Nuke A school daily schedule - sailor's perspective

[Chipmunk]

My SN emailed this to me a couple of days after he actually started his "A" school classes at Goose Creek Oct 2, 2017. He is an ET but it should be a similar daily routine for many ET, EM, or MMs. I thought I would share it here for all of us new Nuke moms to get a better understanding of the time commitments that our sailors are involved in, and to help us when we don't hear from them. I had asked him for a short note, even just a one liner of what class was like and this is what he emailed to me. 

He did say that once they "phase up" (get a few tests under their belts and studying well) they don't have to all march in and do as many uniform inspections, I think, so that will give a little bit more leeway in their schedule!!

class = great, teachers = really great, lack of sleep = pretty bad
Schedule of nuke student
mon-friday
530 wake, line for breakfast, to-go box breakfast 
625 muster for 630 muster
650 march in to class
700-1455 class,study,lunch (to-go box suggested), class,study
1455 return to BEQ to change for... (BEQ = Bachelor Enlisted Quarters)

1530 PT or 5K
1615-1630, return to BEQ,shower, change back to NWU
1700 to-go box dinner, (take to class and eat while studying)

1730 2h minimum homework/study time (actually closer to 3.5 to make sure of everything)
2100 return, emails, finances,
2130 sleep (if fast/lucky) 2245 (if not)
and i have been told it gets harder as you get accustomed/stronger.

-- additional comments he added later --

PT only on tuesday, wednesday, thursday
and you sometimes have a duty day on saturday or sunday (about <or sometimes>3 hours of your day)
and on saturday or sunday you need to do laundry, ironing, and shoe shining to be ready for the next uniform inspection.  {Uniform inspections are on Friday, I think}

phase 1 has this, phase 2 or 3 have it a little looser, and after 3 exams with a greater than 3.20 GPA in each you have less required study hours.

**** My son said that each class (at least currently) was made up of 62 students (50% are MM, the other 50% a mixture of ET & EM).

Until they class up they will be in Indoc where they have lessons in life skills and have other duties they are assigned to do. Then when they "class up" they will have about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks of life skill lessons and study skill training before they start their lessons. All of this depends on whether there are enough sailors to start a class immediately or not. All FN & SN have to also be qualified to stand watch so it is best to get their UI (Under Instruction) training done before they class up, if possible, so they don't have to do those watch duties in addition to A school lesson time. So, some of your sailors may also have those UI's on weekends in addition to their lessons.

Hope this is helpful - Chipmunk

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

bump

[Pat]

Is there a daily schedule for Power School for MMs?

[Chipmunk]

Pat - I don't know whether anyone has tried to put out a daily schedule for Power School for MMs or not. Life got a little hectic for me while my son was going through PS and I didn't post much, mostly because the routine and schedule was very similar. The main difference was they had three subjects they were studying at a time versus one. Also, he did tell me that the MMs only had PT 1x/week + the 5K run, but other than that, it was all similar. 

Also, during Power School the three rates I think they are now MMN3, EMN3, and ETN3, are all in the same Class # but they still study separately, however, I believe some of their classes are the same subjects, because my son mentioned that the MMs would help with the mechanical questions and EMs and ETs with the electrical. So, I think there was a little more interaction between the rates but not for certain.

[sunnyFL]

Wow, just WOW...I did not realize the intensity of this program.  thanks Chipmunk

[Chipmunk]

Yes, sunnyFL - the Nuclear Pipeline is one of the most intense trainings in the military. They have A school, then Power School, and then Prototype. Your son's recruiter should have a pamphlet brochure that shows the Nuclear Pipeline and other options they can also take such as STA-21 (Seaman to Admiral). 

[Pat]

Is there a schedule for Power School?

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Pat - if you look in the Pages (18) on the main nuke page under the member profiles, there is a discussion about Power School.  It's actually older information but I think it's still fairly accurate.  It's not as detailed as what Chipmunk put together for A School but it gives you an idea.  I don't think that Chipmunk put together a schedule for Power School (did you Chipmunk?).

[momterp]

My son used to text me a picture of his class schedule and that way we knew when he had tests, which was helpful so we could encourage him and also not bother him when it was crunch time.

[Chipmunk]

Pat -  I didn't write up much of anything for Power School, because their schedule was very similar to A school. The main difference was that they would study three subjects at a time in general, I think. Be sure to check through all of my posts in this discussion, I added things as we went along.

Momterp - Thanks, I had forgotten that my sailor would take a picture of his tests, etc. Mostly, so that I would know and could pray for him. Pat - that can be hard to decipher so your Nuke might have to explain it at first. They still get done with classes on Friday afternoons and have part of their weekend free, unless they go in to study, usually on Sunday.

[Chipmunk]

After hearing today of water damage, due to an undisclosed cause in one of the BEQ's at GC, and the damage that was done to one or more sailor's belongings, I emailed a comment to my sailor (who is now in the fleet) and said, "This is why you have renter's insurance, even while in school."  I honestly did not expect a reply since he is currently out to sea, but I felt that what he had to say was fitting enough to add to my A school discussion and hopefully, it will help someone in the future.  The damage evidently was to clothes and electronics, to which my son replied: 

"Yep, that was the specific circumstance that was given to us in the training at the start of A-school when they highly recommended to us to get insurance. Ways to prevent the (very unlikely) occurrence.

1. Clothes aren't hurt by water, Maaaaybe dress whites, but those should be stored in a plastic cover to keep dust off already.

2 Tv, don't have one. Who needs a tv anymore, especially if you are in a tiny dorm for a few months or less (one friend moved no less than 7 times while he was at NNPTC.), and the lounge right downstairs has a tv if you want to hook up a console.

3. PlayStation, keep it locked in the plastic/metal drawers that should resist water when not in use.

4. Not sure why you would have an Alexa at NNPTC? - I don't recommend it.

5. Replacement phone cords and headphones (at least the headphones I buy, not the atrociously expensive $100+ apple headphones), which are admittedly more likely to be exposed, are still cheaper than a couple months of renters insurance if not paired with car insurance discounts like my current one."

"My computer box is all but waterproof, (he has covered the cardboard store box in several layers of duct tape)  and I prefer that trait much more than those offered by cases I could buy. I have for a while also thought about waterproofing my backpack, but it's already nearly impervious to rain, and I don't think I could make it immune to submersion due to the zippers, so the difference is minimal. Also I do think everyone should get a fire-safe box when they get the chance. {This was not mentioned much, but would have been very helpful, especially after moving out of the BEQs and into an apartment for Prototype.}

Planning reduces risk, some people's plan is to buy a reduction in risk, mine is to prepare for it. Reduce chance of occurrence and severity of occurrence, and if the severity/chance is still too high (like with a house, medical, or liability) I will also buy a reduction in risk for the short term.

Probably not a very sympathetic bent to my response, but I'm not likely to be the prime source of comfort anyway, maybe I can be a bit of advice though."

The bit of advice is why I posted this for future reference, not in anyway to deter from acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances that may have befallen our sailors. "We mourn with those who mourn."  

 

[Chipmunk]

bump

[CarmenJS]

Good morning Chipmunk,

We spoke to our son yesterday, he is an ET and he starts today, he has spent his last few weeks in Indoc and UI.  I think he's excited to get started in his program.  Hopefully all goes well.  We did ask him about his Christmas break and he said that is still uncertain.  We may be flying out there to see him, still not sure.  Any news on this from anyone would be helpful.

Best, 

Carmen