It has taken me almost a complete year to finally get some answers and its looking good. I'm set to leave August 5th for the Great Lakes, and from their to Charleston for the Nuke pipeline. I get NO help from my recruiter about what to expect. I've learned most about the Nuke Program from this website and nukeworker.

I must say, I'm getting cold feet here. I'll be going in as an E-3, with a wife, and no kids. The debt that we do have, could be paid off by our savings, but that would leave us with very little savings. I currently BRING HOME 50-60 a year, myself, and the financial aspect of the Navy is one of the things on my mind. We will manage, thats not the point.

I'm just afraid that I will not be able to be the best husband with the amount of time I will be away from my wife. She stuck with me through an 18 month deployment to the Bulcans, courtesy of Uncle Sam, and we had a long distance relationship for roughly a year. (Her in NC, me in PA)

I've also been offered a position in the National Guard unit no more than 20 minutes from my house, as well as a tech. position over their at a gs-7 pay grade. I really like this route, but the wife does not. I'd still be able to have the structure and organization I like, I'd get to serve my country, I'd have a SET work day/week, no duties to stand, and I'd get the same benefits of the Active Services. It would also allow me time to go to college to get a degree in Mech. Engineering.

My wife likes the Navy route. Her father spent 25 years in the USMC, has since retired and is now a school teacher. She thinks the Navy would be easier, because I was deployed for 18 months in the army already, they will just do it again. I tried to explain that I'll be deployed in the Navy to, maybe not 18 months at a time, but being a Nuke, I'd be away just as much. I've also tried to explain the whole "standing duties" as I've read and come to understand from this site and others.

I also like the Navy route for the challenge, the reward of serving my country, but I dislike the political games and the general BS that comes with any of the Military branches. I'm not doing it for the money, so that's out. I'm doing it for a secure career that will leave me with a body and mind I can use when I get out, and I feel this will do just that.

I have been out of the military for 2 years now, and I must say....I really really enjoy doing "what I want, when I want." I know I am the only one that can make the final decision but I'd like to hear some of your advise, pro's and con's and nothing is a wrong or bad answer.

Also, any advice about RTC is much appreciated.

This is moving to the joining forums.

There, use the find feature with the word "nuke". You will have lots o reading to do. You probably arent getting much help from the recruiter as to what to expect because he isnt one.

I will say, questioning it this point (less than one month prior to leaving) sounds more like cold feet than anything.

edit:re-reading I realize you have read. I really dont have more to ad but weigh what's best for you. Still moving to the joining forums.

also, dont join because your wife wants you to. join because you want to. Having her support in it is a great thing, though.

Boot is going to be a breeze for you. You've been through Army boot, right? So, this isn't going to be any real problem. You know what to do... keep your mouth shut, ears open, do what they tell you. Same as same. As a Nuke you are already E-3, so no need to try to do extra activities that folks do to try to get promotions, you won't get it. You alredy have as high as they will give. Just keep your head down and do your duty.

Now the Nuke pipeline... THAT should be your main concern. It's going to be arduous. You and your wife had better square with the fact that even though you will be "on shore" you won't be home much while in school. You will need to concentrate on school to make it through. This will be the hardest thing you EVER do in your life academically speaking. College is a breeze compared to the Nuke pipeline.

Oh, and as for political BS... deal with it... it's everywhere. As a Nuke, you get a double dose, just for Sheets and giggles. Just learn to deal with it.

Have you decided Submarine vs. Target yet?

I'm impressed. In 8+ years on recruiting duty I never had a PS approved to go Nuke.

best of luck.

quote:

Originally posted by william969:
I'm impressed. In 8+ years on recruiting duty I never had a PS approved to go Nuke.

wow. Officer or enlisted?

Either way, NR is being ultra picky right now, so if the person meets the standards I imagine they cant turn them down. Might be one of the few ways to get in as PS right now.

A prior service Marine was just approved for NUPOC here.

