2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan Corpsmen earn Fleet Marine Force pin

Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Petty Officer 3rd Classes Jacob Hightower, a native of Orlando, Fla., and Tyler Emery, a native of Fairfield, Maine, answer questions during their final board to earn their Ground Combat Element Fleet Marine Force pin here June 10.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

06.18.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso 

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Corpsmen from Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, recently finished the last qualification of the Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist Program.

Since arriving here on May 3, 47 sailors have qualified for the FMF pin.

"The hardest part of this whole process is absorbing all of the knowledge thrown at them," said Chief Petty Officer Kenneth McNeil, the senior enlisted leader for MAG-40. "They have to know the information inside-and-out to prepare themselves to earn this pin."

The objective of the FMF Warfare Specialist Program is to provide the candidate an introduction into the processes and topics necessary to support the warfighting requirements of the USMC.

The FMF pin is awarded to a sailor after he or she successfully completes the Personnel Qualification Standard program.

A PQS is a compilation of the knowledge and skills that an individual must demonstrate in order to qualify to stand watches or perform other specific routine duties necessary for the safety, security or proper operation of a ship, aircraft or support system.

Once enrolled, a sailor has 18 months to complete the program and must have one year onboard their command in order to wear the pin after completing the necessary qualifications. If one is in a combat zone, then the time can be waived.

The casualty evacuation corpsmen from MAG-40 arrived here in May and took the initiative in earning their pins.

"They were proactive with learning the material and earning their pins," said Petty Officer 1st Class Craig Pasanen, MAG-40's leading petty officer. "But we did help facilitate it by setting a timeline to get it done."

The FMF material consists of Marine Corps core knowledge, specific element knowledge and practical application fundamentals.

Corpsmen who had already earned an FMF pin helped the candidates by studying and testing them daily. "For three weeks we ran two-hour classes a night for them," said Pasanen.

Once the corpsmen were ready, they took two written tests. Test one consisted of 100 questions based on general Marine Corps knowledge. Test two consisted of 50 questions based on the specific element of the unit of the corpsmen.

The three specific elements are the Aviation Combat Element, Ground Combat Element and Combat Service Support Element. Therefore, Sailors can test for the ACE, GCE or the CSSE pin, depending on what element their unit is. The Sailor can be qualified in all three elements but must qualify in their primary element before qualifying in other elements.

After both written tests were passed, the corpsmen prepared themselves for the oral question board.

"The Chief Petty Officers and First Class Petty Officers of the brigade have spent countless hours doing pre-boards preparing the Sailors for their final qualification," said Master Chief Frank Johnson, the 2nd MEB-Afghanistan command master chief.

"We conduct murder boards to prepare them," said Pasanen. "By asking different questions we give them a chance to know what to expect and give them a better idea of the areas where they need improvement."

All that was left were the practical application fundamentals test and the final board. The corpsmen had to break down an M-4 carbine and an M-9 pistol, don and clear a gas mask, put together and operate a PRC-19 field radio and use a compass and protractor for land navigation.

The corpsmen completed the practical applications test and reported to the board chaired by Senior Chief Rick Hampton and filled with Chief Petty Officers and First Class Petty Officers.

"I'm about as prepared as you could get," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Hightower, a casualty evacuation corpsman with MAG-40, seconds before his final board.

Without further ado, the board kicked off and the corpsmen recounted the knowledge as if they had it right in front of them on paper.

"It is relieving to have this over with it," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bracey, casevac corpsman with MAG-40. "We spent so much time studying for this pin and now it's over."

"All sailors who have come before the boards have done outstanding considering the austere elements they have to deal with," said Johnson. "All of these Sailors motivate me."

Pasanen said they all worked very hard and put a lot of time and effort in it, so they deserve the pin.

In retrospect, the qualification is an extensive test of knowledge that pertains directly to the Sailor's unit and furthermore makes the Sailor more effective. With all of the corpsmen FMF hardened, they can now perform their duties with increased knowledge and confidence in what they do.

• Date Taken: 06.18.2009
• Date Posted: 07.22.2009 22:00
• Story ID: 36686
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF