Navy Nukes

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Comment by Mark Church on August 18, 2013 at 1:53pm

Great Discussion. Lots of great info. and advice.

While in A-school our son just used taxi's to get around. He bought a car about two weeks before graduating A-school. He then caravaned with several of his buddies to Balston Spa. After graduating prototype he drove to Chicago and picked up my wife and they drove home to Oregon. They pulled in on Thanksgiving Day in 2011.

He is now stationed in Bangor Washington on SSBN-730 Henry M. Jackson. We are extremely lucky that he is on 3 1/2 hours away. We get to see him quit a bit. Just 3 weeks ago he called and asked us to bring him a box of his books so we loaded them up and went and spent the weekend with him.

He is now E5, is fully qualified, and has his dolphin pin. He works with a great bunch of guys. We went to the boat picnic and got to meet everybody from both gold and blue crews. He loves being at sea, and will probably reenlist. We are very proud of him and the young man he has turned into.

Comment by KTR on August 18, 2013 at 12:01pm

John, my son had a similar experience. He wasn't much of a gear head, and though he thought about getting a motorcycle, common sense, frugality and the needs of the program (studying) prevailed. However, he absolutely needed it for prototype, so I drove it to GC from Texas and we road tripped to Rock City Falls from there. A great experience.

Comment by John Caporal on August 18, 2013 at 11:41am

I've been following this thread with sailors wanting or needing cars. My son, who is now in the final phase of prototype at Balston Spa, NY, did just fine without a car during his stay in GC.  He purchased a vehicle up here after he arrived and with the housing allowance plus base pay, he was able to purchase the car he really wanted.  As someone earlier mentioned, a sailor with a car during 'A'  and Power School is a distraction that he or she just does not need.  What your sailor will need is your unwavering support during this phase.  Just my two cents.

BTW, the best to all those who are going thru the training at GC. It is rigorous and intense and designed to weed out those not up to the task - but it will make for excellent Nuke Sailors in our fleet.  

Comment by JMBrouPTBSSGN on August 18, 2013 at 11:21am

My EM-3 son has done well taking personal stuff on himself. Finished A school mid July, came home to visit, & rented a Hyundai Elantra while here. After his 10 day visit, went back & bought himself one (second hand), but got if for under 10K and less than 60K miles. He likes it so far.

Comment by Gary Summers on August 18, 2013 at 10:21am

Tom, my son will be starting power school this month and wants to start looking for a car. What is the name of the dealership that you would recommend? Appreciate your help.

Comment by LukeH on August 17, 2013 at 11:45pm

This discussion about cars is a big help. My son ships out to RTC very soon now, and I have been trying to figure out what to do about the car situation. He's on our insurance driving an old car that doesn't look so great and isn't worth much, but it runs fine. I've been trying to figure out when to transfer it to him. It sounds like the best plan is to just keep it in my name and just wait an see how things go. (We're in NC, so it is no problem driving down to GC on occasion.)

I'd love to get him off our policy, though. I'm really not sure how to manage the auto insurance through this transition. I'm planning to call USAA and see what they say about it.

Comment by Joe M on August 17, 2013 at 11:03pm

On the car issue, adding a few other points from what I've gathered from my son:

The duty vans are extremely undependable re: their schedules. So much so that he would usually go in on a taxi with others if he wanted to get to civilization.

The 2 mile walk to the main exchange is mosquito infested!

I am not at all trying to down play what Tom said, because the academics are very intense, but my son had the sense that the instructors encouraged them to use their down time over the weekends to clear their heads and recharge their batteries. Obviously going out clubbing until curfew isn't what they meant.

If they do get a car, 2-3 months in is probably the best time I'd think. They should have a solid understanding of their academic responsibilities by then.

Also, kind of like high school, a guy with a car might find himself pressured by his buds to take them places, so keep that in mind.

Comment by Mike K on August 17, 2013 at 7:30pm

We brought our son's car down to him about two months into A school and he was really appreciative of having it.  There are duty buses that run between the base and the mall areas which the sailors can catch whenever they run but having that car gives them freedom which they sorely desire.  As for those who do not make it, I totally agree with Tom.  My son said that nukes are some of the smartest people he has ever been around but many lack common sense.  This often times is their first real time on their own and away from home and some make some really stupid decisions.  My son while in indoc was made to attend a captain's mast of a sailor who was the honorman of his class and was kicked out of the Navy.  They do take these things extremely seriously as they should.  My son has been in the fleet now for two and a half years and been on two deployments and still says that the schooling was some of the toughest he has had and he had three years of college before the Navy.  Hard work and stay clean is really important.

Comment by Evan Barnard on August 17, 2013 at 7:19pm

Again, everybody thanks for the feedback.  Tom, he actually doesn't PIR until 9/20 from boot camp, but he's headed your way after that.  His dad is just a planner by nature.  I do look forward to meeting you when we head to GC.  Great info on the importance of rules and the first few weeks of training.

Comment by Tom Lufkin on August 17, 2013 at 7:04pm

Evan,

I will try to answer your questions.  I am sure your son has told you by now the routine.  He just left boot camp and has reported to his first duty station.  At NNPTC they are put in a group of new students in a section called INDOCTRINATION.  This if the first two or three weeks where they are in classes and other activities that instill in them the rules and regulations they need to follow to successfully get through NUCLEAR power school.  My good friend ETC(SS) Craig Opie is the LPO of Indoc and I am certain your son knows him and his staff well.  Nuclear power school is a very arduous and stressful experience.  It has to be.  These young men and women will be operating one or several nuclear reactors perhaps during Fleet Week in New Your Harbor.  The occasional student who cannot or will not follow the rules is asked to find another field to participate in.  Most of the problems, remarkably, are not academic.  They have been selected because they have already shown the intelligence to handle the curriculum.  Most problems are related to not following the clear and obvious rules.  In indoc they are told the rules over and over.  After Indoc in A school they are constantly bombarded by lectures and classes explaining the rules.  Until the day they graduate they are exposed to the rules they are expected to obey.  They are given the boundaries of behavior.  This is the Rickover creed and I feel this is the reason the nuclear power program has been so successful. Sadly, most Captains Masts (non-judicial punishment) are for Alcohol Incidents (AI's) or other breaches of the rules.  With a student body of two to three thousand there is little empathy for someone who has trouble with alcohol or drugs, especially in the Nuclear Power field.

So your son or daughter will be in indoc for two to three weeks. They cannot ride in or obviously have an auto.  They walk everywhere.  I often want so bad to stop and offer them a ride if they are going to the exchange and it is raining. It is about a two mile walk.  But they know that they cannot accept one or they will have demonstrated they cannot or will not follow the rules.  Once they have been thru indoc and start A School they can have a car but the parking on base is so limited and the time they would have to use a car is very limited.  I would also not recommend a vehicle because the temptation to go somewhere other than to study hall is not good for them.  OK,   Long explanation but I think you understand more about their first few weeks and why I would not allow them to have a car.  They need to stay on base and study.  They are highly judged the first few weeks and this can set a precedent for the rest of their time at NNPTC.  If and when your student wants to think about a car I would be happy to introduce them to a dealer I totally trust.  I know he would treat them fair and I have bought five cars from him in the past and everyone I sent to him has always been satisfied.

Hope to meet you if you come to town.

ETC(SS) Tom L.

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