We saw our oldest off to Navy basic training today...

[ugeauxgirl]

We are excited for him and think that the military is going to be good for him, but... I'm still a mom- would love to hear any advice you are willing to share. We're not a military family and don't know what to expect- though we have been told not to send anything but letters till after bootcamp. Any words of advice on how to be supportive parents, what to expect, encouraging experiences, etc. would be really appreciated- Thanks!

 

[Lewis Clark]

Letter are always exciting to receive. : )

I went through Navy boot camp in 1982 so my experiences may or may not have anything in common with today's experiences.

You may want to attend the basic training graduation ceremony. I'm sure you will get more details later about it.

Does your son have a follow on school already scheduled? Do you know which one, and where it is located?

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Letter are always exciting to receive. : )

I went through Navy boot camp in 1982 so my experiences may or may not have anything in common with today's experiences.

You may want to attend the basic training graduation ceremony. I'm sure you will get more details later about it.

Does your son have a follow on school already scheduled? Do you know which one, and where it is located?

We will definitely attend graduation. He was cautioned about the Nuclear program, but that's what he decided on. He'll be going to Charleston after basic.

 

[MarieIG]

Ahhh, "we've" been through Army boot camp (twice) and Marine boot camp (once). With the two oldest they got something like an initial one minute phone call (probably from a pay phone back then) wherein they read a message off a wall at a high speed, to the effect that they were safe and please don't call. I do remember brief calls on holidays.

The communications become much more frequent after boot camp. They will get their phones back and be able to speak depending upon their particular assignment/ hours.

In case of emergencies (at least back when my kiddos were in boot camp) they could be reached indirectly via the Red Cross. (My DF passed while one was in boot camp and I was able to get him home for the services this way.)

You will get through it.

 

[Gumby]

We will definitely attend graduation. He was cautioned about the Nuclear program, but that's what he decided on. He'll be going to Charleston after basic.

Why would someone be "cautioned" about the Nuclear Program? Being a nuke submariner is the best job in the Navy.

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Why would someone be "cautioned" about the Nuclear Program? Being a nuke submariner is the best job in the Navy.

Is that what you did? We were told that there is a really high failure rate, and it's supposed to be stressful, both in the training and the job itself. He heard about all the job offers when he gets out, and also the bonus and decided that's what he wants to do. He wants to be on a carrier though.

 

[FlaGator]

Why would someone be "cautioned" about the Nuclear Program? Being a nuke submariner is the best job in the Navy.

My older brother thought the same, served on an early generation fast attack nuke boat before moving to a surface ship, all in the 70's. Tough program. He thought it was equivalent to an engineering degree in a highly specialized field. He spent his career after discharge working nuke plant construction and maintenance/overhaul and other industrial process projects. Worked out very well for him. Nearly all of his co-workers on those projects were former Navy nuke guys, and they are retiring/retired.

With today's interest in nuclear power, it looks like a more promising career field than it did over the last 30+ years.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Don't know if being a Navy Nuke is the best job in the Navy, but it worked out well for me. I served on active duty for 20 years and spent half of that either in a school or on temporary duty waiting for a school to start.

Nuclear Power School and the follow-on prototype training are challenging. More because of the pace of material than the complexity of the material in my opinion, though some of the material is challenging. I went through the nuclear training pipeline twice, first as an enlisted sailor and then as an officer. Call me masochistic.

In my day about 30% of the enlisted classes did not make it through the training. Most of those not making it though were the ones with the weakest academic preparation in high school. But every enlisted student who really wanted to make it through did pass in my experience. On the officer side, the only students who didn't pass in my experience were the ones who gave up and stopped trying. No idea what the current statistics are.

Most of the attrition was in the theoretical school phase of training. Students who passed and went on to the prototype training rarely failed out in that phase. Prototype training is where students learn to actually operate a naval nuclear propulsion plant.

 

[Lewis Clark]

My older brother thought the same, served on an early generation fast attack nuke boat before moving to a surface ship, all in the 70's. Tough program. He thought it was equivalent to an engineering degree in a highly specialized field.

When I was accepted into an officer program and went to college for an engineering degree, I was surprised at how much of the nuclear training helped me in my engineering classes. And, of course, the study habits needed to get through the nuclear training directly applied to college classes.

I have a master's degree in the physical sciences and a second master's degree in business. Neither master's degree was anywhere near the challenge of the nuclear officer training.

 

[FlaGator]

Is that what you did? We were told that there is a really high failure rate, and it's supposed to be stressful, both in the training and the job itself. He heard about all the job offers when he gets out, and also the bonus and decided that's what he wants to do. He wants to be on a carrier though.

The carriers are nuke powered too. I don't have any info on how ship assignments are made.

I didn't serve myself but know from my brother that the Silent Service is a special fraternity, and running the power plant puts one in thin air in an already-small group. Boomer crews would likely think the same.

Understand a parent's anxiety, might be worse for you if he was an Academy grad now with a SEAL team like the son of a good friend. Be proud he is willing to serve, neither of mine were interested. You raised a kid better than I was able to, and more committed than most

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

On the enlisted side, nuclear power is a great place to be within the Navy. Hard work, but quite rewarding in several ways. Your kid will be so far ahead of his peers.

 

[Gumby]

Is that what you did? We were told that there is a really high failure rate, and it's supposed to be stressful, both in the training and the job itself. He heard about all the job offers when he gets out, and also the bonus and decided that's what he wants to do. He wants to be on a carrier though.

