Navy Nukes

Comment

Comment by Dr 2x4 on November 18, 2009 at 3:33pm

Wow, just when you think that you haven't got a prayer God throws us a line. We have just been contacted by Senator John McCain's office and Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick of the great State of Arizona. Their Aides have said they would contact Todd and start an inquiry into the matter. While they could not, would not directly intervene with the Navy's decision our best hope is that they could ask the Navy to reconsider Todd's discharge. That is all we are asking for is another chance. Talk about chills running up my spine when I looked at the caller ID. Praise God!

Comment by GP on November 18, 2009 at 2:09pm

Dr 2x4... Sheryl's correct. My wife always laughs at me when things go wrong and all I do is say, "Everything happens for a reason." I have to think this is true as she is a survivor of the WTC attack on 9/11 and those words have always been my source of comfort since then.

Comment by Sheryl on November 18, 2009 at 11:03am

God is in charge. Whatever happens, the Navy isn't the only one deciding. God Bless you and your son. I think it will work out.

Comment by Dr 2x4 on November 18, 2009 at 10:53am

Thanks everyone for you words of support for our 'Nuke" Todd. The fat lady has not sang yet so we are hanging in there. Todd meets with legal today. He has filed an appeal about their decision to medically discharge him. It is great to continue to watch everyone else move toward their goals. We hope this is just a temporary setback for him. We hope that if the "Nuke" track is not open for him because of this that they could place him somewhere else. I know with this economy and the available pool of talent to choose from that they are making a logical business decision. Damn the logic! We believe he would make an outstanding United States Navy Sailor!

Comment by GP on November 16, 2009 at 2:08pm

Dr 2x4....My heart goes out to you and your family. I hope everything works out for your son. Thank him for his willingness to serve our country.

Comment by Sheryl on November 16, 2009 at 2:04pm

I have nothing to offer but prayers and sympathy. I pray someone else can give you some insight.

Comment by Dr 2x4 on November 16, 2009 at 1:15pm

Nukes,
Our son is currently in bootcamp. Ship 011 Div 024. We have just been notified that he has been moved to Ship 5 and is being medically discharged. He suffered a pretty severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving his battery of inoculations. They are calling it Angio Edema. it looks like the nuke program is out and the dream of being on board a submarine is lost to him. We are devastated as a family over this turn of events. Can he at this late date change his job? Does anyone know if this is possible. If so, how? We are grasping at straws here. We would appreciate any help someone might have to offer us.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 8, 2009 at 3:17pm

from NavyTimes:

Nuclear training slowed by old reactors, admiral says


There’s a kink in the nuclear propulsion training pipeline that is keeping new operators from flowing to the fleet, according to Adm. Kirk­land Donald, head of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program.

The admiral said his biggest training challenge is pumping nuclear-trained sailors onto subs and aircraft carriers because the Navy’s four training reactors are “aging” and in need of replacement. “The end result right now today is we have a backlog of students wait­ing to complete their training and, as a consequence, a diminished throughput of operators to the fleet,” he said Oct. 28 at the annual Naval Submarine League sympo­sium in McLean, Va. A measure­ ment of the backlog by total num­ber or percentage was not available as of Oct. 30.

The Navy operates two training reactors in upstate New York and two in Charleston, S.C.

Donald had high praise for the undersea fleet, noting that its ser­vices are in high demand by com­batant commanders, keeping sub­mariners “exceptionally busy.” In speaking about integrity, he noted two scandals involving cheating among reactor-qualified sailors — on the attack sub Hamp­ ton in 2007 and aboard the carrier Harry S. Truman in 2008 — saying such lapses are “unacceptable” and that each “damages our reputation.” Donald also addressed the recent news that some midshipmen at the Naval Academy would be forced to join the submarine force because not enough were applying. Donald personally interviews all nuclear officer candidates.

He said almost all those who did not choose nukes understand the move is a military reality. He also shared that a career aboard subs was not his top pick as a midshipman, either.

“I am the living proof that the second choice ain’t bad,” he said.

The Navy’s nuclear reactor pro­gram is notoriously tight-lipped, and crews are anxious about meet­ing exacting standards, especially during inspections. In telling an anecdote about how baseball great Ted Williams refreshed his skills during slumps by using a lighter bat, Donald joked that in the naval reactor realm, “we always found heavier bats worked better

Comment by GP on November 3, 2009 at 8:54am

Mike K....my son said that he too is schooled up and is definitely coming home for Xmas. Probably the best present I have ever received.

Comment by Sheryl on November 2, 2009 at 6:18pm

Thanks, my son just left today after 10 days here in San Diego. I don't think he can afford to come again on Thanksgiving, but is hoping to come home for Xmas also. This is probably his date also, it sounds about right! I will ask him.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 194
• 195
• 196
• 197
• 198
• …
• 229
• Next ›
• Page