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Military.com Forums Navy Discussions Joining the Navy Civilian Opportunities after AECFGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Civilian Opportunities after AECF | Login/Join |
| New Member |
Hello, all! I first want to mention that I attempted the "find" function and could not find a plethora of information on this specific topic. If there's a previous post/thread about this, please take my sincerest apologies and I'll be on my way to read it. I recently took the ASVAB. I scored a 97 and auto-qualified for NF (no NAPT needed). They're obviously pushing this pretty forcefully, but I chose AECF. I don't ship until 20090512, so I can always change my mind, contingent on a hand-written statement on why I want to be a Nuc. I see so much information about the career opportunities as a civilian after being a Nuc, but I don't see much on any of the AECF ratings. I read that it's a difficult program to get into, but I don't know if it's placed on the same level as NF for post-naval opportunities. Any recent former AECF care to expound on their post-Navy job searches? I understand this tends to be individual-specific, but if there's a generic train of thought, I'd certainly appreciate the help in my decision. I want to be able to provide for my future unborn/unwed family and don't want any laissez-faire attitude about hard work now to affect them financially. I value standard of living more than money, but I'm not sure if I can just suck it up for 6 years and then live high on the hog. Are the AECF career opportunities poor enough after service, that I'd be best sucking it up for the relatively short-term of 6 years and go Nuc? Is ET/FC a rating, while difficult, are rewarding enough to want to re-enlist through the STAR program (I believe it's under either the $60k or $30k cap)? I know this is a lot of information I'm requesting. If anyone has any of this information, I would be immensely appreciative! - Justin | ||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
You probably found no info because you looked in the wrong forum. Try the joining the Navy Forum, where this is moving now. Word to the wise: don't pick a job for the money in or out. You will be sorely disappointed. | |||
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Member |
Some possibilities; Related Civilian Jobs (Dept. of Labor Dictionary of Occupational Titles) O*Net SOC Code O*Net SOC Title 15-1041.00 Computer Support Specialists 15-1071.01 Computer Security Specialists 15-1081.00 Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts 27-4013.00 Radio Operators 49-2011.00 Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers 49-2021.00 Radio Mechanics 49-2022.00 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers 49-2091.00 Avionics Technicians 49-2094.00 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment 49-9042.00 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | |||
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| New Member |
Thank you so much, Cat! I hope it's alright that I call you that. I searched all of the Navy discussion and didn't find what I was looking for, but I'm hoping for the best here. I am certainly looking for quality of life over the money. Obviously, money can help shape the quality of your life, but you see what I mean. The concern I have is that if being ET/FC does not give me a noticeably better quality of life (sea/shore rotations, ability to leave the ship while at port, decent working hours, etc.), then I'd be a fool not to go Nuke. Or if there's bupkus for an AECF after the Navy life, no matter how lax the job is while enlisted, then I'd be a fool for not going Nuke. Hopefully, there's some recently retired/departed AECF guys abound. | |||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
Honestly, for all ratings that include bonuses expect to work HARD. they spend a lot of money training you, and thus expect a big return on investment (so to speak). Look at first at which interests you. Money as motivation only lasts so long if you don't enjoy what you are doing. And yes, Cat is fine  ! | |||
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| New Member |
To Boats: I certainly saw those on my job factsheet they gave to me. It seems to be such a wide array of options, so that's definitely a positive. To Cat: As a former (or current?) Nuc yourself, you can attest to the difficulty of intensive schooling and the jobs that the Nucs have. Already, I can tell the difference between 9 weeks at A school, which could be a misprint, as I've recently read 19 weeks, and then 13-17 weeks at C school doing mostly self-paced computer learning and going to Nuc A school, NPS, and NPTU for 2 years. That and reading these forums about the Nuc duties leads me to believe one is infinitely more difficult than the other. Maybe I need to do more research on the AECF job duties. p.s. this site must hate Firefox. | |||
