Navy Nukes

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Comment by Bubblehead on August 28, 2012 at 4:32pm

My son is nearing the end of the process -- finishing up at BS in a month. It has been hard for him, harder than I expected. He's a very sharp kid, but entered the program with a very light math/science background. But, the program provides the motivation and tools to get through, and he has a good friend who tutors him.

I suspect the program is harder than it was 40 years ago, but it's hard to tell. I had plenty of math/science when I went through. Different people, different times...

My nuke has kept a positive attitude and demonstrated to his instructors that he's willing to put in the work, so he hasn't had to worry about being dropped. I have the impression that many of the program drops are self-selected -- they are the people who find it too challenging and too long of a struggle. (I'm just guessing.)

So, being a cheerleader is important. If you can keep your baby nuke working in the right direction, then he/she will be OK.

My wife & I can't wait to find out whether our son gets assign to a sub or a "target". :-)

Comment by Brian E. Moore on August 28, 2012 at 4:27pm

Jonathan, My daughter has her PIR 10/12. After that she leaves for Nuke school. She is 24 and has been out of school for about 2 yrs now. Maybe even a little longer. I pray that she will make it through her 2 yr "A" school. All we can do as parents is support them and try and keep them motivated and positive. I know I want my daughter to do more then "make it". I want to see her excel. Whether she does or not is all up to her. IF something happens and she doesn't make the school, I will support her in whatever she does. It is a very tough program. I have friends who didn't make it through but they have no regrets. Just keep the faith.

Comment by lsdemme2001 on August 28, 2012 at 4:17pm

Jonathan, There will be many walls.  I don't mean to sound discouraging but the challenges are tough and numerous on the Nuke journey.  My son has been in the fleet for four years now.  He is an ETN and he was constantly on the 24-5s throughout power school.  I frankly don't know how he got through it.  My job was to keep him as pumped and positive as possible.  That is your job with your Nuke.   The journey is brutal and it doesn't get easier.  Keep your sons spirits up and encourage him to seek assistance from the instructors. 

Comment by Jonathan Cooper on August 28, 2012 at 3:36pm

Thanks Mike.  My son seems to have hit a wall early on which I hope he can climb. You know the Navy does not want them to fail as he was put right on 25-4 after a bad test.  But even that was not too bad, just not good enough. I know he can do it I just hope he knows it!

Comment by Mike K on August 27, 2012 at 8:41pm

25-4 study hours means 25 hours study per week minimum with 4 hours per day minimum.  Study hours begin pretty standard for all around this type of hours but as time goes by the hours become much more individual.  The best a student can get is they get no set hours per week and they are expected to do whatever is necessary to keep up.  There is a term for this but at present I can not remember it.  How many hours they are required to study all depends on their grades, so it is obviously beneficial to do well.  The better they do the fewer required hours study.

Comment by Jonathan Cooper on August 27, 2012 at 8:07pm

25-4 study hours.  What does that mean?  Is that always an individual thing or could the whole class have it?

Comment by old Lt on July 19, 2012 at 5:54am

Thanks for the well wishes. everyone!  lsdemme2001, yes it all depends on the timetable for who is replacing them I guess. By the way, in the Navy.mil page, you can sign up for the last tours and ceremony for decommissioning. You need to have an invite. Its free but apparently limited space. My son was asked to put in for staff but he wanted to get to sea! Maybe for a month or so. World works in strange ways 

Comment by KenH on July 19, 2012 at 12:59am

Congrats, Ward!
My son is about 1/3 through A-school (ET). He doesn't go into much detail anymore, but says he's doing fine.
I have to stop biting my nails.

Comment by lsdemme2001 on July 18, 2012 at 4:27pm

Congratulations OldLt.  My son is an ETN on The Big "E".  He is on his second deployment.  Can't wait till they return home.  He is slated to be part of the decomissioning crew when they return home.  Not likely that your nuke will see any sea duty with the Big "E" unless he gets deployed to the ship right away.  Pretty big nuke department on this carrier, but maybe they will work together one day.  Best of luck to your son.   

Comment by William in Nashua on July 18, 2012 at 4:13pm

Congratulations to your son old Lt that is quite an accomplishment.

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