Nuke School Charleston

The boy wonder mom:

You commented last Thurs: "My son passed his test today, 4 more tests including comps."

Congratulations to your son for passing that test! Thanks for keeping me informed about tests and comps. My son (1402 also) and I text but I keep forgetting to ask him when he takes his tests and how many he has left. So thanks! = )

Husband graduates BC on 6/6 - and then we're headed to Goose Creek :]] Couldn't be more excited to start this next chapter - we have been waiting 11 months for this!

Has anyone taken a boat tour of Charleston Harbor?  Any boats or services you'd recommend or stay away from?  Thanks.

Thanks boy wonder mom for the info again.

My son is an ET so it might be a little different schedule.  I have texted him and he texted me back that he did not pass last Friday's test.

I asked him if he thought that he would pass and he said he thinks he has a chance if he does well this week (he said Friday) and on the comp. I pray for him. I know that I'd be disappointed, but he would also. Yet, I am proud of him for even getting into the Nuke program.

Even though the waiting to see if I get to go to power school graduation is diffficult,  whatever stage our Nuke sailors are in, I know we Navy moms/wives love them so much and we are so very proud of them ! ! ! !

Anyone have a son/daughter in Class 1346A? Graduation is coming up soon!! Every time I speak with my son he says he's on a break from studying and will go back once we finish talking. He says this is the hardest thing he's ever done but the most rewarding!

Hi all.  I haven't been on here in a while.  I think since before my son had PIR which was 2/7/14.  My son is graduating A School on 6/6/14,  Are there several classes that graduate the same day or just one?  My son says A school graduation is small compared to Power School, which for him is in January/February 2015.  

We attended our son's A school graduation (he's an ET3 now in T-track). It is a small event: I don't think the Rickover auditorium seats more than 150. There will probably be one A (MM) and on MT (EM/ET) class. The ceremony only lasts about an hour, but the Navy does ritual well, and they are very welcoming to the families. It is always a treat to mingle with our nuke sailors. They are interesting and engaging young men and women.
Definitely go if you live reasonably close (we are a 3-1/2 hour drive away) or it is otherwise not a hardship. Don't break the bank, though. I've heard the Power School grad is a much bigger deal.

Please pray for my son, ET3 in power school, class 1402. He has his last test today. I have not heard yet how he did. His comps are next week on Tue. I so hope that he graduates! Please pray!

Thanks boy wonder mom!!!!  = )

Hi all,

I called my son last night (Power School - Class 1402, graduation 6/6/14), didn't get him and hung up. About 5 minutes later he called me, having heard his phone beep.

Some of you know that he has had a rough time in PS. Well,  I asked how he did on his last regular test this past Fri. He did not pass it and he had already either done bad or not passed his other class(es), so he won't be graduating.

He seems ok, saying he's feeling a lot less stress now. I asked what will happen now. He will come home for a 10 day leave. When he returns, he goes to DTP, where sailors separating from the Nuke program stay. He said that could be 2 months. He said that he thinks that he will be allowed to pick another rate.

I am sad, discouraged, but I am still proud of him for having been selected to enter the Nuke program. I so wanted to watch him graduate. I tried to be positive, but I know that he could tell that I was crying. I told him this will just be another chapter.

He is interested in ET - Conventional, EM - Conventional or IT.

@ MomThatLovesHerSon, Sooo incredibly sorry he didn't pass. But, absolutely be proud! He came a long way and he's obviously a wonderful person and will go far, just in a different direction. Prayers to him and his family.

Received a text from my son today. He said test results come out in 2 hours and that was 2 hours ago!! Sent a text to his girlfriend because she always hears before me. She starts medical school in August! Those 2 keep me praying for them!

My son left me a text message at 11 pm last night that he passed his final exam at NPTC. We'll see what's next. Graduation on Friday!!

