Gentleman,

     I am a newly promoted, highly motivated, HM2. I just came from the green side. After two deployments as an 8404, I realized that my next goal was to be an IDC. Now I have been green side the entire 6 years that I have been in the Navy. I  thought it would be a pretty good idea to experience the REAL Navy. If any of you could give me some insight on what Sub IDC is like / about, I would greatly appreciate it. What are the deployments like? How often? What should I be expecting? I came in as a DT but realized VERY fast that that was not my calling. Medicine is my passion when it comes to work. Please help in this matter. Thank you so much.

HM2 (FMF) Devon Schefano

dschefano [at] hotmail [dot] com

devon [dot] schefano [at] med [dot] navy [dot] mil

SURFACE IDC's,
If you are having trouble getting a platform (Independent) go see HMC Pettry or Johnson for information on converting after school. It is now a demanding, compacted program but YOU WILL get your own boat.

Call me Bro.

860-694-2876 x120

R/ Kevin

WOLF22DOC,

I gather from your phone number listed below your signature that you are still in Groton. Still at NUMI? If so, do you know if there will be any positions opening up at NUMI around November of 2007? Just trying to plan ahead.

Dale A. Lyons
HM1(SS/FMF)
Submarine IDC

I am a Submarine IDC currently the Doc on board the USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717) out in Pearl Harbor, HI. I have been here for just over 3 years and I can easily say that this has been the most challenging job that I have had in my 15 years in the Navy.

First, before you can become any sort of IDC, Submarine, Surface, ect., you have to have at least 6 years of active duty service and 4 years as a HM. You also have to be an E-5 (HM2) or above. These are the minimum for applying to IDC school. For Submarine, you must also be a US citizen. Just thought that I would throw that in just in case.

As you can see, you are going to have plenty of time to test the water before making the final decision to become an IDC of any kind.

To get the best training and experience as a junior Corpsman, I would suggest becoming a "greenside" or Marine Corps "FMF" Corpsman. Granted, you will most likely go over to the sand box and get into combat in either Iraq or Afganistan, but that is going to end up happening to the majority of us. I truly believe that if you didn't already know that, you wouldn't have joined the Navy in the first place.

All IDC's have experience in some field or another prior to becoming IDC's. I started out as a deck seaman and struck HM and went to A school after being in the Navy for 2 1/2 years. I went to Great Lakes Naval Hospital, then out to Camp Pendleton, CA with the 1st Marine Division. I absolutely loved being with the Marines. You can and will learn a lot, and if you are good to them, they will walk through fire for you.

I chose Submarine IDC because I wanted to be completely independent and Surface IDC couldn't guarantee me that, but Submarine IDC could. Sub IDC school is really hard and has an attrition rate of about 50%. I started school with 13 guys and only 6 of us graduated.

Anyway, like I said, you will have plenty of time to decide. All I can recommend is that when you are eligible for advancement to E-4, and E-5 study, study, study and get promoted as fast as you can so that you won't have to wait forever to apply.

Best of luck, and if you have any more questions about anything, let me know.

Dale A. Lyons
HM1(SS/FMF), MDR
USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717)

I am actually in DEP and signed into the navy under the HM category. Since my interest in the navy I have always concentrated on going FMF and Recon, not because I am gung ho, but because I am interested in getting the most medical training possible. I had actually mentioned this to another FMF and they said I might be more interested in going IDC. After searching for 2 days straight Sub IDC is something I absolutely would love to do.

My absolute first question would have to be:

What is the BEST course of action you guys could recommend me to take to best ensure that I make it into this program. As I already stated I am going into HM. However there are several different subsections of the HM rating. Are there any in particular that would give me a better chance at the Sub IDC? If I went FMF still would I still be eligible for Sub IDC?

If you could do it all over again, knowing what you know now, what would have been the best course to take...

I thank everyone in advance for the help and the time. Looking forward to serving in the Navy.

Forever Digging In Search of a Hole
The Fun Starts March 20th

Hey Kevin,
I saw that you as in here. So is the offer still open to cross over? I will hit you up via the phone about the details. Later

Shawn Brooks
HMC(SW) SFIDC
School Of Infantry West