OP to add on to what Eric said, Boot should be really easy for you (just really learning some Navy jargon), but the Nuke world will be much different, esp once you hit the plant and operations. A lot of the rank stuff gets thrown out the window. Not that you can just do what you want, but....it's a bit hard to explain. I know it took a prior Marine who became a nuke Officer off guard. Luckily, the one here who just got accepted has had lots o time talking to my hubs and has a bit more of an idea what's coming I think.

Catherine,
Enlisted. Even had some prior nukes TRY and get back in and NR denied them.

I'm just going to number my responces, so I mean no disrespect to any of you guys.

1. I do not have to go through boot camp again. I'm told all I'm required to do is a retrain at RTC that last's roughly two weeks. I understand that I could be at RTC for 2 months or 2 weeks, and I'm fine with that. They are giving me the option to drive if I so wish, but I have not yet decided.

The Nuke pipeline, while difficult, will not be my most challenging obstacle. I fear my "do what I want, when I want" attitude I have now will be the hardest to tame. I love being spontaneous, and doing things on a whim. That will be my hardest part, then comes the schooling, which will be difficult.

As for the Political BS, I know it's everywhere and I'll deal with it, I just hate it. I'll just swallow my tongue and keep my head down.


2. My recruiters and classifiers said the same thing about PS going nuke. I'm going in enlisted as my age will prevent me from going officer, as well as my not having a complete degree.

Would you care to elaborate on the "Nuke world being different?" I understand that once the shcooling is done, it's then a daily job, with watches needed be stood and so forth.


3. The same day my packet was submitted to the ECM in TN, two others were sent. One a prior service Marine who did his 4 and out, and one was a student beginning his Second year of College at PSU. Of the 3, mine was the only approved, and I even had to have a waiver for a minor traffic violation. They said my line scores on the ASVAB were VERY HIGH, and the NAPT(NFQT) scores were also high. They also asked for my prior evals., PT scores, and called my Platoon SGT and SECTION SGT from my my deployment. Apparently they heard/read/saw enough to know I don't take 2nd best very well, and strive to be better than the guy teaching me.

Anyway, thank you guys very much for your input. If you have any information about the RTC, or any information that could and would help me out in the future, be it immediate or not, please share. I will continue to search these forums, and the general web, to find and learn more about what it is this adventure entails.

Also, I'm going SUB. After a deployment to a combat zone, I really don't want to be amoungst a large group of people. There are too many things to go wrong, and there are too many that get away with doing nothing. I don't tolerate lazy at all. It's my greatest pet peeve.

Dont be so sure about how easy nuke school will be. Even the brightest people struggle at first adjusting to the procedures. You will have at least 2 or 3 re-submits before you get the hang of it. It's also a lot different having to study in the school building, on ordered hours set by your staff advisior. In college right now. It's way easier. Also, even if you excel at book academics, personality and ability to operate will get you through prototype (as will the ability to learn things on your own).

The "do what you want when you want" can hurt you, but nukes usually work hard and then play hard too.

As for how its different, well, it just is. There will be days where you feel as if your entire career hangs on a signature (which, in reality, it does on a daily basis) and the documentation and paperwork involved can be a nightmare. Even though rank structure applies orders are frequently questioned. On a sub, that applies more in someways.

Now some questions for you: Nuke Officer age limits are higher than enlisted....What were you pursuing your undergrad in? Have you taken Calc and Calc-Physics? How far are you from your undergrad?

There is a thread in the general forums titled "RTC Great Lakes for priors" (or something similar) It should have all the info you need on the refresher course stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by 14441586:
Would you care to elaborate on the "Nuke world being different?" I understand that once the shcooling is done, it's then a daily job, with watches needed be stood and so forth.

