Navy Nukes

Comment

Comment by William in Nashua on January 10, 2011 at 4:47am

If the course is for officers and non-nuclear ratings then how do the nukes practice using the same escape breathing apparatus?

Comment by Bubblehead on January 9, 2011 at 5:56pm

That escape suit is WAY better than what we used in the '70's.  Then we had the Steinke Hood (look it up on wikipedia).  That was good to maybe 200 feet.  Pretty much useless in the waters we operated in.

 

We once had serious flooding at test depth, and the escape trunk & Steinke Hoods offered no comfort.  Stopping the flooding & getting to the surface was the only way out.

Comment by Jim G. on January 7, 2011 at 5:57pm

The training at Prototype is much different than Power School, and primarily focused on ensuring the budding nukes can actually operate the plant (translate theory to practice) and that they possess the self-motivation to complete all the required checkouts.  Once at their new command, they will have a Sponsor to help them but they will be responsible for qualifying to stand watches in the Engineering spaces.  From my discussions with my son, the program has not changed all that much in the past 25 years...but they do provide more assistance to those who are struggling than they did when I went through.

Comment by Mike K on January 7, 2011 at 12:12am

My son is an EM and actually graduating from prototype tomorrow at GC.  Steven, you are so right, it is so important for them to keep up as the material comes to them.  Falling behind is not good.  Prototype is a very different type of school as they are given a book of checkoffs and told to learn the material for the checkoffs on their own.  They have to keep on or ahead of the curve(baseline expectation).  Prototype is also 7 on 2 off, 12 hour rotating shifts so the intensity keeps rising.  They do get 4 day weekends every 5 weeks or so.  I guess the idea behind the learn it yourself and the checkoffs is that is the way they learn the material once aboard a boat.

Comment by proud dad Nuke sailor on January 6, 2011 at 11:36pm

Math is an easy thing for my son, he has done well in that area. My son has not had to spend a lot of extra study time up to this point. My son has had more trouble with memorization. My son is still single but says the cafeteria food is like the best cafeteria food you have had.

Im not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. It sounds like my son is just a little behind your son in the pipeline. Tell your son thanks for the service he is giving to our country. And also I wish him good luck.

Comment by Steven S on January 6, 2011 at 10:41pm

He is a EM. 

Comment by Steven S on January 6, 2011 at 10:39pm

Our son was home for Christmas also.  I'm very thankful for the two weeks he was here.  He's married and living on base in a nice house that was just built in a new development.  He graduates Feb 25 and we are looking forward to going to the ceremony. 

 

His recruiter talked to him about the Nuke program after he did very well on the ASAB.  The recruiters are given extra points for getting them accepted into the program.  He's making it well.  He tells me that A school was hard.  Alot of new math for him.  They have required study time that average 3-5 extra hours a week, 5 days a week.  That depends on how the grades look.  It seems most weeks he goes in from 5a -2p and returns in the evenings to study till 10p or 11p.  He says power school is easier for him to comprehend but there is just so much information that they have trouble keeping up if not on top of it.

His wife is meeting alot of nice wives and keeping him fed, so we are happy for them.  He hopes they go to Balston Spa for prototype, for a change.

Comment by proud dad Nuke sailor on January 3, 2011 at 9:51pm

My son was home for christmas, his rate is MM at this point and also a sub volunteer. My son did well on the ASVAB he scored a 99.  My son has done well in about the top 20% of his division also performing well physically running about 8 miles at a time. I suggested that my son go ET when he went in, my son came out of basic as MM, when I ask him why he chose mm he said that they try to influence them to make that choice and give them a very short time to make the decision. My son is starting his last part of power school before going to prototype. My son has made the decision to go for ELT. My son has told me that much less than half of the sub volunteers end up on subs, but he is willing to go on the sub. Good luck to all of our nuke sailors, like I tell my son if it was an easy job anyone could do it, and I just want him to do his best.

Comment by William in Nashua on January 3, 2011 at 3:19pm

Thanks Jim and Bubblehead this is excellent information.  My son too is interested in becoming an  ELT if he is assigned the MM rating.  His first choice was ET before he left for boot camp but said he will be happy with whatever nuclear rating they assign to him.   He is now starting his 3rd week of training in boot camp after the first week being the P-days.    My son has volunteered for submarine duty too.

 

Comment by Jim G. on January 3, 2011 at 12:34pm

I was a Navy ELT, Charles, and I can assure you that it was a "hands-on" job...at least on Subs!  Surface ELTs tend to "specialize" more than we did.  I stood regular Machinist's mate watches, both in port and at sea, as well as performing the Chemistry and rad Con duties of an ELT.  After I got out, I was qualified for jobs in Maintenance, Operations, Chemistry or Radiation Protection.  I think it is an excellent way to get a diverse set of skills and improve your marketability.  That said, it was a lot more work and it would have been much easier to have been just a Machinist's Mate...

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