The 17 people that I need to help me design a new coin....

[Craig]

Dear Nuke Moms….
I need some help understanding the Nuke ratings…. 

A lot of you guys remember me from the boot camp era, I run a website called NavyDEP.com.  That website started in 2007.  To keep that website running and free for the future sailors I sell boot camp challenge coins on www.PIRGifts.com   I know some of you probably bought one for your sailors as a PIR gift. 
 
Many of the sailors I worked with on my website now have gone on and made their way to the fleet.  One item that many sailors in the Nuke rating ask is if I could make a coin for them since there is really not specific rating coin for the MM(n), ET(n), or EM(n) rating.

For some reason they lump all the MM(n), ET(n), and EM(n) nukes with the regular Navy MM, ET, and EM’s together.  Let’s face it, they are totally different.  They deserve their own rating challenge coin that is specific to them.  I know I would.  My old rating is the same way.  We have CTI, CTM, CTN, CTR, CTT all lumped in with the CT rating.  We are totally different.

So, this is where I need your help.
When I design coins I make them special.  I tell a story.  I want the sailors to be proud of having them and carrying them.  However, I don’t know the 1^st thing about the Nuke group. 

To have fun and to keep a flow of ideas going I will reward three (3) of you with a $100 each.  Contest will end in about 4 weeks ~ 13 Sept 2014.

Yes, being a sailor we have all sorts of contests to keep things fun, and let’s face it, I need help understating.  The front of the coin is geared to Goose Creek, or, Ballston Spa.  I know some of your training is at one, and some of your training is at the other.  The back will be for their specific rating.   

So what I need is:
I need 17 people that want to help me.  These people need to give really good info for me to understand the below.   I need honest effort.  Saying something like “Put an anchor” doesn’t really help.  I need specific things that mean something to Nukes.  This will be their coin.   

1.  What is something that is important in Goose Creek? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

2.  What is something that is important in Ballston Spa? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

Depending on your rating:
3.  What is three things that is important to a MM(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a ET(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a EM(n) that could be on a coin?

4.  I need to randomize the number to fairly let three people win the $100 money.  I’ll tell you more how the Colorado Power Ball lottery will chose the random number once I know who the people are…  But in the mean time.  When you sign up, give me two numbers between 1 and 35. Do not use a number that is already taken by the person above up....

Big thing:  You are working together as a team, so just throw ideas out there.  Give me anything you can think of.  Later on, the team will chose what's important and what's not.  The reward will be given to three random people, not to the one who can draw, or came up with the best idea.  All ideas are the best to me.  

So just to get things started.  I need 16 more people (with a total of 17) that want to do this. Once I find out who the 16 people are, then I’ll give you more info….  I will make a post in the discussion are, just reply to it, and the first 16 people (by date/time) order will be the ones I use. 
btw:  Since I pre-discussed this with B'sNukeMom to gather her thought, she is already on the list.

Since everyone has to pick two numbers, please let me know so we can get this part hammered out.  I love having fun, and this is the part we need to get finished 1st.

• B'sNukeMom  Picked 19 & 22
• Wendy & Family Craig picked 14 & 17
• Lynn Picked 12 & 21, 8isenuff had that number so Craig picked one. 
• UBU'sMom Picked 9 & 26
• Cybermom Picked 5 & 16
• CO-TwinSailorMom Picked 6 & 20
• TheBoyWonderMom Picked 15 & 23
• Nuke_ELT Picked 24 & 28
• A's_momma_Erin Picked 4 & 8
• 8isenuff Picked 7 & 21
• MN Mom of MM Picked 3 & 33
• 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 Picked 11 & 30
• britefuture Picked 31, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used. Now 27
• MichianaMom Picked 2, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used, 25
• MattsMom Picked 32, but needs to pick another one, 16 is already used. 29
• Christy Picked 10 & 29, 29 already used, Craig picked 13
• GRU_took_darsatm  Picked 18 & 34

