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Comment by BunkerQB on January 27, 2011 at 3:36am

My son is a nuke officer on a sub. He went through officer's equivalent of Nuke School and Prototype. It was not difficult for him because his degree was in electrical engineering. Several years ago, I asked him for advice because one of my friend's son was having a hard time. Here is what my son told me off the top of his head over dinner - after a glass or two of wine.

1. Don't try too hard. You don't have to pass with flying colors. You just have to pass.
2. Keep a regular schedule. Try to get a good night sleep every night. If you stay up all night studying - it may not be optimal - a case of diminishing returns - next day you may sleep through the new concepts being presented in class - thereby getting yourself in a deeper hole.
3. Eat healthy - stay w fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats (brain food), plenty of fluids. Wash hands often - avoid getting a cold. Stay warm. Stay away from people who are sick.
4. Do not compare your score with the scores of others - that creates anxiety. Don't stress over ranking stuff.
5. Don't be embarrassed or shy about asking for help. Sometimes, it's just one little thing that stands in the way of understanding the concepts.
6. How well you do in Nuke school is not be correlated with how well you do on the fleet.
7. Have some fun (on weekends) but avoid excesses (drinking, eating, playing computer games) because it takes time for the body and mind to recover from those sessions.
8. Think positively. Have some faith in the Navy's judgment in putting you in the program in the first place. If you didn't belong, you wouldn't be there. Remember the little victories.
9. Eliminate psychological distractions - particularly family/girl friend issues. In other words, if family members love to unload about family issues - don't talk to them, don't read their text, don't read their email, don't open their letters - ignore them.
10. Avoid people who are negative - a percentage falls out of the program every years - just the way things are - hang out with others who are have the same positive outlook.
11. The material itself is not that difficult (in my son's opinion - for any of the guys who are selected for the program) but the sheer volume of information to absolve in a short period of time makes it difficult.
12. Divide and conquer. One step at a time. Don't get overwhelmed with the whole scope. Take it one section at a time.

13. Not making it in the Nuke program may be a blessing in disguise - there are plenty of jobs that someone with a "nuke" brain can do. It's not failure in life - just not as able as others to cramp a huge amount of material into the little old brain. NOT A BIG DEAL - just go on to something else.

Comment by Kris, Stevens mom on January 26, 2011 at 6:13pm

Peggy -Sonar sounds very interesting, I think when our kids score high on tests they push them towards the NUKE field, it can be rewarding but it is also extremely stressful. plus I'm thinking the recruiters might get a bigger bonus, etc for signing people for NUKEs. - not sure

Comment by Aggie08Mom (ship 02,div. 903) on January 26, 2011 at 5:43pm

Very well said, Connie.  When my son did so well on the test, the recruiter offered him a position at nuke school, but he had to decide right away.  He called me at work and was very confused and stressed trying to decide.  I pointed out that in the grand scheme of things, 6 years isn't forever (it took him 5 1/2 to graduate from A&M).   His recruiter did tell me later that he'd never had somebody score so well on the test.  He said from now on he'll tell his recruits that if they ace the test, they'll be offered nuke and will have to decide right away.  Good luck, Peggy.  I'm sure your son will make the right decision. 

Comment by Connie foaling-lady (Groton) on January 26, 2011 at 5:20pm

Peggy, if your son decides to go nuke, and you have a chance to talk to him, discuss the time frame involved. It's a solid 2-year pipeline of nonstop very hard, stressful studying ... his boot camp buddies will have long since been out in the fleet while he's in the toughest classroom he could ever imagine. The payoff is worth it, but for a young person, the nuke program could very well seem like some kind of twisted college/prison! Once you're in, and Navy's real investment in you begins, you have support to get you through ... but if it's truly not going to work out, I'm getting the idea that the Navy will work to find you a good fit in another job/another training. For some people, that second choice turned out to be a far better assignment. That being said, nuke is a challenge worth tackling. Good luck to you and your son, We'll all be pulling for you!

Comment by Kat (MM Nuke) on January 26, 2011 at 4:58pm

Peggy - before my son went in, he was able to talk to several Nukes.  Ones was actually about 2-3 months into school, and one was already out at sea, and yet another was at the end of his enlistment and trying to decide if he should re-enlist or go ahead and get out and accept one of the job offers he had.

I would bet that one of the moms on this forum, who's son is a bit further along than mine, would be glad to connect your son with her's so that your son can get some info about the program.  It is a tough decision and there are no guarantees, even to our sons who are in the program now, that they will really love it, but worth trying to get some more info. about.  Just an idea.

