need some reassurance, please!

[SonandSea]

Hi Nuke moms! My son signed his contract in Nov. He will be graduating in June and is leaving for boot camp in early August. He scored very well on his testing and is excited about becoming a nuke (MM). 

I am getting so freaked out about the schooling. I have read the worst things about about how terribly hard and stressful this program is. You hear of high rates of attrition, mental break-downs and even suicides. YIKES! 

My son is bright, but has never had to study. He is very motivated and is excellent at problem solving. His grades are just okay, but he tests very well.

He is a hard worker (when he is interested in the subject or sees a reason for learning said subject) and an innovative thinker. He has a entrepreneurial spirit and loves to think of new and better ways to do things, which might not be so great in the Navy.   He has friends and a sweet girlfriend, but had no desire for the college scene. He wants to get on with his career. 

I worry about his lack of study skills and the stress. I am hoping you all can "talk me down"! LOL! I am a positive thinker and I do believe he can succeed, but I am having a moment! 

I tell myself that most sailors make it through this program. Ah, help me out here, ladies!! :)

thanks so much! ♥

~dale 

sonandsea.blogspot.com

[JohnW58]

My son was also one who never cracked a book.  He breezed through school and did very well on tests.  His time at boot camp was typical and he did well.  A school and Nuke training went very well for him.  As he put it "wish he had known how to study the Navy way when he was in school".  He is now an instructor at the Nuke school.

[SonandSea]

That is awesome! I can not tell you how much all these positive comments have cheered me up! Thank you so much for sharing. And many thanks to your son for his service! ♥

 

[Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke]

Hi John, how long did you son spend out in the fleet before becoming an instructor?

[bobbysproudmom]

seadream-Dale-My son is nuke MM currently in Power school and doing well. In middle school he refused to do almost all homework-he knew he could ace the tests and he did. Rough on me-because a teacher (or two) would call almost daily to let me know he wouldn't do the homework or take any notes. Well-the Navy hasn't called once(lol) my son learned very quick to study as the Navy required.

Also-about the clean room--when he gets a hit or two on an inspection--he WILL clean it! :-)

[SonandSea]

LOL! No calls from the Navy, huh??  

Glad to hear that so many are succeeding in nuke school. I know you are proud of your son!!! 

And yes, I think my son will learn to be tidy VERY quickly!   In some ways the time is flying until he leaves, but some days I am thinking it is not getting here fast enough! LOL! 

Thank you so much for your encouraging comments!! And hope your son continues to have success!! ♥

 

[NF Mom]

I will also private message you with my son's own experience,

which should help greatly with your concerns.

 

This Nuke program is not a sink or swim program.

Public Schools, Public Colleges and Public Universities

are all examples of sink or swim where you are free to underperform.

This program is  more like a very invasive Religious Primary School.

 

I noticed you do not yet belong to the below group

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/Nuke_A_School_FAQ

 

I will private message you - but I can only send one, limited length private message until

you friend me.

[NF Mom]

Hi SeaDream,  welcome to the world of Nukes.

First congratulations on raising a son who is self aware enough, at such a young age,  to locate and choose a program that is entirely designed for him.  My son was 21 before he figured out he needed a program like this to challenge him and keep him on track.

Second take a deep breath, get a cup of coffee,  if that helps,  and spend the next few weeks educating yourself about a training program and career that is nothing like what your son, or you and I,  have ever seen before.

Third, keep in mind this is a totally a volunteer program similar to the Navy Seals.  Any one who wants out can get out, and they will be way ahead of those who never started.  Also the Navy is totally volunteer.  Recruiters lie, but they are under orders to out process anybody who changes their mind BEFORE going to boot camp, with no negative consequences to the individual who "signed the contract".  I did not believe this, but my husband, who is ex-military, found the regulations, and the orders from the Admiral in charge of the Navy Recruiting Command to prove to my son that he still had the option to walk away anytime before boot camp.

 

So you have plenty of time to educate yourself, advise your son, and if you feel it necessary, educate your son that he has made the wrong decision, but I am betting you will come to believe he made exactly the correct decision.

 

Just like my very doubtful husband came around after understanding the program in more depth.

