Nuke School Charleston

Hi A's momma, just letting you know that it is most important that you learn first what rating your sailor will be - MM, EM or ET as that is who they will be in class with and study with day in and day out.  Then once they are in school, they are divided down into class sections and typically only those that they are in class with are the ones that they get to know very well.  Other than that, not so much. Hope that helps a little.

hello all!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

May God bless you and your families with a happy and healthy new year!!

My SR is scheduled for PIR on 2/7/14.  How do I obtain my sailors (Tori) mailing address at Navel Military Training – NMT in South Carolina (Nuke School)?  Are sailors allowed phone calls home (or to relatives) while in NMT (phase one and or phase two)?  Are sailors allow leave to travel home (Meriden, CT.) while in NMT (phase one and or phase two)?  Thank you in advance for the info.  Mark

Torisgodfather - Welcome!  You will want to make sure you read the discussions above - they have all the info you will need about Goose Creek - mailing address, info on when they phase up, etc.  Like Wendy said they can have their phones back after BC and then you will be able to be in contact again!  They aren't allowed their phones in the Rickover building but on their off time they can make calls.  Sometimes they might have to go out of their dorm room if they can't get a good connection! 

My son also just completed Power School & is heading to Ballston Spa, NY for Prototype (after he finishes his leave at home!).

Good luck to you!

Here's another good link - Nuke School Frequently asked Questions:

http://navyformoms.com/group/emptynesters/forum/topics/nuke-a-schoo...

Special Request Chits are for things that are outside the norm.

Normal Weekend Liberty allows them to go a certain distance without a special request, or any request, for that matter.  Wisconsin is certainly beyond that normal distance limit.  But the special limits are what ever is both requested and then approved by the command.

Our son received had a special Liberty Chit to fly to  Oregon, from Goose Creek, to see his terminally ill grand mother in a flying three day trip, so anything is possible, but likely ?  That is different question.

Why it was a Liberty rather than an emergency Leave I do not recall exactly, but there was some reason that made sense to the Navy.

Nukes get a break after A-school graduation (typically 10 days) and can get a chit approved to go home for a visit.  We live in Washington State and it was approved.  They then also get a 2 week break after Power School graduation but that is about it until after they graduate prototype.  Now, when their A-school or Power School graduation is depends totally on what rating they are which means it will be either 14 weeks after they begin A-school or 6 months after wards.  Power School is always 6 months regardless of their rating.  Hope that helps.

Liberties are limited to 3 or 4 days ( not sure which ) by law and are at the discretion of the Commander.  Think your boss giving you a long weekend where you do not have to go into work.  Your boss in this case would be the commanding officer of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command.

The typical 10 days between A-School and Power School is Leave, not Liberty, and was the standard leave they recommended after A-School, when my son went through.

Keep in mind that is only a command recommendation.  Unless a sailor has so much leave accrued he is in danger of losing it, Commands can not force a Sailor to take leave. 

  Commanders can deny leave requests for the needs of the Navy, but the denial must be formally justified.  Leave is part of the compensation package just like pay, and is set by federal law.

Liberties are more a discretionary reward by the Commander and can be withheld without explanation.  They also are limited by law to 3 or 4 days as previously mentioned.

@A's Momma Erin, you may NOT WANT your son to come home on that schedule.

It requires prior planning to get reasonably priced air plane tickets.

My son needed his weekend's during A-School to study and/or catch up on sleep and he did not know his study schedule weeks in advance.

I would put no pressure on him to come home during A-School and make clear you understand that his new, very demanding profession, comes first.

If you need to see him, or he needs to see his family, before the end of A School  consider planning a trip to Goose Creek on a long weekend, or any weekend.

If you make your plane reservations in advance, it would cost him no more to pay for someone to fly there, than it would for him to fly home.

They do routinely approve Liberty Chits when out of town family visits, so he could likely stay overnight in your suite at the Villas, even if he had large study hours at the time of your visit, but he might have to go back to campus for many hours of home-work every day.

