I joined the Navy to get expirence and pursue the medical field. I'd like to be surgical tech, but i keep being told by people (one a coworker who is an iraq vet)that i'm going go FMF in iraq, and i'm going to be with the marines because i'm a male.
am i screwed over? or can i get surgical tech? i've heard they serve with marines too, and i don't mind, i just want to get a c school that interest me.
Your not screwed! Just do really well in "A" school. Surgical tech school is usually offered as a "C" schoool. You will have to attend FMSS, but that doesn't mean your going to go to IRAQ. Its possible that after you finsh surgical tech school that you get attached to a marine unit, but look on the bright side you got your school.
Bluescope is absolutely right. And being a former FMF Doc and lab tech myself I definitely would not say that going greenside is being screwed. If you want surg tech school listen to bluescope and bust your butt in "A" school and (at least when I was in) usually if you are in the top ten of your corps school class you will be able to pick a "c" school from those that are being offered. But don't look at serving with the marines as being screwed. There is definitely a lot that you can learn by going greenside. I ended up dropping my basic lab nec while greenside so that I would be able to do more in trauma medicine. I was able to attend "goat school" at Fort Bragg to study combat trauma management as part of the Army's 18D (SpecOps Medic) training which was very beneficial. I got to shoot and blow stuff up. I felt being with the marines was great. Others may disagree but I felt it was the right choice for me. I had several friends who were surg techs that served with me at camp lejeune. Usually if you go greenside as a surg tech you will get assigned to the FSSG (support) like the Medical Battalion, which isn't too bad cuz you don't spend as much time out in the field or humpin' the bush. Regardless of where you get sent keep your head up because you will be a Navy Corpsman. Remember the Marine's are no longer looking for a few good men they already have them "Navy Corpsmen"
The purpose of the military is to kill people and break things. When there's a war, it's likely, but not guaranteed, that you as a member of the military, will end up in it. This is part of the deal you make in joining. They don't often get explicit about it, but it is assumed to be understood.
