Nuke School Charleston

Hi Becca,

Our sons all could be in school together because my son said it probably won't start until the middle of June.  We'll find out for sure tomorrow.

Welcome New Moms!!! Congrats on your son upcoming PIR's, what an amazing time!

Our son is taking the big final test for "A" school today. He will graduate as an "EM" on Friday. He hasn't decided exactly what he will do at this time. There are many jobs to have, so many are needed for all jobs for Nuke! Enjoy PIR and come often as there are many here who can answer any and all questions!!!

For information on ET vs EM vs MM look here:

Nukeworker

My son was in the pipeline for four years (ET then SPU)-- very proud that, as an ET, he was one of the few who could operate the reactor.  The breakdown was roughly 20% ET's, 30% EM's, and 50% MM's. 

Sub pay varies by their rate and length of service: for an E-4 with  less than two years it is $80 a month, with  two years of service it is $95 a month, for an E-5 with two years it is $155 a month.    For an E-6 with six years of service it is $325 a month.  

So if you figure they get assigned to a sub with less than two years of service at E-4 they will get  back pay of $80 a month from that date all the way back to the first day of A school.

Good Morning!  I joined this group quite a while ago, but haven't said anything or commented.  My son PIR'd from BC 5/13 and shipped to GC 5/14 as an EM.  He's been in INDOC since and so far, no sign of when A School will begin.  I was reading below and saw possibly mid-June? but haven't heard that from my son. 

Anyway, I'm planning a trip to GC soon to take his car down to him.  I know he can't drive it, but I'm pretty sure it can be on base till he phases up.  If I am misinformed, please let me know. 

I've looked at Allegiant Air one way flights back to our town in Indiana - the only airport Allegiant flies into is Myrtle Beach.  How close/far is that from GC?  The price is right $50 - $60 for a one way, but I'm stuck to only one flight out on Sunday morning.  I'm not sure this is the way to go being that I'd have to get to Myrtle Beach to fly out early Sunday.  Plus, my son wouldn't be able to go with me to the airport because it's out of his Liberty range for now.

Any thoughts or suggestions for those of you who know the area better than me?   Also, where has anyone stayed hotel-wise in the GC area?  Any info will help.  Thanks and I'm looking forward to chatting more with you all.

Mama C, I have no idea about where Myrtle Beach is in relation to GC, but I can tell you one thing.  You are right about your son being able to have his car on base even before he phases up.  My son drove his back to Charleston after Christmas and didn't phase up until sometime in February.  He'd made all sorts of arrangements to park it at his aunt's house, and then found out it was OK to have it on base.

Thanks Aggie and Shauna ~  Not sure what I'm gonna do just yet about when to go.  I'm not looking forward to a drive to Myrtle Beach when I can spend all of Sunday with him.

The cost of a one way ticket with United might be worth the aggrevation of driving 2 hours north!

Elizabeth,  My son is still in INDOC - hasn't been given a date as to when A School starts.  Will that be a problem?

Shauna - I'll check out Nuke Moms too.  Thanks for the info.

mama c-who is your son? my husband has been in indoc and just started school on minday. maybe they know each other

Hi! I'm back...

What ever happened with the 'shark bite' car? :) My son ended up buying another car.

Penny...we didn't go to A school grad...but we'll see you at PS grad, right?!

Just got back from GC and saw my son and met Mama C Ship 12/Div 168 son and Lee Ann (NUKE Mom - MN) son's! Very nice young men... also met three other guys, one from Wisconsin, one from Luling, TX and Eagan, MN. He now has his car, his BIG computer and stuff... he really didn't want to spend much time with me, because he wanted to set up his stuff! Then when he went and purchased his new smart phone, I really didn't get to spend much time with him. I will never go visit him alone again! I was so afraid to go do things by myself so I spent way too much time in my hotel room!

The new Holiday Inn Express on US 78 is wonderful! All totally non-smoking, and on Monday through Thursday they serve snacks and beverages from 4 to 7. Free wine, beer and hot dogs! Boy did I need all that wine on Monday night!

Quilt - I wish I could've cleared my schedule.  It would've been a fun weekend together.  I'm glad you were able to meet B.  He said you all had a nice visit - I have a feeling he may have been missing his Mama, though.  Sometimes I can hear it in his voice.  I'm planning on taking his car down sometime in July, I think.  I'll be driving with my daughter more than likely, so it won't be a lonely trip, and, if he can't spend too much time with me at least I'll have her with me.

Hey Mama, my son starts up Power School this next week but no class number as of yet.  Sounds like your son is just now starting A-school, is that right?

