MA (SM)

Hi all,

I was very happy to stumble across this website... I have been through the forums and have picked up lots of insiders information.

I was wondering if anyone here is / was a MA (SM)?

I have passed all the necessary requirements for this role and got my security clearance back on Monday just gone.

Does anyone know roughly how long it takes until you start your basic training once you have your security clearance?

Thanks

JP

 

I got drafted to SM as an MA but failed the Medical,Valsalva Neg im afraid.Didnt want to go anyway lol.

 

Are you already serving, SubMedic? I'm no Medic, but I think you have to do your basic MA training, then specialise in Health Physics - it could take a while. (Or have they changed it all since I left?)

 

Hi guys,

Thanks for your quick responses.

I received my security clearance on Monday just gone and am awaiting my entry date.

Yes, have to do 5 months basic MA training. I will be qualified in approximately 1 year. See: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.4995/changeNav/3533

The only thing I am worring about is the 8 weeks basic training... I can't wait until that has passed.

In the fitness test, I ran 2.4 km in 11 Minutes 55 Seconds. It started with walking and the fitness instructor asking me if I want to warm-up or go straight into the run... after taking about 20 seconds to decide.. I said "I'll just go for it". What a waste of time!! My fault..

Are all the fitness related tests taken within the first week of entry?

JP

 

You should get a letter telling you your start date, unless things have changed.

 

Its changed beyond recognition to what my training was,so i cant really offer any help except to mug up on your Anatomy and Physiology.

 

Thanks, andym.

Been a while since I have to do anything "medical". I currently am a Recruiter for a healthcare company. Before this, I worked in A&E as a NA / HCA for just under 2 years, I wanted to be a paramedic.

Can't wait to get my letter... hopefully it will be soon. I have not told my manager yet!!

I have just bought ordered myself a notebook... do you think I ordered it a little too soon?

JP

 

Get yourself as fit as you can before Basic Training and you should be fine , good luck , and enjoy Keogh Barracks when you eventualy get there , If you want it deeply enough , you'll be fine , go for it . :roll: :lol:

 

Hey all,

I received my entry date letter today...

Early September 2006

Was a little disappointing as I hoped it would be sooner.

My CPO Recuiter has told me that should someone drop out before that, I could be put forward for that place.

At least now, I have 4 months (just under) to work on my fitness. I currently go for a run 3 or 4 times a week, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.. I think I will go to my local gym on a casual membership and get the instructor to setup a program for me. So expensive though, even more so for me as I live in London.

I can't even remember what I selected as my 2nd choice... I am very happy to be offered what I wanted in the first place.

Are you allowed to take notebooks (laptops) on board a Submarine?

 

Great news,thi happened to me,i was all set for a family holiday to Greece but my joining date was brought forward to the 8th of August.At least it was nice weather for Raleigh! just grin and bear your basic training,its all bluster but can be quite fun if you approach it with an open mind and a sense of purpose.I am sure youll enjoy your Part 2 training.

 

Anyone know about the notebook question?

Thanks for your responses, andym. How long were you in the Royal Navy? Was the medical training hard?

 

i was in from 78 till 84.the training wasnt particulary tough per se,but very intensive with huge amounts of info being thrown at you.The part 2 training was mostly theory with the odd bit of practical stuff like firefighting,light rescue,and the odd exped.each friday we had a test,if you passed then you got weekenders,if not you stayed onboard and retook it.Part 3 training was a lot longer and you did 8 week blocks on different wards and departments.Then you had a brush up and prep periiod in "school" for your next block placement.All told the total time in training was nearly 2 years.We learnt about such arcane things as MOFA(Medical Organisation For Action),Service Administration(paperwork,lots and lots of it!)Light Rescue(playing aorund with stretchers, bits of rope,holes in the ground,and tall buildings)Pharmacy and Storekeeping(making and mixing of potions and lotions and ordering of drugs and kit),Nursing(as it says lol),Diagnosis and Treatment of dseases and ailments along with basic surgical techniques,and the odd trip to the Harbour Training ships.I understand that the current training has changed some what from the training i experienced.I'm no einstein(got 4 O levels)and i made it even passing for LMA on taking my final exam.ive probably missed a few bits out but i think you get the gist of it.Hope this helps. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Dont hesitate to PM me for any further info or assistance.
I eventually went on to do my RGN in civvy st and my MA training stood me in good stead(i never revised anything and still passed :lol: :lol: )and worked in ITU and CCU for 15 years before selling my soul to the Drug Industry for £31,000+ pa :lol: :lol:

 

Basic training will be tough it is the bit to sort out the men from the boys. Work hard at it and go with the flow. Some of it will seem pointless, you will almost certainly be punished for something you didn't do, but it will end.

Remeber every one who has ever been in the Navy for the last hundred years at least has done it and survived, there is no reason other than yourself not to succeed.

Best of luck.

Peter

 

Laptops on boats- Not sure about this they were not all that common when I was in. Im thinking security risk etc, common sense says that the mob would have recognised that people today use them and would have some sort of procedure set up for them. With camera's you used to have to register them so I would imagine the same sort of thing would apply, with perhaps some sort of virus check? Quite an interesting line of thought actually wouldn't surprise me if boats and ships have an IT officer nowadays.

 

Although I never served on boats I did spend some time with the V boats when they were new. They were fitted with at least two (that I know of) panasonic toughbook laptops. Although pprimarily used for vibration analysis and condition monitoring, they did seem to get used for more mundane stuff too

 

Most departments had there own pc in my day, I think our potential scablifter is talking about laptops of a personal nature, now I dont know how possible it is to copy data from a pussers computer to a personal computer but I would imagine that this would be regarded as a potential security hence the need to register laptops?

 

Is this another of the reasons given for No Wimmin in Boats. 8O

 

Your quite right, from experience, all laptops/PDA's have to be registered with the ITSyO, IT Security Officer (XO), and when they are onboard they are liable to spot inspections by the ITSyO or DITSyO. You also have to hold copies of receipts and licenses for all software installed on the PC. But this procedure is standards throughout the RN on all vessels and shore bases, just not as strictly enforced.

On my last boat, Vanguard, my dept. had about 22 laptops for work, :wink: , and other depts had a few aswell, at one point there was 83 PC's onboard including private laptops.

 

Hello,

Im currently a General Service MA and have served just over 4years.

Dont worry about the Basic Training. Its one of those things that you hate whilst doing it, but look back and feel proud of it.

Dont fret to much about the fitness. It would be a huge help to you if you can pass the Fitness Test and will give you more time through the 8 weeks to do the many other tasks (i.e. kit, revision, etc) but if you are not able to pass it then you will get remedial training to help you achieve the time.


From what ive heard, you now have duvets as instead of the old blankets. And ive heard training is getting easier all the time! lol

Hope it helps
Ted