Navy Nukes

Comment

Comment by Tom McConnell on December 21, 2011 at 8:15pm

Nukes have one of the toughest jobs in the Navy. The training is incredibly long and difficult and the working conditions are often less than desireable...but this is all part of the job of protecting this great country of ours. When ones thinks of the conditions many of our military personnel endure in Iraq and Afghanistan it can be humbling. One of my twin sons is a Nuke aboard the USS Reagan (the other is a Flight Engineer on the P-3 Orion) and I saw firsthand on a recent Tiger Cruise what those Nukes go through...long, odd hours, little sleep, sometimes not eating...but my son told me that this was his job and the best thing he could do was do it with pride! Great insight and a positive attitude for a 23-year old!

Comment by Bubblehead on December 21, 2011 at 7:15pm

Holidays away are tough.  I was on a fast attack a long time ago, and we calculated we were away from wives/girlfriends 65% of the time due to deployments (WestPac), local ops, and duty section in port (3 section duty).  It's tough, no doubt about it.  That 35% "home time" was only for local, too.  Getting to to a sailor's home of  record for the holidays is even a lower percentage.

It's soooo different from the civilian world that you sailor might as well be on a different planet.

There are rewards, though, and I hope your guy sticks it out.  Life on a sub is like nothing else, and the submarine community is special, even while it is hard.

Remember what Kennedy said (something like this): we do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

I believe that the experience of sub service makes a young man better.

Good luck.

Comment by Susan J on December 21, 2011 at 3:27pm

Bill, I rarely respond to topics on here anymore, but I wnted to tell you I am sorry that your son feels the way he does. My youngest son was a nuke (MM2 when he got out of the navy) and my other son is a Sgt in the army. I have not had both my sons in the same house for any holiday since my youngest was in high school. My army son hasnt been home for Christmas in 9 years, this will be the first time since my navy son will be home as he is now done with the navy and has a civilian job. My navy son spent his bootcamp over Thanksgiving, Christmas and new years, then off to nuke school where he rarely saw daylight with all the studying he did. When he got to fleet, they went on deployment in September and was gone 9 months. Even this year I wont see my oldest son even though he is state side. He volunteered to do the limited duty at his post so those with small children would spend it at their homes. I will see him in late February for 30 days, just prior to them sending him to S.Korea for his next post.

For your son, remind him that once he gets to fleet he will be standing watch even more often, and many times do 12 and 24 hour shifts with very little time in between to even sleep or eat, especially if on deployment! And STILL have to get time to get his quals done in the time given! As any nuke will tell you, and alot of the other sailors as well...Nuke are the First on the ship, and always the LAST off! If his ship gets put into "docks" for repairs, the majority of the ship will have major down time, BUT NOT NUKES! You cant just shut off the power plant of nuclear power! It must be maintained at all times, when at sea or in port.

I hope your son understands what he signed up for with the longer hours and less time with family as a nuke. And if he thinks if he becomes a regular MM and give up the nuke part to get more time off and less hours standing watch...I am afraid he is wrong, many many MM's are also working in the nuke department, just not as nukes! They have the same hours and such.

Have him sign up for Skype if he feels he doesnt get enough "face time" with friends and family, that is what we do!

Good Luck to him...and have a Merry Christmas anyway!

Comment by Michael E. on December 21, 2011 at 3:06pm

My son is home for Christmas this year for the first time in eight years. I agree that with that attitude he will probably be home next year so be patient. I am glad that my Oldest is home for a little while.

My youngest doesnt have any time off until he completes his oral boards and then he will leave for a sub or ship. 

Comment by lsdemme2001 on December 21, 2011 at 2:22pm

Really?  New to the Navy and complaining about missing Christmas?  Wont last long with that attitude.  Do you think he signed up for a weekend at the Ritz?  

Comment by Zazzws on December 21, 2011 at 1:50pm

"The term Never Again Volunteer Yourself was his reply."

Don't worry Bill. With his attitude, he will be back home before long.

Bob

Comment by Bill on December 21, 2011 at 7:00am

Thanks guys.  I served, got out as a GSE2.  Spent Christmas away from home many times.  He is just very sad that with all the other classes getting 2 weeks and them being told suck it up so they can stand 12 hour 3 section watch on the school building full of locked doors.  He reports the entire class is incensed about this 5 days of leave with 2 full months of hurry up and wait.  Whoever is responsible for one class getting the shaft and letting the others go is making a long term mistake regarding retention and a short term kill on their morale.  I counseled him to keep his chin up and roll with it.  The term Never Again Volunteer Yourself was his reply.

I was hoping he'd make it out to the fleet and do a REFTRA or OPPE before feeling this.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on December 21, 2011 at 4:32am

well Bill...welcome to the Navy.   Nice to get Christmas off, but a whole lotta sailors are in a much worse situation....remember getting a cal from my son from Dubai on Christmas...at least he didn't have sand in his boots nor does your sailor.  Come to think of it, I haven't had either of my sailors home for Christmas since before '05.......

Comment by Bill on December 21, 2011 at 3:38am

Well, leave it to the Navy....my son, high grades through A school, has been turned bitter already.  Grad dec 9th, no leave.  Get shafted standing 12 on 24 offs until the 27th, no Christmas for you.  Oh, you can have 5 days of leave but hurry back Jan 1st, after missing Christmas, we need to to hurry up and wait. 

He was stoked, but exposure to "Rickovers Navy" has him ready to request a re rate or out to the fleet as MM3 conventional.

Geez, and the Navy wonders why people walk out on $90k re up bonuses?

Comment by Jim Harris on December 20, 2011 at 2:53pm

The 2 week holiday break from classes is common through out the navy school system. I think most commands allow for max liberty and leave at this time of the year. It was the same 36 years ago when I went to my class A and C schools. We finished A school mid November, our C schools were 2 to 4 months long. Instead of starting classes that would require taking a break mid class they waited until after the New Year to start new classes. We went to a couple of 2 week mini schools and did lots of field day until our holiday leave started.

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