I graduated from the US Naval Academy, went through the Navy Nuclear Power School and served as an engineering division officer on the USS George Washington (SSBN-598) (RCA) and the USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) (DCA). After my 5 year commitment was up, I left the Navy and certified as a Senior Reactor Operator at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio, where I worked for 3 years. Then I went to law school.

I agree with FlaGator that the job opportunities in the civilian nuclear industry are currently very good. The vast majority of the current workforce is approaching retirement. A bright young guy with Navy experience would do well, or, who knows, he might make a career of the Navy.

To answer your question directly - yes, the training/qualification is demanding, but nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

 

[atmsmshr]

I was USN enlisted Electronics Tech / Reactor Operator starting '79. Hardest school is the 6 month academic portion where we had a 50% failure rate at the time. A student must be completely focused to pass the year long training. BTW - drop outs simply get sent to the fleet in their rating for the full term of enlistment. Subs are good, but fast attacks are 'long black and never come back' - at least during the cold war. Ask for the S8G Trident prototype in New York to have an improved chance to get aboard a Trident sub with two different rotating crews. My subsequent degree in Nuclear Engineering was a breeze compared to NNPS. Hiring companies will snap up someone with a USN nuke background. (Notice anything about my avatar?)

 

[wrigley]

I attended boot camp in 1978. My wife attended boot camp in 1980. Both of us are retired enlisted from the Navy's aviation community. He'll be kept occupied in boot camp. I'm certain things are quite different than they were when my wife and I were in. Congratulations, you should definitely be proud parents.

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Thanks, y'all. I'm feeling much better today. I appreciate all the helpful and encouraging responses!

 

[Teacher Terry]

One of my sons joined the military as did my stepson. My stepson has made it a career and obtained his BA while serving. He joined at 17 and now is 32. We went to both graduations.

 

[Flieger]

Congratulations!

My Dad was on Fast Attack Subs for 20 years. I was born in Groton/New London while he was on patrol. We were in Charleston primarily (last 18 years) and he was the COB on his last 2 boats. He did 2 more years on a surface ship (DDG Destroyer) and HATED it and retired. He was one of not too many E9's.

I have a story that I always tell from when I was a kid which is too long for this, but suffice it to say that when you are a kid you mostly think your parent/Dad is "lame", but after going to drop something off for him at his boat before he headed out and seeing how the crew respected and revered him as he exited to come pick up his package from me, I never thought of him as "lame" again!

Flieger

 

[Gumby]

Congratulations!

My Dad was on Fast Attack Subs for 20 years. I was born in Groton/New London while he was on patrol. We were in Charleston primarily (last 18 years) and he was the COB on his last 2 boats. He did 2 more years on a surface ship (DDG Destroyer) and HATED it and retired. He was one of not too many E9's.

I have a story that I always tell from when I was a kid which is too long for this, but suffice it to say that when you are a kid you mostly think your parent/Dad is "lame", but after going to drop something off for him at his boat before he headed out and seeing how the crew respected and revered him as he exited to come pick up his package from me, I never thought of him as "lame" again!

Flieger

For you non-submariners, COB means Chief of the Boat. He is the senior enlisted man on the submarine and is a key part of the leadership team. Everyone respects him, and wise young officers learn quickly to heed the gentle advice of the COB.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Everyone respects him, and wise young officers learn quickly to heed the gentle advice of the COB.

Except it's not always quite so gentle. : )

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

May want to check out HOME | bluestarmoms

 

[Nuke]

Lots of other Navy nukes have already responded. But I'm still serving and happy to answer any questions you might have.

I've served on three carriers and can talk to that side of navy nuclear power.

I'll echo what others have said, the pipeline is hard but the staff are always willing to put in as much effort as the students if not more. They want you to pass, but they also very much hold the standard. One big difference between the nuclear pipeline and college is that once something is taught, it is always testable. There's no cramming and forgetting material after you take the test. Steady, consistent study is the name of the game.

Your son should get into good habits once he leaves boot camp. Some nukes just study and forget to eat properly and exercise. There's a balance to be maintained.

 

[Gallaher]

The Air Force was a blessing to my family and saved my son.
This sounds rotten but one of the best days during my marriage was when I dropped him off at intake.
Constantly cut school, lied, stole argued about if the Sun was up. was a total contrarian. The whole time he had a spectacular belief he was the most intelligent person in town if not the universe.
I made sure he understood he needed a plan post high school and he learned his GPA was not adequate for college.
He joined the AF spent 22 years made Master Seargent, went around the world including combat zones.
I believe the commradery was what he was seeking.
Got a college degree while serving. He’s doing alright now

 

[Gallaher]

Oh yeah, send lots of packages. Our son said nothing is wasted even if he didn’t use it. Floss, toothbrushes, other hygiene items. Just all kinds of stuff

 

[Lewis Clark]

Got a college degree while serving. He’s doing alright now

Two of the best things the military can offer are travel and education.

I enlisted as a two-time college dropout. I retired with a bachelor's degree and two masters degrees. Plus the nuclear propulsion and submarine training. And I earned two of those degrees as a full time student.

 

[f35phixer]

I was Navy Brat and enlisted DEC 1976 - DEC 1979 as Aviation Electronics Tech.... what that called three by six back then. Send lots of letter, lots of packages etc... I would lean him toward the aviation side of things, Being up on a flight deck troubleshooting your jet is the best, Not stuck down in the bilge ;-) Work towards getting their degree and off they go, or stay in for 20 and then get out into the world...

I got out and went into Naval Aviation Flight Test, coolest thing ever. Saw so many first accomplishments of F18 A-G and F35 all memorable, Plus I got 10 hours in a Hornet. First flight had to take a wire cause we blew a main mount !!!!!