 

Comment by Binker & Bro: 2X Nuke Mom on January 26, 2011 at 4:18pm

Here's my two cents on grads:

 

For former military: PIR is not what you imagine if you were in another service. It is much smaller and all inside. And, as Bink told me, sailors seldom march in the ship so marching and parading is not as big a deal. Be aware of that because it is different. For those who have never seen a military parade it is a truly awesome sight. For those who have been there and done that, it is a moment of extreme pride in seeing your child choose your profession and become an adult in their own right.

 

A school: went. almost missed it. boy was mad at me for having the audacity to text him and ask if he was coming to dinner with us the night before or out with his buddies. Meant nothing negative. He took it as that since a) was cleaning walls for the ceremony, b) was really tired and c) is still as moody as all get out--post adult angst instead of all the other angst. Anyway, he didnt tell us the time or the place and I made some lucky guesses. We saw the keynote speaker who was a sailor from the fleet and watched them call names, parade across the floor and shake hands. As military ceremonies go, it was pretty basic. We had 5 other guests in the room besides us. My best part was the 30 minutes I spent talking with the commander, which almost drove Bink up a wall--but, I was an AF officer and officers tend to migrate towards those (since we couldnt migrate towards enlisted due to seperation of ranks). Bink's Master Chief finally sent him in to enable the commander to escape if he so desired. My experience in Nukes made me a unique conversation partner, if I do say so myself (patting on my back, knowing Bink wont risk me paying him back again~). Anyway, considering how much it cost to fly three of us down and spend 4 nights in a hotel and rent a car, I'm not sure another ceremony wouldnt be the preferred one, especially when you are wanting a bigger event.

 

We are close enough to do all three, especially if I ever get to move to NY and Bink goes to BS.

 

My dear friend in Texas: Ahhhhh, Speed School. My brother went there. I have degrees from half the other schools at UL. Yes, Louisville is the place to be for the end of April and the beginning of May. If you've never been to Thunder over Louisville, you must make a pilgramage on the third Saturday before Derby now. It is the official kickoff of the Festival and the world's largest fireworks display (most years). They line two barges up on either side of the 2nd street bridge and run tandom displays on either side for 45 minutes. It is soooooo very awesome. Fireworks at Disney are never the same again. People line the Ohio on both sides and on a good day, there can be 800,000 people crowded in to watch the display. During the day, one of the premiere air shows in the country takes place. I dont think we've ever had the Blue Angels, but the Thunderbirds have been there 2, maybe 3 times. The year the AF celebrated its 50th Anniversery, it was THE celebratory air show for the AF so it was big. I'd invite everyone to come and bunk in my house and go see it but I hope that damn house is off my back by that time!

 

So, in the words of my former commander-in-chief, ole HW, "Target BADDDD, Derby good. A school grad, small; PIR, inside. Speed School, engineers; Vermont spring break skiing, a long time ago. Upstate NY, wine; my house, open invitation.

 

And TExas--having spent two tours of Lackland on the enlisted and officer side, you must excuse me if its not my favorite place! If you're going to PIR, take the cell and laptop with you and give it to him at the airport.

 

hugs to all. I hate snow days!

Comment by Kat (MM Nuke) on January 26, 2011 at 3:24pm

Yes, I've been hearing that Power school grad. is the better, but I think we just do what we can do when we can do it and try not to stress over it. We aren't going to be able to be there for every single thing, unfortunately. Wish we lived closer. Hopefully we will get our turn and he'll get stationed on the west coast so that it is much cheaper and easier to see him.

Comment by Michimom (MM Nuke Mom) on January 26, 2011 at 3:20pm

NavymomLG, I heard that power school grad is the one to go to. I'm not trying to be contradictory, cuz I haven't been. Just passing on what I was told by the majority of moms. That's the one we're planning to attend. (Son's A school grad is Friday, but a mom has promised to take some pics for us!)

Power school grad may have been recommended for us because we want a "more formal" ceremony, as our son did not have a PIR (finished up on his own right from the RCU). So you may prefer A school grad.

Comment by Kat (MM Nuke) on January 26, 2011 at 3:13pm

texasmom - I sent my son's laptop and phone priority mail from Phoenix. It got there within 3 days no problem. Used some of his civilian clothes as the packaging around them to protect them and everything arrived fine. Of course, he was so impatient that he went and bought an ipad right away when he got there. Saw all that money sitting in his account and just HAD TO HAVE IT CUZ HE WANTED IT.

Comment by DramaboysMom on January 26, 2011 at 3:13pm

texas mom, I will let you know the best way to send things after today... or tomorrow depending on which gets there first.  I sent the phone snail mail, and the computer UPS.  Son just got to GC last wed (1-19) and has not classed up yet.  Still indoctrination week. 

 

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