Nuke School Charleston

Poor event planning if they do not set aside a certain number of guest seats for each graduating sailor.  Most of the graduates are single not married.  

William and Chelc33, I also agree. 

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how many sailors are typically in a prototype graduating class?  Or does it depend on the location?  Just wondering...

8isenuff, there is no "typical number"...sailors drop out of the program right up until a couple of days before they are scheduled to graduate. I have the utmost respect for anyone/everyone that makes it through this program...

OK...nice to have a ceremony on the Yorktown, but does NPTU cover the cost of getting onto the Yorktown (it ain't cheap) and the parking? When my son graduated he couldn't wait to get the hell outta Dodge...all he wanted to do was come home.

8isenuf when our son graduated prototype in Ballston Spa the end of 2012, the graduating ceremony was split into morning and afternoon.  I would estimate maybe 100 graduates in the afternoon group including the officers.  Could have been less though.     At that time I believe it was at a Knights of Columbus hall.    Anyway it was a nice small auditorium with a stage and they did a very nice job, very family oriented all the parents could attend and we brought our other son to see his brother graduate.  Plus we got to meet the captain and get graduation photos, it really was great and he gave a memorable speech.  They really made the families feel welcome.

As suebal said, even at prototype people were getting dropped right up until the very end.  Not to mention A school and power school and a few even during grad hold before classes started at prototype.  There was a lot of attrition if you look at it end to end from the first day of boot camp until graduation day at prototype.

Hats off to the grads because the pressure is intense.  

William and suebal, thanks for the information.   Fortunately, my kids are both doing well for the moment.  It is not an easy venture, from the sounds of it.  Here's hoping I get to attend a Protoype graduation somewhere!

So, another question:  when in the course of PS do they find out where they will be assigned for Prototype?  I get the idea that the location is randomized.  I have asked them several times, but they don't know for sure.  My daughter started class in June, so she is about 2 months in.  My son just started this week.  They would love to be together for Protoype, but I have no idea how much of a reality that would be (likely none, but one could hope, I guess).   How would one search out apartments from afar, if the need were to arise?

Oh, and William, congratulations to your son on his recent award.  It gave me goose bumps to read about it.  He must be one amazing young man, and you must be so proud!

 korymae we stayed at the Wingate by Windham  in North Charleston and it was very nice.  It was clean, fairly new, the service was good, and the rooms were made up well every morning. It included a free hot breakfast buffet with bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy etc. and omelettes.  I think it was $96 a night including breakfast for 3 people.  I usually add up the price of the hotel room and then add to that what it would cost for a decent hot breakfast for that many people, a package deal that includes breakfast costs less most of the time.

Korymae, we like the Fairfield Inn chain.  We've stayed in many Fairfields in many places and there are two in the Charleston area.  Our all-time favorite Fairfield is right next to the Tanger Outlet Mall.  Lots of restaurants, just off of I-26 and a great hotel with nice staff.  They have a full breakfast included, and also have a manager's reception Monday through Friday with free wine, beer, sodas and snacks.  They have an outdoor pool and fridge and microwave in rooms. 

The address is 4841 Tanger Outlet Blvd,  North Charleston, SC  29418.

8isenuff thanks he is continuing to do well Lol.   To answer  your question in my son's case he knew his orders several weeks before nuclear power school graduation day.  The Navy gives them time because to find a place at the new location (via a Navy housing office not a house hunting trip).   They do get to state a preference and the Navy picks, if you are single and want to go to Ballston Spa there is a good chance you will get it.    He moved himself driving his own car from SC to NY with his stuff in it, they drove in a caravan of 3 or 4 cars and had walkie talkies.

When he got his orders to submarine vs. carrier that was about a month before graduation day but he was pretty far ahead of the curve at prototype.  He knew the name of the submarine already.  Students did get their orders to the fleet at a different times I know that because his came earlier than his roommates.

My son graduated power school August 1.  He was supposed to go to Kings Bay for his grad hold, but after he got back from his leave he was told that Kings Bay was off, due to mold in barracks, I think he said.  He was a little bummed, had looked forward to Kings Bay.  It sounds like there will be at least 2 months of grad hold.  He hasn't been told where he'll go for Prototype nor when.  He's hoping Goose Creek, as do we, not because we live close to SC - we don't, but we rather visit SC than upstate NY.  Especially in the winter, we've lived in very cold places, but I prefer a little warmer ones if/when possible.  :-)

I'm so thankful for this group and this site. My son is in power school now. I have nit been able to afford to go to SC. I miss my sailor so much. At the same time, I am very proud of him.