On the other hand, your son maybe one those who scored in the 99th percentile on the ASVAB, has a photographic memory, is a great athlete and a fantastic student.  He may be on zero weekend study hours, and have no problem at all taking long weekends off during A-School.

Even so, I would not get your hopes up, and I would make clear to him that you firmly support the policy of studies come first.

A significant percentage do wash out in A-School and I would not want to wonder in the future if those out of the ordinary trips home during A-School were the reason.

@A's Momma Erin,

keep in mind your son is still in Boot Camp and is going to go through many first time events in the next few weeks, Battle Stations, becoming a sailor, graduation, liberty in GL, report to GC, one or more weeks of slow paced In-doc, multiple trips to a civilian mall, reunited with a cell phone and computer, classing up, slow paced basic math in A-School for a week or two, followed by the introduction of fire hose instruction where they cram two years community college instruction into six months ( by some accounts of those who have been there ).

Four weeks after he classes up for A-School he may have a different take on trips home during A-School.

In the mean time he will be able to talk with you on his cell phone and Skype shortly after arriving at Goose Creek.

The best thing you could do for him right now is continue sending a letter to him every day in Boot Camp, support the concept of getting together somewhere after he starts A-School, and remind him that after he arrives at Goose Creek he will have a cell phone and you can make plans then.

The second best thing you could do for him now is help him get his cell phone and computer ( deliver them if you are going to Boot Camp graduation, or ship them after he passes battle stations so they will arrive at Goose Creek shortly after he does ).

A's momma Erin - Along with what everyone else has advised, I do not think his leave would be approved unless it was an emergency because you do live outside the allowed radius.  My son was not able to come home to Louisiana for Labor Day weekend during A School, but was able to go with his roommate to Tallahassee FL.  He will get one week of leave after he graduates A School and he'll have adequate time to plan that trip and get an airline ticket.  

It is possible he could get a chit for leave - my son came home to California over the 4th of July weekend......just a long weekend......no emergency or anything!

I believe the "allowed radius" refers to routine Liberty, Such as where and when an A-School student would be allowed to go on weekends without a special request ( aka chit )..

The "allowed radius" does NOT apply to "special liberty" requests, or leave requests, which would have different limits depending on federal law ( in the case of leave ) and on a case by case command authorization basis in the case of a "special liberty" request that has been approved by the command.

Think of allowed radius as the distance they are automatically allowed to go on weekends when they are not scheduled to work, and also have NOT put in a request of any kind.  This routine liberty radius is a matter of command policy and may be different for sailors in different phases of A-School.

A-School and Power School both "stand down" for an extensive period ( 10 days or two weeks ) during Christmas.

I believe they both have much shorter stand downs for Thanksgiving.

There are also natural periods between A-School and Power School (aka T-Track ), and Power School   and Prototype ( Grad Hold and Pre-Fill ), where most sailors spend weeks doing "make work"  activities to justify their pay checks

During all the above periods students are not only allowed to take leave, they are encouraged to take leave and the command even reccomends, but does not require, specific leave schedules.

Students only earn leave at the rate of 2.5 days per month, so they have to be in the military a year before they earn 30 days, but during Christmas break they routinely allow students to borrow leave, or go negative, as an encouragement for them to go home during a period it will least impact their training.

Proto-type is a 24x7, 365 day a year operation for the staff so they have different rules and incentives for not-taking, or taking leave while a student is classed up and fighting a deadline for completing proto-type, or as an alternative washing out of the Nuke program.

Much of the discussion recently has been about students leaving Nuke School during other times on leave or special liberty.  Other than the encouraged times noted above.

Most will fly Ohare, but some Midway. They will leave very early, the ceremony is great for boot camp, but the time you have with them although priceless is way to short! 

Hello! I have a cousin who is struggling with Nuke A school. He pretty much has just started, but is feeling very overwhelmed. Is there any way for him to transfer to a different job, such as master at arms or something else? What happens if he can't handle Nuke school and essentially flunks out? He would want to get out before that would happen, but he isn't sure what to do and is feeling a little lost so I thought I would come on here and try to get his questions answered!

