need some reassurance, please!

[SonandSea]

Hi Nuke moms! My son signed his contract in Nov. He will be graduating in June and is leaving for boot camp in early August. He scored very well on his testing and is excited about becoming a nuke (MM). 

I am getting so freaked out about the schooling. I have read the worst things about about how terribly hard and stressful this program is. You hear of high rates of attrition, mental break-downs and even suicides. YIKES! 

My son is bright, but has never had to study. He is very motivated and is excellent at problem solving. His grades are just okay, but he tests very well.

He is a hard worker (when he is interested in the subject or sees a reason for learning said subject) and an innovative thinker. He has a entrepreneurial spirit and loves to think of new and better ways to do things, which might not be so great in the Navy.   He has friends and a sweet girlfriend, but had no desire for the college scene. He wants to get on with his career. 

I worry about his lack of study skills and the stress. I am hoping you all can "talk me down"! LOL! I am a positive thinker and I do believe he can succeed, but I am having a moment! 

I tell myself that most sailors make it through this program. Ah, help me out here, ladies!! :)

thanks so much! ♥

~dale 

sonandsea.blogspot.com

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

The program is a really great motivator. I mean, they have no choice in it.. They have to show up to class and they have to go in to study for so many hours a night (depending on their test scores). I'm not trying to say the program isn't for your son, just wanted to make sure you both know that it's not a light decision. It's great that he's already talking to someone in the program... Talking to anyone but a recruiter is a really great idea. The recruiter's job is to get your son to sign, not to tell him the reality of the program. 

Almost all of our Nukes were the "unmotivated" students or the "really bright students that didn't have any desire to learn." The program transforms a lot of students and is really great for so many guys out there!

All of us are here to answer any questions you may have.. There's so much information and advice that's it hard to give information without specific questions. :)

But welcome to the Nuke program. We're all here to help you out in any way that we can. :) 

Good luck to your son!

[SonandSea]

Emily~ My son and my husband and I have all researched the program quite a bit, so I think he is going into it with his eyes open and understands as well as you can at 18 that he will definitely be challenged. 

He is extremely goal-oriented and hard-working... just not the most studious of kids. I think he can succeed in this program. I am a great believer in having a positive attitude and he does have that. 

He is very eager to start this great adventure. I think anyone who has researched the program at all would be wise to approach it with some trepidation. That being said, I am confident that this is a good path for my son. 

I appreciate the honesty of your response! 

Thank you so much~Dale ♥

 

[Mary(MMnukesmom)]

Dale  My son knew in 9th grade he wanted to be Nuculear Engineer  but didn't want to go to college and pay .  Didn't study at HS passed high grades never applied the teachers liked him he played alot.  Summer before SR year his buddy called and told him I'm signing papers for the Navy come down they have Nukes...yep we didn't know we looked on line.. He went down no sleep (partied all night) and told them I'm a Nuke.. they said you gotta pass the test..HE did flying colors.. went to HS decided to tell his advisory that he wanted to join early and grad mid term they said OK pass econ you (he went into class the last 9 weeks) Aced it.

Still claiming He is a Nuke I tell him you gotta pass.. He did "A" school thought it wasn't hard thought BC bored the hell out of him (alot of standing which isn't natural as he put it) The hardest part yes of the Navy is NO OVEN my boy Loves his frozen pizzas. and not putting hands in the pockets. go figure. I do send care pkg from home now that he has a car they are not that big like before but just little stuff.  I pray he thinks Power school is just as easy.but he is very very goal driven like he says I'm a NUKE  I still refuse to buy a Nuke mom shirt just Like I didn't buy Navy mom till he passed BC don't wanna jinx it. Oh yea he calls his little brother and checks on his grades cuz little brother thinks he is gonna be a NUKE (lets laugh) Dereck said don't worry mom THEY WILL TEACH him how to study they taught me how to read directions before the test .

[SonandSea]

Mary~ LOL!!! Well, I love your son's determination! That combined with his smarts will serve him well!! 

All of these success stories are making me feel better!  I think I'm just going to stop reading about all the negative stuff as it really freaks me out. :O

Hope things continue to go well for your son! 

thank you!!~ Dale ♥

[musicmom of a Sailor]

My son was not a great student in high school and only went one semester to college and hated it.  I was worried when I saw how much school he had to have as a nuke but so far so good.  have no doubt that nuke is hard but the way the classes are structured (one class at a time) is definitely great for my son.  His issue was juggling several classes at once.  He's not at the top of his class but he hasn't failed a test and is really focussed on studying (something that was not apparent in high school - lol).

 

[mommajo]

Sseadream, All the stories and backgrounds here describe our nukes.  My son didn't think high school "counted" and his first year at college was a disaster.  I, too, was freaked out about the demands of nuke school and the maturity of my son.  At BC graduation I saw such a change in him; the Navy had already started to teach him to use his values and skills.  I don't think he was immature; just kind of lost.  The wonderful thing about nuke school is they do want them to succeed.  The A school SLPO (guidance counsler) had the same kind of background which gave the idea, if he can do it so can I.  Then, in Power School his commanding officer sat down and actually asked, "What can I do to help you be the best sailor you can be."  That is a moral booster.  I know my son has had to learn to study and learn to relax.  I agree with all the moms who say encourage hi, believe in him, pray for him.  And of course, let him know it!