This is to MomThatLovesHerSon.  My son is in the same class as yours.  My heart goes out to you . . . they work so hard for this.  I have tears running down my face as I write this because I know so well that it could have just as easily been my son as yours. It's such a tough and stressful program.  Every one of them is incredibly bright and motivated to even get this far through the program.  

I think it's okay your son knew you were crying - just make sure he knows that it's not because you're disappointed in him, but because you feel his pain.  As long as he knows you love him and support him no matter what, he will be okay.

Our son's plans have been waylaid more than a few times over the past few years, and each time, it really reminded me to trust that God is directing his path.  Without even knowing your son, I know that he is intelligent, hard working, and has a heart for service to our country. Encourage him to look at this not as a failure, because he gave it his very best shot, but as a step he needed to take on his way to a successful career in the Navy.  I'll be praying for him - and you - and that the Navy will find just the right path for him to use his great talents and abilities.

I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can answer.  I'm disappointed not to be able to attend graduation this Friday (Class 1402) - will have to wait to travel to Charleston next week to spend a few days with my son post-graduation. Does anyone know if they videotape the graduation so parents can watch it either online or purchase a DVD?  Or - do they have any photos available for purchase?  Thanks!

Tonya - My husband had his PIR on Nov 22 2013 and he went to Goose Creek the following day and was in Indoc until the very end of December or January. They had Holiday stand down in December for two weeks so I think he was in Indoc for maybe 3 weeks. Indoc is the introductory stuff and the hold before A school starts. I think they learn about the rules of the base, but mostly it sounded like a lot of cleaning. It's very normal for them to wait until there are enough sailors to fill the class :) 

Tonya, waiting is very normal in the Navy. Lots of waiting.
It probably won't be more than a few weeks for A school to class up. It took a couple weeks for my son. He's on t-track for Power school now. He has been told that won't be long, but one never knows. Uncertainty is normal too.

Congratulations to power school class 1402! Bravo Zulu! HOOYAH!

Hey kjzmsmom! My son is in the same class 1402 that's graduating tomorrow. I can't be there either and I'm so bummed but he said "I'm not high maintenance; it's OK". They went to a classmate's wedding today--wedding in the swamp, posted on Facebook.  This is the 2nd kid I've heard about getting married.  

That's funny - the reason I'm not going for graduation is because my son's good buddy is getting married the next day! They're leaving right after graduation for a bachelor party in another state that evening. As much as I want to be there for graduation, my son and I both agreed that it would be way better to have 3 days together next week than less than a day centered around graduation. It is a bummer to miss it though...hopefully we can go when they graduate from prototype! Maybe some photos will get posted online?

My son called me after graduation around 11:15 am and I was shocked! It was over that quick?!! Did they have a Navy band or did they play a recording? Played a recording! But they marched in, which is always exciting to see.  Love seeing all those uniforms. The "swamp wedding" couple were 2 classmates. He's from TX and she's from CA and they met at Nuke School. Will they get assigned to the same ship/sub? My son's girlfriend's brother is in the Coast Guard and he's in Alaska and his wife (also in the CG) is in the Bahamas!! I keep telling myself "the Navy owns him for the next 5 years" so I can't expect him to be around for special occasions or holidays. It is what it is!

WearsLargeHats your comment about "there's lots of waiting" in the Navy is so true! When my son graduated bootcamp, he had to get tested for his food allergy and that took about 2 weeks for the test and another 4 weeks for the results before he shipped out to Nuke School in Goose Creek! He just posted a picture of himself on Facebook and it's title "Waiting". He graduated yesterday and is on grad hold for what's next. NY or GA? He also posted on Facebook thanks to all who congratulated him but said he hasn't done anything yet. The real heroes are those who gave their lives on D-Day (which was yesterday, too!). 

philly_mamasota, I told my son that people are not thanking him for what he has done, but what he is doing, and what he may do, and is willing to do. Another way to look at it is that they are thanking the uniform and what it means to wear it.

correction: he'll go to something called DTP

MomThatLovesHerSon, My son is checking out of DTP in the morning to go to his new rating (Master-at-Arms). While he was disappointed that he didn't make it through, it was a relief to finally be able to relax and be less stressed (academically). Just tell him to keep his chin up.  My son said that the first 2 weeks of being phase 1 again was a pain.