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| Curmudgeon Second Class (STAR baby)  |
Difficult is in the eyes of the beholder. I personally found being a nuke to be a blast...so much so that I did it for twenty years. As of last week, the psych eval results are still pending... But playing with computers for a living? I doubt I'd enjoy that. Once you get out, doors open that would suprise you. you will not be limited to nuke because the Navy trained you to be a nuke. You will not be limited to computers because that's what the Navy taught you to do. Civilian employers look at the time in the military as a plus. they look at perceived leadership skills, ability to work under pressure...those "intangibles" that any job in the military teaches you to do. Think I am kidding? I currently work with an NRC licensed reactor operator that served as a CT. As Cat said...pick a job you like. The navy does NOT pay you enough to be miserable. | |||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
I thought being a sub vol they had to determine you were crazy before letting you join!  !!!!I concur with PO1. Was it hard work? Maybe. I tend to emphasize that for those who think they'll just breeze through or are cocky in their abilities because as a former insturctor I saw those traits hurt people in the end. Those who came in ready and willing to work and learn had a much easier time. I loved it, and my husband loves it(STA-21 selectee trying to switch designators back to nuke). Note change in tenses there. I am working to hopefully go back myself. We'll see how that works out. Either way, do what sounds interesting to you and what you think you will enjoy most. | |||
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| New Member |
To PO1: It's definitely satisfying to see someone who seems like they truly enjoy the job. In the "Nuke Life" thread, most were complaining specifically about how difficult it was. I know it's changed and, since you've been in so long, you might not have the best information for a new recruit, but are sea/shore rotations abnormal? Were you at sea for long periods of time strictly based on your rating? Also MM, EM, ET? To Cat: Make that three that enjoyed it! It definitely sounds interesting. I guess it's difficult, because it's glamorized so much by the recruiter/Nuc coordinator/Navy website. I'm definitely leaning toward the program. I'm hoping some former AECF guys can throw their opinions in, but PO1's statement about a CT running an NRC is definitely inspiring. I just didn't want to be hamstrung when/if I get out. | |||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
He didn't say that the CT ran the NRC, said he has a licence. BIG difference. REally just shows that anyone can get an NRC licence if they put their mind to it. If you read the "rant and a warning" thread, one of the kids who came on here cocky explains why we laid it out for him the way we did. You will work with the brightest indiviuals in the Navy; but being cocky, not paying attention and not being willing to work hard leads to either equipment damage or personel injury. Again, those who worked hard were preferred over thse who didn't, especially when they got in the plant. It's not unheard of to have someone barely pass A school and power school and qualify first when they get to the hands on portion or have someone fly through the first 2 schools and qualify last because they don't know how to work on their own. AECF is a great school too. I've know plenty of people who have been successful coming out of that field as well. It's all about how you apply and market yourself, really. (My little bro got out of the Navy as a nuke EM and works at a steel plant-go figure). As was said, it's all about what you want to do. If you want to work in an engineroom and experience all that goes along with it, go nuke. The lines between ratings get blurry at times in the nuke field because of all the cross-rate knowledge you are required to have. | |||
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| Curmudgeon Second Class (STAR baby) |
I was an MM. I spent the standard training pipeline time, then 3 years on a missile boat (USS Alaska), 3 years on a fast attack (USS Houston), 3 years on shore duty (SubBase Groton - RADCON) and then 8 years on a missile boat (USS Wyoming). I did not enjoy leaving my family. I did enjoy being at sea. The garbage is (was) kept to a minimum. There is little, if any, interference from outside activities that need to "help". You get to do your job, and keep the mickey mouse crap to a minimum. I would have gladly stayed in for a while longer....except for high year tenure. Oh, well. The Navy's loss. As to anyone getting an NRC Reactor Operator license...no. Those that think a navy nuke will just waltz into a civilian plant and get that license are in for a rude awakening. That process is harder than Nuke School ever DREAMED of being... | |||
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| Member |