Hello!  My son is spending his 21st birthday in Power School at Goose Creek and I am looking for a place that will deliver cookies, cupcakes, cake, etc near there?  Any suggestions you have would be much appreciated!  Thanks in advance!

"http://chantillycakeshop.com"
Chantilly Cake Shop
Owner is Melissa 843-303-5430
Just delivered for my Sailors Birthday!
A+ Complete with a picture!

Thank you heysmyson!  I called and she will be out of town for the next week!  Eek! His birthday is Monday!  Looks like I might be baking and fed Xing instead. 

May I use the info, my sailor's birthday was last Monday andi was hoping tosend him a gift.

All this is new to me, so I'm trying to take in all the info.

My son will be graduating from B school in November, is this a ceremony that family attends?  If so, I am thinking of flying in and staying at a local hotel?  What are my options for overnight stays?  Thanks!

When we visited in August, we stayed at the Best Western.  It was nice and less expensive than a lot of the other chains.  And a hot breakfast is included!  The one in Landon is about 15 minutes from base.  After we were there my son mentioned something about an on base option (I think he called it the cottages or villas or something) that was supposed to be nice and affordable.  I don't know about it but maybe someone else on here would have more info on that.

Here's the # for the Villas (located on base). 843.794.2120.  Your sailor will have to make the reservations for you.  They have 1, 2, & 3 bedroom places.

This may be a silly question, but does anybody know if the beds in the barracks are twin or XL twin??  Just trying to get stuff together that he'll need when he gets to A school!

Hi - my son (about to start prototype in Charleston) is looking for a 1 bedroom rental, hopefully with a garage.  If anyone has a recommendation, it would be very much appreciated.  Thanks!

The Hampton in North Charleston is nice and in a good safe location. It's just minutes from the school. The rates are great, rooms are clean, and beds are comfy.

You may also be able to stay at the Navy Lodge? Not sure the criteria for staying there?

I believe it was posted by woodchuck mom on the Nuke moms page this morning.

Hi everyone, my boyfriend's PIR is this month on the 26th & he told me that his A School for Nuke will be in SC. We both are thinking of marriage and I was wondering if we will be able to live together during his A School if I move up there and where he might be stationed at later on..

navygf11, you won't be able to live with him unless you get married. Unmarried sailors have to stay in the BEQ through Power School. They get apartments for prototype, but once they get to the fleet, if I understand correctly, they generally are back in base housing until they make E5.
As far as where they can be stationed after training, nukes go with carriers and subs. See the list at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/lists/homeport.asp and look for CVN, SSN, SSBN, and SSGN.

For those of you who have sailors heading to Ballston Spa for prototype here's the link to that group. 

http://navyformoms.com/group/momsdadsfamilieswithnukesinballstonspany

My Husband is joining the Nuke program, still waiting for exact dates for bootcamp. It's been a long process! But he was told that SC would be his next stop after bootcamp! So looking forward to meeting people that are in the same situation!  :) Hope everyone is having a great day!

My Son just started BC 12/8 and is slated to go to Charleston once he completes

RV-mom and dad I saw on another post to get twin XLong.

If anyone has a sailor heading to Ballston Spa for proto and is looking for some bedroom furniture and a TV (very reasonably priced!) let me know.  My son graduates proto 1/23 and will be leaving and doesn't have room to take them in his car.....I can get more info and pictures if anyone is interested.

Hi ladies - I haven't logged in here for quite some time, but just wanted to say hello. Currently here at NNPTC with my husband who is in the Nuke Program :] 

Hey Tonya!

There is a post in the discussion forum called "your sailor's schedule upon arriving in goose creek" and any information you need to know should be listed in that. minus the visitor one, he can't host anyone while he lives in the BEQs but you can technically visit him anytime (as in..be in goose creek) though as far as leaving base to see you, that would be on paper attached to the forum discussion. also, it's going to be rough for him to get any time to see you so it most likely will be a little awhile before you plan a trip to goose creek!