Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pat L. in IL on October 29, 2015 at 2:26pm

Hi! Best advice is to tell him is to not fall behind, get help immediately if he needs it. He will be very busy so don't be surprised if communication is spotty at best. If he calls and complains, just be supportive. You are the only safe place he can vent.

Also, just an FYI, my sailor is a Nuke and has been on a sub for 5 years. He just went back to Goose Creek for shore duty as an instructor. YOUR son will probably have MY son as an instructor!

Permalink Reply by SoCal_Sailor_Dad on October 29, 2015 at 2:35pm

My son was initially interested in Cryptologic Technician, (never a thought of going Special Warfare.) He hadn't even heard of the nuke program at the time. His recruiters told him that he qualified for Nuke and told him he might want to look into it. My son researched the Nuke program extensively on his own (as did I) and decided that it was a good opportunity, giving him training in multiple areas of study, and he definitely looked at it as a challenge he wanted to pursue.
I'm thankful that his recruiters did not try to push him into it. I hear stories about recruiters who push recruits into the nuke pipeline (recruiters get some type of bonus for signing up  nukes) and play up the benefits without warning about the challenges and downfalls. I think this is partly responsible for the high washout rate in Nuke training - sailors were not prepared for what they faced.
My advice is to make sure your son does a lot of his own research, outside of the recruiters office. Look online, there are sites and forums for nukes and ex-nukes. It is a tough and challenging program, followed by more tough work schedules when they get to the fleet. Make sure that it is HIS choice and what HE wants to do. As far as prep - there really isn't much to prep for. The training pace is fast and furious, the material is considered classified, and the Navy will tell him how they want them to study. 
My son just graduated prototype (the last phase of training) as an ET3 and is en route to his first duty station aboard the GHWB. He is still glad he chose Nuke, but said there were times when it was a struggle. He's waiting to see what life is like on the ship before he decides if he will re-enlist or not.

Permalink Reply by NancyJo (NNPTC) on October 29, 2015 at 3:13pm

My sailor was in DEP for about 9 or 10 months. He used that time to work on his physical fitness and learning basic stuff. Your son will be checking in with his recruiter and they will support him in all that. My son has been nuke for about 5 and half years. My son-in-law is an ex-nuke and you are right, job opportunities after the navy are really good.

You will hear pros and cons of the nuke program. Stick to the N4Ms nuke page because there is tons of info there so when your son does go in, you are prepared. No rate is free of aggravation and everybody thinks their rate is best. I know one sailor was offered nuke, heard how "horrible" it was and went in undesignated instead. Not a good move.

Don't worry, Mom. Your head will continue to spin for a while but hang in there. Information will help.

Permalink Reply by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on October 29, 2015 at 3:14pm

Welcome BlessedMomof3!  If you take a look at the main nuke mom's page you will find info posted to the right - under the member profiles.  These pages discuss various aspects of the nuke program.  Lots of good info.....also look through all the discussions on the main page.  Many topics of interest are also covered there.  The program is challenging and you will often feel like you are on a roller coaster but come here for support!

And of course feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Permalink Reply by WearsLargeHats on October 31, 2015 at 1:38am

He should focus on getting physically fit so he can easily pass the Physical Fitness Assessments in boot and the infamous "dash for cash" in A school. Also the stuff in the Start guide they get in DEP with General Orders, etc. Don't worry about nuke stuff at this point. There is nothing they can do to prepare. They Navy will teach them what they need to know how and when they need it.

Permalink Reply by tina41 on October 31, 2015 at 8:48am

welcome!!

my son didn't sign up for nuke school at first either.  he deciced to and he is now a nuke.   he has been in for four years and likes what he does.  it is a tough road in nuke school for some and a little easier for others.  whatever your son decides, good luck to him!!  and to you!!

Permalink Reply by MMPotato on November 2, 2015 at 12:23am

If he doesn't have a drivers license, he will need one. We didn't know that when my son went in. Found out while he was in A school (or maybe it was B school). It put him behind and he had to get a South Carolina license instead of one from his home state.

Permalink Reply by William in Nashua on November 2, 2015 at 5:00pm

The best advice I can give is STUDY STUDY STUDY!  There is no substitute for study hours.  There are extra problems in the back of the book after they do their homework -- do those to, for practice.

The other is get in shape physical fitness is a must in this program.  If you excel at the physical exercises you get a waiver so you no longer have to wake up early and do PT at like 5 AM with everybody else.  Likewise if you score high enough academically you get put on "voluntary study hours" which is where you ideally want to be.   So you ideally want to test out of PT and also test out of mandatory study hours.

Permalink Reply by JenniferSoCal on November 7, 2015 at 7:23pm

hey Jen,

My son also selected SPEC WAR, and ETS as his second. They would not allow him to choose Nuke as a second. He decided that SPEC WAR was too much, and contracted for ETS. The Nuke recruiter tracked him back down, and now we are Nuke.

I think we should be proud that our sons have so many great choices, but it is a bit much. Nuke sounds really tough, but as far as I can tell, there really is no down side if they don't make through.

I also am on the look out for books, etc. that he can read to get him ready. Did you get any suggestions?

J

 

Permalink Reply by SoCal_Sailor_Dad on November 8, 2015 at 9:48pm

STUDY MATERIAL:
I have no idea how useful this is to a prospective nuke, and I really don't know why the Navy has this published on their website, but the following is posted as "study material" for Power School:
http://www.netc.navy.mil/nnptc/studymaterial.html

ps. when I showed this to my son, he said he could neither confirm nor deny that any of this material may or may not have actually been included in any class he may or may not have taken. :)

Permalink Reply by Mark on November 8, 2015 at 11:47pm

The study material doesn't include everything, but it's more comprehensive than I would have thought.  Mastering that material would make it pretty tough to fail.

Permalink Reply by Lisa K on December 3, 2015 at 1:52pm

My son is in DEP for another 5 days.  He enlisted in April, 2015 and will be sworn in 12/8/15.  Bootcamp right after. He studied Chemical Engineering for 2 years in college before enlisting.  Hopefully that will help.

All this is totally NEW for me.  Any info that you found valuable, I would love to hear.

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