Thanks!! :)

I'm on this group and Nuke Moms.  Anyone else?  I'm getting confused as to where I am learning what and was wondering if anyone has advice about that.  My SR will PIR 1/24/14 then head out for Goose Creek with EMNF rating if I am getting it right.

theresa320 - it's The Villas.  Look on the nuke moms site in the discussion forum there under "The Villas".  It has all the info for them..... 

A's momma, I am guessing that your sailor is going to be an Electrician's Mate (EM) once he gets to Goose Creek and into the Nuclear Pipeline.  The FN - which I believe you are referring to the Fireman reference is what they will be classified as until they graduate from A-school after his first six months of Electrician's Mate training at GC..  After that they will be considered a Petty Officer.  Hope that helps.

Just like to ask for prayers and good thoughts for our son in Power School (an ET) who's having a tough time.  His supervising petty officer has accused him of lying to an instructor regarding his homework and from what I can tell, our son did tell something to his instructor that wasn't true for one assignment.  He admits he screwed up although the initial statement was apparently inadvertent.  (I don'thave all the details yet but he had completed one half of an assignment and responded yes when his instructor asked if it was in his binder).  But now he's conerned he'll be masted and dropped from the nuclear program.  Very stressed out (as am I).  His supervising petty officer is not supportive and our son thinks he doesn't like him.  He can take his punishment if he deserves it but he'll be very disappointed if he's dropped from the program.  Anyway, I've seen many parents struggle on with their sailors on this website, both those that make it through the program and those that go another direction.  But prayers would be appreciated right now.  It's been several days since his meeting with his supervising petty officer and he hasn't heared anything at all.  Any suggestions would be helpful too, but I think this is something he's going to have to work out on his own with the chain of command.

Prayers for your son. My son failed out of Power school 3 days before the final. This is a very intense program and not for the faint of heart. Tell your son to hang in there. Even if for some reason he does not make it there are other options. I think the petty officers probably come across as being meaner than they really are. I am sure they have seen and heard it all. Make sure you are encouraging your son. I am sure he feels a bit alone with everything that is happening to him. 

Thanks tiggertime.  He goes to Captains Mast on Thursday.  He's not making any excuses which is good but we'll just have to see what happens on Thursday.  What did you son end up doing?

He is still in Goose Creek awaiting orders. They told him he would likely be there several months. He filled out a "dream sheet" of where he would like to go. He doesn't have to be on a carrier now since he won't be a Nuke MM, but he still requested a carrier versus a destroyer etc...He is out of the student dorms and in another building on base. He has 2 room mates. He won't earn his privileges like driving his car or wearing civilian clothes until next Wednesday. Keep me posted on what happens on Thursday. I posted a lengthy message about what my son went through on the Nuke moms page.

NavyNucDad,  sorry to hear about the Captains Mast on Thursday.

There was a lot of that when my sun was in A-School an Power School in 2011 and early 2012.

Back then the severity of punishment was sever, but the Commander back then lost his job over the process and severity of punishments ( that was my son's understanding ).

Captains Mast is a voluntary process on the part of your son, he does not have to agree to accept a Captains Mast and can insist on a Court Martial with legal representation provided by the Navy.  Not suggesting that would be the best course in this case. But it is his right.

He might want to seek legal council on base if being forced out of the military is still on the table ( or if he is innocent and they just will not listen to his side of the story ).

NavyNucDad - continuing to pray for your son.  Hope everything turns out well on Thursday.  Please keep us posted on the outcome.

Tiggertime - thank you for updating us on your son.....I hope he gets a carrier like he wants.  Keep us updated on where he ends up.

hello all!!

navynucdad--praying for your son and you.  it is hard not to be able to help.  like others have told you.  keep encouraging him.  that is the best help we can give them sometimes. 

Thanks all, the encouragement means a lot to us.

I am also on Nuke Moms and this group.  My son just graduated on 1/10/14.  He is an EM waiting to class up.  He thought that maybe they would start the first week of Feb. but is on clean up detail till then.  Have to earn their pay some way.  I printed off the list about surviving Nuke school. (hope this was okay) and am sending it to my son.  Maybe that will help when he starts class.

