Navy Nukes

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Comment by Tim Bates on May 31, 2017 at 10:04pm

After rereading my comment, I may given the impression that the Nuke schools wash people out pretty easily. Generally, if students bust their butt with the instructors help they can get thru these schools. The Navy and the teachers do everything they can to make successful graduates. The rules are rigid and at least early on, the liberty time is scarce. This discussion site is probably the most accurate info you will find about the NNPTC.

Comment by Scott Henry on May 31, 2017 at 6:50pm

@ Jay, Power School classes convene/graduate every 6 weeks. When a class graduates on Friday, a new one starts the following Monday. Tim Murray usually has the low down on NPS graduations since he lives in Charleston and attends them regularly. As far as when he'll actually report to Charleston, that's up to BUPERS. For enlisted, they go straight from Boot Camp to NNPTC. I'm not too sure about the timeline for Officer Students coming straight out of OCS. If he is designated as a Surface Warfare Officer, he will probably end up going to a ship (not necessarily a Nuke one) first to get is warfare qualifications done before he heads to Nuke School. Submarine designated officers go straight from their commissioning program to Nuke School. At any rate he'll probably have a report date some time within the week before his class is scheduled to start.

@ Brian, A-School classes generally form each week. Very rarely will students have to wait to class up at A-school. Being set back in Boot Camp will have no bearing on his ability to get into an A-School class. The only thing that affects that is the number of people available to form a class. Once they have enough, the class starts. They usually have enough people coming from GL every week to form an entire class.

Comment by Tim Murray on May 31, 2017 at 12:37pm

@Jay, if you're boy is going enlisted, he will follow what Tim Bates was saying. If not, it's a whole other deal. My shipmate Scott Henry has some real good write ups on this blog about how school is. The turnover isn't that bad. I liken it more to a pump than a filter. More sailors are lost from the program due to their own shortcomings than learning the material. The instructors are there to help and they will generally bend over backwards to help. Scott served at the Power School and I was a Leading Crew Chief at the 626 prototype (eventually that will be decommissioned). I know it wasn't uncommon for me and my guys to put in 12 hour days with the students to try to help them along. As long as their head is in the right place, they can do it. If they give it their best shot and still don't make it, it doesn't make them a failure. They will succeed. A good friend of mine is the Command Master Chief on a "Gator Freighter" and he used to be a Nuke.

Anyway, they will love down to Charleston and then class up at some point after that. The waiting period is dependent on a lot of variables.

Good luck on becoming a dentist. :-)

Comment by Tim Bates on May 31, 2017 at 11:39am

The Nuke schools at Goose Creek consists of 3 parts. The first one is  A school, then C school and finally prototype school. All are demanding and have high turnover rates. Students have difficult times because of the speed of courses and rigidity of the rules. The study material is classified and studying is usually done at the school. Removal of material from the school is grounds for Navy separation. Students starting new classes are sometimes in limbo waiting for new classes to start. Once started, the students must adjust to the accelerated pace of study without much free time. Those that cannot conform, soon either are washed out of the Navy or a change of rate. The instructors are committed to each student passing there classes. (My daughter is an instructor in the C school).

This is the toughest course in the Navy. Those that get thru it all become certified nuke operators and are set for life since they are in huge demand in and out of the Navy.

Comment by Jay Crawford on May 31, 2017 at 10:46am

My son is at college right now and will graduate in the fall. He will be going to nuke power school in Goose Creek SC. I was wondering when does the school generally start and when would he move there. I asked him but getting information out of him is like pulling teeth.

Thanks for any help.

Comment by Scott Henry on May 2, 2017 at 6:56pm

Typically there are not a lot of opportunities for extended time off during training aside from the occasional holiday weekend. Most students will also dedicate at least part of a weekend day to study. Depending on the assigned study program, they may be required to spend more. The first real opportunity for extended time off will come following A-School graduation when they are waiting for the next Power School class to form.

Comment by Allen Tilley on May 2, 2017 at 7:49am

My son started Nuke School a couple of weeks ago. This is a new adventure for our family. When will he have some extended time off, so we can go visit him? Thanks.

Comment by Scott Henry on March 29, 2017 at 9:01pm

Jim C, my kids are a little young yet to be Nuke Sailors. I just stumbled on the discussion forum the other day and thought I might be able to provide some insight to the program for all of the moms and dads in here who have kids in the pipeline. Family support plays a HUGE role in a Sailor's success through all aspects of their career from boot camp until the day they get their DD-214. I figured I could help alleviate the stress of unanswered questions and unknowns for the moms and dads so they can concentrate on giving their Sailors that much needed support from home.

Comment by Stephen Kellogg, Jr. on March 29, 2017 at 11:15am

I'm a paraplegic man.  I have supported my Son through A School.  I attended his graduation at Goose Creek.

I supported and gave him a "boot in his ass" to graduate Prototype!

If not for Navy Fathers like us all... who knows what may happen?

But we are all Navy Nuke Dads!

Dads of Nukes... Haze gray and underway!

Comment by Stephen Kellogg, Jr. on March 29, 2017 at 10:35am

Navy Dads -

The life of a Navy Nuke is very tough.

The road our children are mandated to travel may often seem insane.

However, that road and the life experience is beyond anyone's greatest imagination for a son or daughter!

When our kids feel lost, stupefied, or bewildered... stand by him/her.  Let them know that you honestly believe they can do it... A school, Prototype, whatever!

My child is a Proud Navy Nuke serving Our USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, CSG-1 staring down China and North Korea.

A few months ago he had concerns that he couldn't endure Prototype.  His Mother agreed, but me, His Father, chose to push him forward.

Today my son is propelling one of the most powerful machines ever built!  And his mother is proud that he is!

None of this would have happened had I not stood firmly as a Navy Dad!

So... Navy Dads... stay firm and trusting!  Our Nation depends upon us!

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