HM is great, complete Independant duty without being an actual IDC. We do get pushed through a MTT Medic course in Fort Sam Houston(even IDC's are made to go :/ ) which is a good refresher and we get live tissue training. There is also training in Fort Riley kansas you would have to go through, which isn't bad at all if you have been 8408, no sleeping in the field or any crazy humps, think the longest was 6 miles with a day pack and you get your m9 and m4 quals if you haven't already. On my main base where the team meets back up we have Army 18 Ds and we get to work and learn from them, got to pull a couple of teeth recently on an afghan. Also usually come out of here with atleast an ARCOMM or Bronze Star and Nato Typish ribbons, well its more then I've recieved with my deployments to IRAQ and Afghanistan my last two times with FMF. It is different where you go though, but if your a Male 8404 HM you can count on being in a Afghan National Army Infantry Company. I was planning on leaving the Navy but after working on my own I'm enjoying it and am trying getting in IDC school. Well if anyone has questions or is getting ready to come out shoot me an email at LUN92510 [at] YAHOO [dot] COM. hope this helps.

HM2 (FMF) Munoz, Cesar