E'sMom - welcome!  By all means print off info and send it to your son!  Glad you found your way over here and to the nuke mom's group.  This group isn't quite as active as the nuke mom's group, but you can still find lots of friendly faces here ;-)

Feel free to ask any questions you may have - someone will surely be able to answer them for you!

B's Nuke Mom - Thanks for the welcome. 

When talking with my son as he had a little bump in the road in BC, he said to keep the letters coming.  I think even with being able to call now, the written word is still a nice thing for them to have.  Write to your Sailors and let them know that you are there for them.  It is something they can also hold in their hands.  It is more personal then a text or e-mail.  I still have my letters from BC, (30 some years ago) went through them the other day.  Mail call is an important part of the day even after BC. 

NavynucDad - Praying for you and your son also. 

Hi! I'm new to this group, my son will be starting Nuke school in early FEB. Just wondering if you guys can tell me what kind of stuff he is able to bring with him? Clothes, tv, game system???? Thanks!!!!

Hi Jen, He can bring his TV and gaming systems. But their room is more like a dorm room so not much room. Clothes send him his boxer and the rest of the clothes you can send later since he won't be able to wear them till he phases up, My son requested I bring his good pair of tennis shoes he was so happy to get rid of the boot camp ones. They can have their computer and phone. There is a best buy not too far if they need more electronics.

When my son was in Goose Creek the first thing he wanted was nicer quality  bedsheets.  That is probably one of the most useful things you can send him.

Do the sheets need to be white?

USPS tracking, like everything else about the United States Postal Service is second rate, and often un-reliable and totally unaccountable.

Tracking from Fed-Ex and UPS is predictable, and will provide your son/daughter with the date and time a package arrives at the mail room and usually who signed for it, immediately upon drop off at the mail room / loading dock at NNPTC.

At that point he / she can take the initiative and just go pick it up at the mail room with the tracking information.  The alternative is to wait for the notice they have a package to trickle down through the staff leadership and student leadership chain of command for his/her class.

The mail room staff wants to get rid of the package as soon as possible.  My husband would write our son's telephone number all over the boxes and more than half the time the mail room would call and leave a message to come pick it up.

Regardless of how your son/daughter is notified there is a package, he/she must go pick it up during hours the mail room is open.  The same is true for the paid P.O. Boxes just off campus, there is a mail room, to pickup packages, associated with those P.O. Boxes that is only open limited hours.

Receiving packages in a timely manner, like most things at NNPTC, is dependent on the students being proactive.

Zoraida - sorry you had a problem with your package.  I sent everything USPS (if it fits it ships) from CA to SC and never had a problem.  I sent a box a month and they would always get there in 2 days!  Couldn't believe it...the only reason it would sit longer is because my son didn't always have time to get to the mailroom (or the lines were too long & he didn't want to wait!).  I used their tracking too and as soon as I received the email that it arrived I would let him know (along with the tracking #).

The large box cost $15.10 by doing it all online......I haven't sent anything to him in NY yet, but will be soon.  Anxious to see how long it takes to get there....I hope we are as lucky getting packages to him there!

Thanks for the info!!!! I'm considering driving out there the weekend after he arrives to bring him his "stuff". So...tv, xbox, boxers, gym shoes, sheets, anything else? Does he need his pillow/blanket or is that provided? Should I also stock him up on body wash/deodorant stuff? What about school supplies, pens, paper, notebooks? I feel so lost! Help!

Jen - you can take him his own pillow/blanket - it would probably be nicer than what is provided!  I know my son went out & bought a new pillow & sheets right away! He can buy pretty much everything he needs at the Nex- there's a big Nex and a smaller one both there.  Usually it's just a matter of getting time to get there....it would probably be easier for him if you brought his deodorant & personal stuff & then he can buy more later when he needs it...

My son said he bought notebooks, paper, etc at the Nex.  If you have it you might as well take it - one less thing for him to worry about.

Just remember they don't have a lot of room to keep things - and they have room inspections so items will need to be put away! 

Subway cards are a good thing to give him too - that's the closest place on base to eat & often the galley is closed after they finish studying.