Nuke world is different because as opposed to the vast majority of enlisted positions, rank has a lot less to do with actual operations than who is "correct". Meaning, if an O-4 says something, that doesn't make it correct, just because he says so. If an E-4 is qualified, and has the data to back himself up, the E-4 is correct and that is what is done. The Nuke world requires it's enlisteds to actually think. Not just do whatever they are ordered as in most parts of the military. If the enlisted guy is right, and the Officer is wrong... what the enlisted guy said happens. Here's an apocryphal example. Admiral Rickover was taking a tour of one of his boats, he was in Maneuvering and asked the Reactor Operator what the RO would do if he (the Admiral) tried to flip a switch on the ROs panel. The RO responded "I'd break your ****in arm, sir". Which was the correct answer. Did that happen? Dunno, but the point is still made. BTW, Mack could answer the question if that actually happend or not. Haven't seen him around lately though. Anywho... the point is that Nukes are in a special world, unlike any other in the military.

Additionally, in the Nuke world a lot of things that get non-Nukes accolades, awards, etc are considered "part of your job", and Nukes don't get awards for just doing their jobs. For schedule, you will be the first to the boat, the last to leave. It's just the way it is. When you pull into port, if there isn't shore power, you get to steam the plant, just like you were at sea, meanwhile all the Cones (non nukes) hit the beach for beer and babes.

quote:

Originally posted by 14441586:
Also, I'm going SUB. After a deployment to a combat zone, I really don't want to be amoungst a large group of people. There are too many things to go wrong, and there are too many that get away with doing nothing. I don't tolerate lazy at all. It's my greatest pet peeve.

Good, you will find the same attitude on board the boat. Submarines are very tight knit groups. You will become like brothers to eachother. You may not always get along, but hey you don't with your brothers either, but your're still brothers. Same as same.

My schooling consists of a collection of credits from 6 different schools, mostly in MATH as I love numbers. I have college calc. 3 as well as physics 1-3. The officer recruiter said that I didn't have enough credits that one school would accept, as the most any school I attempted would accept is 13. The recruiter also said I'm to old (24) for the program and they are pretty much looking for only high school seniors or recent college grads with a degree in Engineering or Sciences. I didn't think this was right, but seeing as how the recruiters I have had, have all been worthless, I wasn't going to argue. I actually had to go through 6 different recruiters before one would even submit paper work to the ECM's to see if I could get accepted.

Also, the schooling will be hard, I'm not knocking on that, and I know I will struggle with some of it. I've never had any issues learning through books, and I can stay away during class hours. I learn better working with my hands and actually doing the job, so Prototype won't be any issues I'm worried about. The thing that will give me the hardest part in the schooling is the procedures, like you mentioned. I'm a mechanic on the side, building MANY of insane cars, and the renaming of all my tools will throw me off, as well as how to do things the "NAVY" way.


Thank you for the explaination of the Nuke world being different. I'm glad of that. I've had to do things over 3 and 4 times in the Army, and my civilian job, because their was a "do it my way, or hit the highway" mentality. I don't enjoy redoing my work. It's something I dislike very very much.

Also, the decision to go Sub was easy once I started reading about the people on carriers saying it sucks, and the sub guys saying it was a TIGHT KNIT GROUP OF BROTHERS. If it's going to suck, I'd rather it suck in a smaller group of tighter knit people. Aside from that I'd rather not work along side of women in the military. I DO NOT MEAN THIS AS DISREPECTFUL. I have worked along side some women who could out work and were MUCH more knowledgable than I. I have met some very amazing women in the military, who were very smart and NOT AFRAID to work....but...I have met more women who were likely to "pawn off" their duties to the nearest guy for some "fun time" when off duty. I've seen guys FIGHT over doing a womans job for the BENEFITS. I am just choosing to simply AVOID being in these situations again. When one person doesn't pull their weight, EVERYONE has to pick up the slack, not just one or two guys. I simply do not want to deal with that any more. I'm aware that their will be people who are like that on a Sub, but the chances are less likely than on a carrier where it's pretty much a garuntee that their will be a slacker or two.

Thank you guys for all of the information.