 

[Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke]

Mommajo - love the commanding officer's question.... if every one of our sons was asked that and felt that somebody really wanted to know how they could help, WOW.  That would be so fantastic, wouldn't it. 

 

In so many ways my son isn't your "typical" nuke.  He's 6'2", large frame, big boned, red headed, freckle faced, most of his friends are female and gets along well with everybody as he looks to the best in everyone.  He tells me that most nukes are about 5'7", fairly thin, wear glasses and pretty much over analyze everything.  Needless to say, he stands out.  Even when at the BC graduation and then over that weekend, every single nuke that he introduced us to fit the "other" scenario.  That said, the study habits tend to be all the same.  Until my son at the age of 15 learned that he could skip high school all together and go straight to college.  At just a few weeks after he turned 17 he graduated with his first AS degree in Mechanical Design and Drafting with a 3.72 GPA.  He finally found something he could sink his teeth into - Engineering !!!!  Since then it has changed his entire though process to who he was and what he could be capable of.  He always knew he "knew" things but how do you project that forward into life.  Since then he went on and took more engineering classes and even got a 2nd AS Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was going forward with his BS when the thought of the Navy came up.  Since that time he has been unstoppable.  He pulled out all the college books on thermal dynamics, heat transfer, organic/inorganic chemistry, advanced physics, etc., etc.  He couldn't get enough - he wanted to be READY for Nuke school!!! 

 

It is amazing how much these kids can buckle down when they have finally found a reason for the gift that God gave them in smarts.  And then to be able to use that for our country, all the better.  I am so proud of every one of these sailors that got into the Nuke program - yes, it is difficult and will test them.  But when they are done, there will be no greater reward for them and the rest of their lives.

[annieokie]

My son just started power school this week.

 

I don't know if he is a typical nuke.  He's 6'1", thin, never wore glasses and he certainly doesn't over analyze anything, lol!  His passion is music, drums and guitar, but that wasn't really leading him anywhere in life.  He's a bright kid and scored 98% on that test they take in the beginning.  He was a decent student in high school but had a disastrous first year of college.  I don't know what he did at college, I only know he did not go to class!  But he had a good time!  He's more a party kid and musician than a nerd.

 

Even so, he breezed through boot camp and A school.  I was really concerned that this Nuke school just might be too hard and require too much study and discipline for his personality, but I never voiced those concerns to him!  I told him all he had to do was study hard and keep up, and he did.  He's been very happy with his decision and has done very well. 

 

So yeah, don't worry about all the negative stuff you read.  Our kids are made of stronger stuff than we sometimes give them credit for and they can do this.

[SonandSea]

Oh, ladies~ Thank you all so much! I feel so much better! I think I read too many "my son got kicked out of boot camp for having too many freckles" and "Nuke school is the hardest, most stressful experience on the entire planet" anecdotes! I was in a STATE! LOL!!! 

You all talked me down!! Thank you!!!!!!!

I think my son is excellent "nuke material"~ smart, hard-working a teeny bit wacky, but a straight-arrow kid who does not know how to put his socks in a hamper. I think the Navy will fine tune him and he will do well. 

Thanks to all who have shared your stories and given advice. Sounds like we are all blessed with some awesome sons and daughters! 

hugs and thanks to all~Dale ♥

[Balsam]

I hope you feel reassured, I know I was when I first came here.  My son decided he wanted to go in the Navy.  He was about 21 at the time and working at Walmart.  He had graduated high school but really he was on the lazy side.  He was also over weight.  Well with exercise and strict dieting he lost over 100 lbs and got in good physical shape.  He got down below the required 216 and was running and exercising like I'd never seen him during that 18 months.  I would have called my son lazy even but his goal of going into the Navy and passing the ASVAB test with a 96 put him in the NUKE program.  He has completed his Boot Camp and graduates next Friday on March 18th 2011. 

 

My son loved boot camp and loved the challenge and is excited about being at A school next.  The change in him has been remarkable.  I can hear the change in his voice and his letters to us.  I am so proud of him finally finding a career that he is interested in and doing well.  I know he is excited and very smart but has never felt challenged like he has with being a nuke. 

 

Mom put your fears aside, your son is headed toward being a man and you will be so proud of him.  Thanks to all the encouraging Mom's on here who kept me from freaking out while my son Dirk is at boot camp.  I haven't worried about him one iota since he left for boot camp all because of the good things I read here.  He did catch the flu while there and was sick a week but he got caught up.  They even told the group how Dirk had lost over 100 lbs eating right and exercising to join the navy and many came to him asking how to eat right and what exercises he did.  LOL  I'm proud of him. 

[SonandSea]

Balsam~ Thank you so much! You have every right to be proud of your son! He sounds like a determined young man! I know you are excited that he graduates boot camp in a few days!

Yes, I do feel better. Everyone has been so kind and supportive.  I am still a bit freaked out as I read so many accounts of recruits being kicked out of boot camp for all sorts of things. I have 4 kids and I swear I can not recall  EVERY time my son took a Tylenol or got a bruise! He has had stitches a couple of times as a young kid. It seems like I am reading some crazy story about being recruits separated for really small things. Anyway, I need to stop reading about it, I suppose!! :0

I think everything will be fine. The time is flying by... 149 days to go! 

thank you so much and congratulations to your son! 

~Dale♥