Navy Nukes

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Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 29, 2011 at 3:31am

we do have a Talk Politics group : http://www.navydads.com/group/political

Comment by Ric Pallson on November 29, 2011 at 3:19am

Thanks people, for the word on "after Navy" for Nukes. 

My daughter is considering re-enlistment doesn't know what to do.

Good information here as usual.

Thanks to all.

Comment by Mike K on November 29, 2011 at 12:25am

Thanks Ward.

Comment by Ward Baxter on November 28, 2011 at 10:40pm

I agree with Mike. This doesn't seem like the appropriate forum for your question, LalaH. Your questions, to me, seem to be more a case of your way to express your opinions.

 

We're here to discuss the issues encountered by folks we know in the Navy nuclear field. There's a place for your question, but it's not here.

Comment by Mike K on November 28, 2011 at 9:22pm

Lala, speaking purely for myself I think we should probably keep politics off this board.  My opinions and my sailors happen to be considerably different than yours in regards to our current CIC and I feel that politics will diminish the usefulness of this discussion board.  I have learned a great deal here and hope that my comments have added to others knowledge and understanding of what our sailors are going through and the support they need and will need.  I think the discussion of post service job and eduational opportunities is vital.  As a vet myself I wish we had the support shown here while I was serving in the early 70's.  Like I said, just my opinion.

Comment by William in Nashua on November 28, 2011 at 12:22pm

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.  I spent the weekend cleaning up from the "October blizzard" we had 15 trees  with big branches downed on our property  or half the tree missing  in some cases (about 2.2 acres)  of course I live in the woods LOL.  I borrowed the neighbor's Ford F-150 extended bed pickup truck and moved TEN full truck loads of downed tree branches to the dump in one day.  That is not counting the stuff I just dragged to the brush pile on the back of our lot with my diesel tractor and will get a burn permit in the spring when it dries out.  

 

Today,  ONE MONTH after the storm and the Monday after Thanksgiving, right now it is 64 degrees in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Comment by Jim G. on November 27, 2011 at 10:18am

This is valuable perspective, Bubblehead, and from one fast boat sailor to another I can tell you that your experiences were very similar to mine (fast boats from '84 - '92).  I was an MM (SS) ELT, and my son is an MM (Target) non-ELT who has been at his command for nearly a year.  He has had NO time for anthing but watches, quals, maintenance and more quals.  But we know this will change as he completes his quals and has more free time on his hands.

There are a lot more options available today, including not only internet, but dvd and cd-rom courses for our young sailors.

I am just encouraging them not to waste time sitting around playing cribbage and watching movies, but to keep working hard while they are already used to it and knock out some easy (and affordable) college credits!

Comment by Bubblehead on November 27, 2011 at 7:15am

Some perspective from 40 years ago...  (I was an EM on a fast attack from 73-77.)

There's little time for anything other than watch standing, maintenance, repairs, watch station quals and boat (submarine) quals until those things are done.  (Those are basically in priority order.) Also, don't forget your rate (advancement) course work. You're a "non-qual puke" until you're qualified, and your shipmates keep the pressure up.  After all, their lives get better when there are more qualified watchstanders.  (You don't want a senior watchstander to be port & starboard watches because you are behind on your quals.)

Then there's the issue of availability...  I remember when a college rep came on board to tell us about the wonderful programs they had for sailors.  Then this lovely person learned about the schedules on fast attacks and admitted that it wouldn't work for us.  Gee, thanks.

I suspect that the situation has improved, due to computer-based teaching.  But even that is different from the rest of the world because your don't have the internet at see.  Perhaps they've worked on stand-alone training.  I hope so -- my son is in the program now, in nuke school since August.  (He's an EM also -- very weird how those things turn out.)

As far as nukes being a cut above -- that's true, big time.  All the way through my training, until in nuke school ("A" school was for all sailors, not separate for nukes then), I could see that the intellectual preparedness was very different than when I hit nuke school.

To some extent, the draft & Vietnam war chased many young men to the nuclear navy.  (I certainly was hoping to avoid getting shot in the jungle.)  Most of the nukes had some college, frequently in a science subject.  But still, my son, who I believe is very smart, talks about how hard he has to work to keep up with his classwork.

I do believe our sons will have a great, challenging, experience from the nuke program.  They learn to work, work hard and work to high (unforgiving) standards.

 

Comment by Jim G. on November 26, 2011 at 11:42pm

I agree that nukes tend to work harder than most other rates and also that there is little time for extra education...this absolutely true up until the time they qualify their senior in-rate watchstations and either SS or SW quals. 

Once that happens, there is a lot more time available for taking courses and most can at least make progress toward their degree.  Since I see resumes of lots of different candidates after they get out, I can assure you that a great many either complete their degree or make a LOT of progress toward it prior to getting out.  These are the ones that stand out, the others are seen as the ones who make excuses...

More important than the degree, though, is qualifying PPW or EWS as this shows the ability to master cross-rating knowledge and really goes a long way toward showing a desire to learn and master the entire propulsion plant.

In the past, when there have been cuts, they rarely affect nukes.  Even when they are widespread.  This next round may be different, but I really doubt it!  I would not put much energy into worrying about lack of retention for nukes...

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 26, 2011 at 4:28am

LalaH- that is not the case at all....at ANY time you can click SETTINGS and change your screen name:

 

 

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