Catherine, you have been most helpful. I do not mean any disrespect, in any way, to you with my comments above, I was simply stating my basis for a decision. If I am out of line for saying it, please let me know, or edit the post. Thank you again.

first as Catherine said dont udnerestimate the difficulty of the nuke pipeline. I went through it back in '84. A school a breeze, nuke school challenging but i did well. But I almost flunked prototype.

Also as a nuke there really aren't any "typical" days. Yes there may be days in port (if youare fully qualified) were you do some light maintenence and go home. But those are rare. There is always soemthing going on. At sea on a patrol things are more routine but there is plenty of drills, training, cleaning and maintenance to do.

Waht rating are you interested in?

quote:

What rating are you interested in?

A very good question. You mentioned being a mechanic, which is a good thing, but have you given thought to which of the 3 rating you'd be interested in? Having mechnaical skill is good, but the added benefit of the electrical side training from being an ET or EM might be very handy in the future when you come to the end of your time in the Military.

Of course, unless you pick MM, you won't actually know what rate you get until you get to GL. If you don't specify MM they will assign you one of the 3, which might even be MM. Of course given the "infinite wisdom" of the military, you'll get ET. As I said that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing... besides being an RO is vastly superior to all others.

quote:

Originally posted by 14441586:
My schooling consists of a collection of credits from 6 different schools, mostly in MATH as I love numbers. I have college calc. 3 as well as physics 1-3.

If you can transfer them into a full university and have at least 30 credits (including calc one and 2 and physics one and 2) with a 3.4 or so GPA you are NUPOC eligible. After an intense screening process, to include and interview with an Admiral, you get paid as an active duty E-6 with all benefits while you finish your degree and then earn a comission. Wanting Subs is even better in their eyes for this program. And your recruiter is full of **** when he says they're only looking for younger guys (though a science or engineering major is required). 1) the age limit is 29 waiverable to 31 2) we just have a prior service Marine here get selected, I'm working on my package now (and I'm 28).

quote:

Aside from that I'd rather not work along side of women in the military. I DO NOT MEAN THIS AS DISREPECTFUL. I have worked along side some women who could out work and were MUCH more knowledgable than I. I have met some very amazing women in the military, who were very smart and NOT AFRAID to work....but...I have met more women who were likely to "pawn off" their duties to the nearest guy for some "fun time" when off duty.

If you read through some of my comments on this forum, you'll see that I totally get that sentement. A few ruin the perception of the rest who work their asses off. It's a shame and a reality (although, don't think you will never work with women while in. You will)

First thing first. My apologies to those of you whom took my stating that the pipeline wouldn't be difficult to me. It will be, and that I'm aware of, but I don't think it's going to be the MOST difficult thing I will have to deal with.

I have 24 credits if they would all total to a college. Sadly, online colleges, and community colleges have also stated that they can not accept all of them, as well as PSU. At psu, only 9 of the credits carry, and at a local community college, they counted 13 of them. I'm not to worried about it. I would love to be an officer, but I have no objections to starting out as an enlisted sailor and working my way up. I felt much more respect for the officers I was under in the military that did it that way, as opposed to just ROTC. I guess it's because they know what needs to be done, and have worked thier tails off to do it.

I'd like to go as an MM, and try to get into the welding or diving. I'm adventurous my nature so I feel both would be a great thing to learn.

I'm glad you took no disrpect in my post. I have alot of respect for some of the women in the military, but some just irk me.

As a NAVET in the National Guard now trying to get a 368 conditional release from the NG to back active duty NAVY let me clue you in on the national guard it is nothing like active ARMY that is what all the guys coming into the unit say and for anyone that has done NR it's the same nothing like active and the tech jobs DO NOT count towards your active duty retirement but your active DOES count toward your state pension (30)yrsthe pay is good but you will have to pay for your insurance because they won't let you keep your tri-care even reserve select i'm telling you in my own opinion your on the right track DON'T GET OFF THE TRAIN !!!