Comment

Comment by Mark on January 26, 2009 at 8:06pm

Restarting Idaho Falls doesn't sound like a realistic option to me. That is actually where I had prototype back in the day. There were three plants there, one of which was a surface ship plant that the Enterprise was based on. All of them have been decommissioned, and would take an enormous amount of time and resources to bring back on line, if it is even technically feasible. As I said in an earlier post, the shipyard where I work is scheduled to do some major work in NY early spring. As far as I know, this work is still planned, and it would not make sense to perform this particular work package if they intended to shut it down permanently. I don't know the entirety of what needs to be done there, but putting together what another mom posted and what I know; I think NY will be back on line late spring/early summer after our work is complete.

Comment by Trina (Spencer's Mom) on January 26, 2009 at 6:59pm

I haven't heard of MT either. Just ET, EM and MM. Are you sure he isn't one of those?

Comment by Trina (Spencer's Mom) on January 26, 2009 at 3:11pm

And from what I am hearing, no one will be going to Ballston Spa. Things are getting worse and worse up there supposedly.

Comment by Trina (Spencer's Mom) on January 26, 2009 at 1:40am

Also - spence has to be in NY for a while, so in the summer my daughter and I might be making a road trip and take in the sights in NY. It will be nice to see Spence, and also check out the sights. Hope everyone is well!

Comment by Trina (Spencer's Mom) on January 26, 2009 at 1:38am

Hello everyone - it has been a while since I have been on here - life has gotten away from me!!!!! Spence is doing well - still nothing new on the NY front - school is still on hold. He is holding in there though. I am reminded again today though of how tough this nuke program is - another guy in class dropped out due to emotional issues. This is a tough program, and I pray everyday for our sailors.

God bless and I hope everyone is doing well!!!
Trina

Comment by carols_kitchen on January 25, 2009 at 11:49pm

Molly--re uniforms
there is also a second hand store where he can get some things like covers and belts at a good price.

Comment by Mark on January 25, 2009 at 11:44pm

Hi Jeanne and Wendy, I'll try...
The daily routine of a nuc will depend on whether the ship is in port or at sea, and whether it's a carrier or sub, and for subs, whether it's a boomer or fast attack. My own experience is sub fast attack, but I think I can be useful for the other platforms. The normal routine when the ship is in port is an eight hour work day M-F, with normal holidays (usually). Beyond that, there are watches to be stood in port by the day's duty section. If the boat is fully manned, there are typically four duty sections, so a sailor will have duty every fourth day. On their duty day, they will usually have to stand two four-hour watches, possibly two six-hour watches if manning is short. Somebody has to stand watches midnight-0400, and while usually the sailor will get a chance to hit the rack for some period, it's not guaranteed. Typically, I suppose a nuc will average about fours of sleep on a duty day. If the day after duty is a weekend or holiday, they take off after the oncoming duty section relieves them. If day after duty is a work day, typically they will get to take off sometime in the morning, after essential tasks are complete. Day after duty practice will vary though, by individual commands, workload, and whether the sailor is up to date on qualifications. If manning is tight, sailors may pull duty every third day, and if there is significant workload, they may go on a schedule of twelve hours on and twelve hours off without actual duty days. For SSBNs (boomers), there are two crews that swap off, and if the sailor is on off-crew (meaning the boat is at sea with the other crew), there is more off time, with some period of stand-down (vacation more or less) and the rest occupied with training, but not usually an eight hour day. Since I've gotten out, there is a new type of boat, the SSGN, a converted SSBN that no longer carries Trident missiles, but instead carries a slew of Tomahawk cruise missiles, and sometimes a SEAL team. There are two SSGNs on each coast, and I believe they have two crews like the boomers. Carrier in port routine is similar to fast attack subs, as far as I know. At sea, the routine can be quite different between carriers and subs. On carriers, there will be the normal watchstanding rotation, plus an expected eight hour work day. Subs have the normal watchstanding rotation, normally six hours on and twelve off, but the workday (such as it is) is usually different because subs, especially SSBNs and SSGNs, and fast attacks that are engaged in something where they have to be sneaky, must be quiet. Sailors engaged in cleaning (field days), and other work tend to make more noise that can be transmitted through the hull to the water, risking detection. For this reason, the twelve hours off is usually that, except for working on qualifications, and some (quietly done) maintenance. Periodically though, when the boat doesn't have to be as sneaky, drills need to be run, usually for several hours at a time, and field days will be scheduled, which will impact on sailors' rack time. Finally, if a sailor is behind on quals (known as being "dink"), their off-time will be impacted as well, both at sea and in port.

Comment by Gulf Coast Mom on January 25, 2009 at 7:55pm

Molly - I ordered a NEX card for my son as one of his Christmas gifts. It was really easy. There is a huge choice of cards for all occasions, and you can personalize the card, even change the font and color. I had the card sent to my house since he was coming home for Christmas. I have talked to him since and he has really enjoyed having it - the NEX at Goose Creek has an area like a mini mart with snacks and drinks, then the other part of the store is like a small Walmart or KMart - they have electronics - TV, etc. and even appliances like washers and dryers. The NEX site is very user friendly - I am not a computer person, but had no trouble with the site. Melody

Comment by Mark on January 24, 2009 at 11:41pm

Hi Wanda,
It's OK, there's a certain amount of crap you have to tolerate in the nuc program, whether you're military or civilian. It's nice to be part of something that you know is important, and there are certainly worse ways to make a living than as a federal employee. I've been out for twenty years now, working in Radiological Controls, which is part of what I did as an ELT on active duty. Doing Radcon in the shipyard is quite a bit more demanding than the Radcon as an ELT though, since the shipyards take on the heavy duty work as far as the plant goes. I spent quite a few years in support of reactor defuelings, but have been working in the training area for a number of years now. One of the things I do is work with active duty nucs who are qualifying as Radcon techs on shore duty, getting them ready for their final qual. I'm enjoying the chance to work with the young guys on active duty; it's nice working with guys who are at the point of their careers that I can feel nostalgic about now.

Comment by Mark on January 24, 2009 at 11:30pm

Great to hear your son is on eights, Dorothy - that makes an enormous difference. He will have fond memories of this period for the rest of his life, being able to enjoy something like snowboarding as often as he can now. I'm really glad that they're being reasonable putting the guys on that shift. It means a lot to guys, doing something healthy and fun that they're getting good at. I had a great time today, playing as part of a foursome with three sixteen year-old top-level junior golfers at my home course. I was hitting the ball good, and they were terrific kids. I could see one of them having a professional career some day. My son Zach started sub school in Groton, Connecticut two weeks ago. He's in SECF (Submarine Electronics and Computer Field). the training pipeline for sonar techs, fire control techs, communication techs and navigation ETs. He recently submitted his preference for which of those he goes into, and made sonar his first choice. From what I understand, the guys asking for sonar are likely to get that one, so that's cool. He sounds really motivated to do well right now, and I have to admit that as a father, it's pretty gratifying that he's going subs like I did. The fact that he's on a somewhat different path, as a non-nuc that is, is a good thing too. Truth be told, as a sonar tech he will enjoy his underway time more than the nucs, especially if he's on a fast attack boat. Being involved in what the boat is doing tactically should be a lot of fun for him. What rate is your son, and is he planning on carriers, or subs?

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