Abnormal would certainly have different meanings to different people. There are 18 ratings that have a longer 1st sea tour (SEA1) assignment than any of the NUC ratings. Also for those in the NUC ratings their SEA2 is projected to be 6 months longer than the SEA1. 234/08 SEA SHORE FLOW (SSF) ENLISTED CAREER PATHS 08/23/2008 Pay attention to NOTE #7 that MAY effect the lenght of NUC SEA2. BoatsBM1 | |||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
PO1-Sorry didn't mean to imply that getting an NRC licence is easy (know damn well it's not) I meant to say that being a Navy nuke is by no means a pre-req and there are many ways to go about getting certified...If memory serves right I saw commercials for a school in MO that did straight civilian prep towards a RO career. | |||
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| Curmudgeon Second Class (STAR baby) |
Didn't intend it that way, Cat... We here in South Carolina are looking into getting tech college grads into the licensing programs. The workforce is only getting older, and we civilians plan on a lot of new nuclear constrcution over the next few years... | |||
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| Member |
Here in my area rates go up an "average" of just over $11.00 per month in January,just to start paying for the two new nuclear power plants that Progress Energy plans to build in Florida. | |||
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"The Hitman" |
Well, I imagine that with the current government coming on line next year, coal is going to become even less an option. Load isnt going to stop going up, so wed better get started on these nukes. The company I work for just finished bringing online some scrubbers at one of the big coal plants. Their station service went from 86 to 160MW's(Thats alot of power). Scrubbers are needed, but they sure are expensive, so look for them bills to keeo going up. Wanna hear something funny? I do a safety presentation to all the 5th graders in my county about electricity, and the first question I always ask them is, where does electricity come from. Without fail they ALWAYS answer from windmills and solar. Even they teachers are amazed at how much of our power comes from coal/nuclear. Didnt mean to hijack  | |||
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| New Member |
I'm a little confused about this
When it says your first sea tour is X months and you first shore tour is Y months. Does that mean you will actually be on the boat going from port to port for X months straight? And then you will be on shore for Y months straight? or is it mixed up so that at the end of X + Y months you will have X sea months and Y shore months? Also some of the first sea tour and first shore tour added up end up being 8 yrs some end up being 7.5 some end up 8.5 and some only add up to 6 yrs. That part confuses me too. I'm going to be an STG. That says the first sea tour for stg's will be 54 mo and first shore will be 36. Which adds up to be 7.5 year. However, once I get out of all my schooling I'm only going to be active duty for less than 5 years. How would that work out? | |||
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| "The Hitman" |
Your schooling wont count towards either. Once you get out of school, you will be assigned to a sea going command(A ship most likely, although some overseas tours count towards you sea counter) at the end of the 54 months, you will be sent to a shore command for however long it says(Normally 36 months) The catch is though, depending on how long you enlisted, you will have to reenlist/and or extend to take shore orders. Say you enlisted for four years, and boot a and possibly c school takes up to a year, then that only leaves @3 years of your enlistment. At the end of your four years, you can enlist for say 4 more years, of which youll finish out your 18 months on the ship and the do the remaining 30 at shore. At which time you will again reenlist and go back to sea for your second sea tour...and so forth. | |||
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| New Member |
How does a sea going command work, being out to sea and being on land? I wouldn't actually be on a boat for 54 months straight right? I'm just thinking of the show "Carrier" on PBS. All the people there were talking about being gone for 6 months at a time, and then they went back home for a while it seemed. | |||
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| Lead Mod Navy and Recconect America Forums catherine0830@msn.com Democracy will survive until the government figures out it can bribe the people with their own money. |
You won't. Could be in the yards for part of it, especially if there's an overhaul period. could go out for a week, be in for 2, out for a month in for a few, etc. Schedule will depend on platform. Just referrs to the amount of time attached to a sea going command | |||
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Military.com Forums Navy Discussions Joining the Navy Civilian Opportunities after AECF