Quilt - wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze tightly and know that is from me.  My son is a great kid but with a girlfriend in tow...momma doesn't really get any time either.  At PIR I kept wondering what on earth I was thinking going all the way there to get the first hug and that was about it!!!  The rest of the time it was all eyes and attention on her.  I got over it but now he doesn't want me making comments on his facebook either because, after all, it's not for parents!!!  lol  I'm learning to thicken my skin and know that one day he'll realize that moms are people too - just like yours!!

Penny - Yes, my son just started A School 6/13.  He's an EM.  I am so new at all this.  I started a discussion on Nuke Moms - never done that before.  It's no big deal, but I haven't heard from anyone in that set of classes (1135 or 1136).  I'm sure they'll start popping up sooner or later.

My son met Quilt and her son last weekend.  He said it was nice to chat cuz he knew Quilt and I have had conversations thru N4M's and FB.

Anyway, I'm hoping I'll get a bit more savvy with all this Nuke stuff pretty soon.  I kinda like to "know" what's going on.

Have a great day!

Hi ladies...new to this group! My boyfriend had PIR on 6/10 and is in INDOC at GC right now. He is an MM and will most likely start classes around July 5th. I'm anxious to start planning a trip to visit but he isn't sure when he'll start phasing up, so I guess I'll wait a while.

Are there any discussions/other groups that have information on NUKE school for MM's? I'm trying to learn all I can :)

Hi MJ,

Welcome aboard.  There are a number of nuke discussions here but I'd say that the most active one is the main Nuke Moms group.  Altho' it says "moms" there are a number of girlfriends/fiancees there also.  Within that group are a number of discussions that talk about what to expect when you visit GC.  Several have started a group based on classes so you can start one for your bf's class once you have that info.

MJ... the stress really gets to them during the active school days. Studying is really tough and when one person screws up they all have to do the extra studying, watches, duty, etc.  Just came back from taking my son his car, he is in Phase 2, and has mandatory study of 4 hours per day, that's after 10 hours of class! Then you have to add time to eat, watch, laundry, etc.! I really wish I had waited even longer before I went to see him, or had gone right after he arrived. 

If anyone else is planning on taking a car, make sure they have the registration, tag number (license plate) and insurance card beforehand! My son did not have any of this (did not ask me for it either) and so he did not have permission to have the car on base! I just drove 1900 miles to deliver it and he told me it might have to get parked somewhere until he could get the required stickers!  Yes, I got really mad! I don't want our car towed, stripped, or stolen, but I gave up and left in the taxi. I love my son, but I really wanted to slap him! LOL!

Quilt - You didn't fill me in on that "fun part of your trip"!  Oh my!  So sorry to hear that you had that stress added to you plate.

Hope things have settled down a bit since then.  I'll make sure that when I deliver B's car that those things are with me.  I'm pretty sure all that stuff is in the car anyway, but I'll make doubly sure.

I posted on Nuke Mom's that B is having to re-learn how to study.  He's been out of school for a year and he's having to learn to focus again on all the studying that they are required to do.  Thankfully, they are pretty much doing it together as a class and.......that they have to do it in the school room NOT in their barracks. 

Like I said on Nuke Moms, B is a smart cookie - just has to remember to keep his head in the game and do the proper studying.  I know he'll do fine, he just has to get back in the groove again.

Have a great day today!

cheergirl4... when you go to visit, please don't go alone.

Charleston is a nice city, but it is very lonely by yourself. He cannot plan to have all the time you might want him to have when you come. My son had watch on Saturday and Sunday evenings when I went (he was late to arrive to one of them and got into big trouble), was not my fault, but he did still blame me.  

The pressure is really heavy on them during school, if you can wait and go after a graduation (A, power or proto-type) he will have more liberty time and you can possibly have someone else go with you. I hated being by myself when I was not able to be with him, it just seemed so unfair to travel all that way and not being able to spend all my time with him.  

My husband leaves for boot camp in 4 weeks its so exciting yet some how i have a feeling I am going to want to pack myself away with him lol. We will be moving all the way across country to Charleston, SC where I have visited only once 6 years ago with no thoughts that I might move there. This first move is scary to me because it will be our first military move and I am just not sure what to expect. I have read Married to the Military which was extremely helpful for my other moves. But this one the military isn’t sure of us so they can’t give us as much info on what will happen. I have looked at available apartment. But coming up with the money to move and not knowing when we will get reimbursed for sure is scary. I also am planning to go stay with my mom to save on rent and food but then I have an apartment full of stuff that I am just not so sure what to do about. Its going to be an eventful month! Any Advise will be greatly Appreciated