Their rooms are really far away from the mess hall and really, everything. There are duty vans that pick them up to take them to the mess hall, and he'll find some people there that have been there long enough to be able to drive and they will help him get around. By the way, phone and wifi reception is TERRIBLE in DTP, so don't be stressed out if you don't hear from him immediately.

He will be given a book of all of the different jobs and he'll be able to make a "dream list" of his top 5 jobs that he wants to going forward.  It's not always possible for them to get any of the jobs on their list, but I think the Navy tries to give them something on the list.  My son got the job he listed as his #5 choice, which was fine with him. There's a lot to choose from.

I think my son was only in DTP for about 6 weeks though.  Some stay longer, a few stay for a shorter amount of time...I think it depends on what there new job is and when a spot is available in a new class.  He will stay at DTP until he has just enough time to travel to the new class and get checked in.

I hope this helps take a little of the anxiety out of not knowing what comes next. I've heard that our kids are very well respected throughout the Navy for even attempting to get through the Nuke program.  You son should be proud of himself for even being invited into the nuclear program, not to mention how far in the program he was able to get to.

Holly MA Mom,

Thank you SO much for all that information! I really appreciate it! It does help to be more informed!  Thank you!!!!

Hi, my son's PIR is 6/27 then he will be attending NUKE school in SC. I'm really new to all that is Navy. I know that I will learn a lot from everyone here. : )

Welcome Eric's Mom!

Thank you, I'm hoping I have the correct group.  After PIR on the 27th my son goes to "A" school for NUKE in SC.  That would be in Charleston am I correct?  I here other NUKE moms talk about Goose Creek??  I'm really confused.

Eric's Mom, the school, NNPTC, is part of Joint Base Charleston, but it is located in Goose Creek, northeast of Charleston. AFAIK, no part of Joint Base Charleston is actually in Charleston. It takes about a half hour to get to NNPTC from either the Charleston airport or downtown Charleston. Plus traffic, of course.

LOL Okay, I clearly have a lot of things to ask my son at PIR.  Thanks for all your help everyone.

Hi, my son will be leaving for SC after PIR.  Do they always leave out of the same airport?  If so, which one?  I'm trying to figure out flights and would like to see him off. 

Hi Navymom1.  Is your son in bootcamp right now?  they could leave out of either airport, and it could be any time of the day, usually on Saturday after PIR.  Once in a while they delay the Nukes until Sunday.  My son was actually delayed until the following Wednesday, but that was almost 4 years ago.  Sending you a private message.

Eric's mom, sending you a private message.

Hi Kat (MM Nuke), yes, my son is in boot camp right now graduating in August.  I must be looking in the wrong place, I couldn't find a message. 

Hi!  My SR graduates 8/01 and will be heading to Goose Creek.  I can't wait for Phase I to end so I can finally see Charleston!

Hi all! My son is currently in boot camp with a PIR date of 8/22/14. He was accepted into Nuke. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Welcome to all the newbies!  Make sure you look at the Discussion Forum above.  Lots of good info there.  "Your Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival at Goose Creek" and "Nuke A School - Charleston" are both very helpful.  You should also make sure you visit the "Nuke Mom's" page.  It's more active than this page and you might be able to get answers quicker. Either way there are lots of mom's and even a few dad's that are glad to answer questions.....my son is currently in prototype in Ballston Spa, NY.

mrsM - Just wanted to say hi. I'm a fellow Nuke Wife, we just got here a couple of weeks ago. Let me know if you have any questions!

hello all!!

blanche--enjoy your time with your sailor!!  please tell him hi from all of us and thank him for his service!