 

My name is Irene, and my son is at Goose Creek, in the first, of three, very challenging educational programs which he must complete over the next two years if he is ever to become a Nuke.  I will follow this with a couple more private messages sharing my son's history and what we have found, in summary, unless you cry uncle and ask me to stop.

 

Irene

 

 

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

This is NOT like the SEAL program. In the SEAL program, you can drop at any point in time with no consequence. That is not what happens down in Goose Creek. Once you leave for boot camp, you're stuck to be quite honest. The only way to get out is to fail... And if you're purposely failing, they'll see that, and they'll make your life miserable because of it. 

Recruits really need to be educated on this program and sure it's what they want to do. It's not an easy path, and it's not something you can just walk away from once you're there. Sure, the education is great and so is the bonus, but it's a serious decision to make. 

[NF Mom]

Emily, since you replied to me, not seadream, we need to clarify some things.

We are both in agreement that both Nukes and Seals are volunteer only programs.

We are also in agreement that Nukes do not equal Seals.

We are in DISAGREEMENT if you are suggesting I said they are equal.

We are in Agreement that if you are going to purposely get out of the Nuke program you should do that before you go to boot camp, which is what I said.

We are in DISAGREEMENT if you are suggesting I said one should wait until they get to Goose Creek to find out if they want to join the Nuke program.  My only point is that there is still time to change your mind before you enter boot camp, and that in this specific case that date was many weeks away.

We are in Agreement, if we both agree the most important word in the following quote from you is "IF":

quote from Emily-aaronsgirl11: "And if you're purposely failing, they'll see that, and they'll make your life miserable because of it."

We are in DISAGREEMENT if you are suggesting anyone who tries and fails to complete the Nuke Training program will be worse off than if they never even tried.

Everyone who initially qualifies for the Nuke program is an exceptional individual, and, if for instance someone passed ET A school and then for any number of reasons, including simple inability to achieve the academic requirements of power school, they are out of the nuclear program, there remain many positive options which were not there before they completed boot camp and ET A school. 

 

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

Didn't mean to start drama...

Just wanted to make the point that once they're down there the only way out is failure. In the SEALs program, they are allowed to drop out at any point, go back to their ship, or get orders to a new ship. That's not the case in Goose Creek. They cannot ask to be removed and put into another program.. They just don't allow that in the Nuke program. 

[NF Mom]

Emily, I believe you are quoting words you do not fully understand the meaning of.

When someone drops out of the Seal program, they fail the Seal program, by your definition of failure.

And you are wrong about one thing.  You can always "ask to be removed and put in another program", no punishment for asking.

But the answer is going to depend on the needs of the Navy.  As long as the Navy is undermanned in Nukes,  and they have already invested so much in the person doing the asking, and that person remains qualified to be a Nuke,  the answer is going to be no.

However, that said, once someone does "fail" out of  any program,  the Navy is going to do with that individual what best meets the needs of the navy and the contractual obligations the Navy has to that individual.  Nukes do have a contract with the Navy and includes what happens in such circumstances.

Enlisted people in a position of limited authority often suggest a vindictiveness on the part of the military that simply does not exist.  These white lies are intended to motivate.

But again, to be a broken record, no one was suggesting what you continue to imply I was suggesting. That being:  that someon should go down to Goose Creek and then decide to get out of the Nuke program.

My opinion, and my suggestion to all, is they fully investigate the NUKE program before swearing onto active duty and NOT to go to boot camp if they do not want to be a NUKE.

The most important point, however, is no one should be concerned about being punished by the Navy for failure.  Repeating those kind of baseless threats serves no purpose.

 

[SonandSea]

Irene~ Many thanks for your response (and I sent you a msg). I do think this is the right choice for my son. He thinks so, too and is eager to start his trek. He is only a slight bit daunted by the things he has heard about this accelerated program. 

My older son has a friend who is 25 and in Power School and is doing well. He has communicated with my son and given him some insight into his experience. By the way, this guy was  pretty much a slacker, bagger at the grocery store for years after high school and the Navy has truly transformed him! 

So, we do think this is a good fit for our son and he is excited. I just got freaked out reading so many horror stories.

thanks SO much~Dale ♥

ps~ and I am eager for any and all info!