1. - Lynn #1
2. - MichianaMom #1
3. - MN Mom of MM #1
4. - A's_momma_Erin #1
5. - Cybermom #1
6. - CO-TwinSailorMom #1
7. - 8isenuff #1
8. - A's_momma_Erin #2
9. - UBU'sMom #1
10. - Christy #1
11. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #1
12. - Lynn #2
13. - Christy #2  - Edit WINNER of 2nd  (9/10/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
14. - Wendy & family #1
15. - TheBoyWonderMom #1
16. - Cybermom #2
17. - Wendy & family #2
18. - GRU_took_darsatm  -  Edit - WINNER OF 1st (9/6/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!!
19. - B'sNukeMom #1
20. - CO-TwinSailorMom #2
21. - 8isenuff #2
22. - B'sNukeMom #2
23. - TheBoyWonderMom #2
24. - Nuke_ELT #1
25. - MichianaMom #2
26. - UBU'sMom #2
27. - britefuture #1  - Edit - WINNER of 3rd (9/13/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
28. - Nuke_ELT #2
29. - MattsMom #1
30. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #2
31. - britefuture #2
32. - MattsMom #2
33. - MN Mom of MM #2
34. - GRU_took_darsatm
35. -  DEAD NUMBER (Extra)

[MichianaMom]

I would like to help out. My son is an EM on grad hold. I pick numbers 2 and 11. Thanks for doing this!

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Hi All - well Craig, how are you doing on ideas/info?  I see there's some ideas being thrown around.....I'm hoping we get to talk to our son tomorrow night and I will ask him for some ideas. 

I see that Mark gave you the info you were looking for on the ELT's....

I like the idea of a different shaped coin.....

I also like the idea of somehow referencing "The Pipeline" since that is what the whole nuc school process is referred to. 

I'll keep thinking of things.

***Looks like we still need a few more people and remember to pick your 2 numbers***  Check the list above to see which #'s have been taken.

[A's_momma_Erin]

My EM is working on info as we speak. What a blessing to have him home to enlighten all of us on his perspective.

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Well I got a response to my text (surprise, surprise!) I sent my son asking him to tell me 3 things/ideas that mean something to him in nuke school.  Here's his response: "A clock cuz we don't have enough time in the day, wrenches and hammers cuz that's what we use, and a sub or carrier cuz that's what we work on".

HaHa - not a lot of info but at least he responded LOL.

[MattsMom]

I pick 16 and 32.  I will speak with my EM!

[MichianaMom]

Just wondering...at what point in the pipeline would the coin be "earned"? When they graduate Prototype? As there are coins for A school and Power School is there one for Prototype already? (My son isn't that far yet) Would it be earned once they get out to the fleet and are qualified on whatever ship or sub they are on? Maybe then we wouldn't need something from Goose Creek and/or Balston Spa but just a sub and aircraft carrier and then items representative of each specific rate. And maybe I am completely off track. Straighten me out if I am! I do like the idea of referencing "the pipeline"...

[UBU'sMom]

My son says dont forget the "sun" because its hot, hot in goose creek. (I say its hotter than 40 hells in goose creek, but I guess that can't go on a coin!lol). I like the idea of a diff shape and the pipeline is referred to very frequently

[UBU'sMom]

Hi again, I found explanations of the different classifications (MM etc) on the navy for dads page under nuke school in Charleston. Written in 2010, but seems accurate still. I will try to cut and paste and send it when I get on my computer.

[8isenuff (ET & MM)]

Craig,

Oops, sorry I didn't see that last night.  How about 21, please?  I think the responses you are getting are really great!  I know you do quality work, so it is exciting to think what you might come up with!

I like the pipeline idea, too.   

[MN Mom of MM]

just a few thoughts... something that shows the location such as image of SC  or NY in the background.... outline or image of  Rickover building  all the learning is done....image of binder or book and tools (pens, markers, numbers etc.)   I also have put the question to my sailor

[Craig]

Ok, we only have two more user left, then we are done with the list....
The only numbers left are:
1, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 25, 27, 29, 34

These users still need to pick a number.  Some of you we still need input from.  

• 2 number - Wendy & Family
• 2 number - Lynn
• 1 number - britefuture
• 1 number - MichianaMom
• 1 number - MattsMom

So look after this post, if someone above you (after this post) chose a number, then don't pick that again, choose another.  I'm just trying to make this as random as possible so when they pull the red Colorado powerball, we have a random winner...

This game is gonna be really fun, and lets face it, depending on the powerball drawn you could possible win twice or even all three time (but those odds just don't happen ~ha)....

Thanks again for providing great info.... Woo-hoo, Go Navy!!!

[MichianaMom]

I will pick 25. My EM son said these are some symbols that he feels represents his rate...a light bulb, ACDC, lightening bolt, ohms law (I=V/R), and their rating symbol, which is a globe with latitude and longitude lines on it (they wear this on their uniform). He's going to ask some buddies, too.