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)

[MattsMom]

I pick 29.  Thanks!!

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Ok - so we got to talk to our son last night - I had already posted what his ideas were before, but he told me he went in to work and asked around for ideas and this is what they came up with:

Son: An orange traffic cone mom.

Me: Why an orange traffic cone?

Son (& buddies): Because every day when we go into work it's like we are sitting on top of a traffic cone. On good days you just feel the tip of it and on bad days you feel the whole cone up your A**.

Me: Well that's an interesting analogy.

Son: yep - some days it's harder to get sign-offs and you really feel it!

So Craig - I don't know how well an orange traffic cone would work on the coin, but it's my son & his buddies take on prototype some days! LOL

[britefuture]

Ok, how about 27?

[britefuture]

Hi all. I spoke to my nutty nuke yesterday. He was really excited about this project. He is an MM and had an idea of an Atom with the MM rating symbol in the nucleus. I wasn't sure about it until I got home and Googled the two symbols. He also said that there aren't really landmarks up there, like in GC. Other than the mountains. We could use the beloved symbolic buildings of NYC or the Statue of Liberty. But that may take away from it being about the Nuke's. 

[8isenuff (ET & MM)]

I think I read somewhere on this board that the coin does not need to be round.  So, here is another suggestion:  What if it could be shaped like the atom itself?  That symbol seems to be on lots of things that are Nuke related (NNPTC sign, the middle of the Spine at NNPTC, logo on shirts and mugs, etc.)  I know it is the ET symbol, per se, but I would think it would be instantly recognizable by anyone with a nuke affiliation, even if it had to be modified slightly to add other things.  Something different, and just a thought.   

[Craig]

Ok, everything updated in original post.  I had to select some numbers (Lynn and Christy) since those numbers were all ready used.

I have only one more spot for  18 & 34.....

So, now that the hard part is done, let keep sending in anything that come to your mind.  I want to see what I have to work with, then I can figure out what I want to do...

I truly can't wait for the 1st Colorado red power ball number comes up.  This should be really fun...  If #35 comes up, I will need to figure out what to do.  But I truly don't think I need to worry about that.  Not once have I ever guess a power ball number... 

Have fun guys....  I will be in randomly looking at the info....

[Craig]

So can someone explain the different parts of training.  I only know them as "1st part" and "proto type".  Are there others?  What is the "first part" called?
Thanks....

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Craig - the order is "A" school, Power School and then Prototype school. Look in the discussion forum - I bumped "Your sailors schedule on arrival to GC". It explains each of the schools. This should help you a bit!

[8isenuff (ET & MM)]

Hi Craig,

Yes, what B'sNukeMom said.  :-)  A school is 14 weeks for MMs, 24 weeks for EMs and ETs.  Then Power School is 24  weeks on top of that.  And then Prototype, for however long that takes--another 6 months or so?  My kids are still in Power School, so I have no idea.  What I have picked up is that it is an extraordinarily challenging program to complete.  That explains why we are so excited for each other when our sailors are successful!  And why we are so tickled that you are excited about doing this! :-)

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

1. A school the start of the pipeline
2. T track a holding section of the pipeline.
3. Power school middle section, tough part, learning the nitty gritty has the BiG graduation at the end of it. My son's had 400+ sailors graduating. they hold it on that circular center quad of Goose Creek campus.
4 Grad Hold another holding time, perform duties like work in the store, move stuff, etc...or relocate to Ballston spa if you are going there for Prototype.
5. Prototype running a reactor. apply what they learn ending with big bad Comps on the whole shabang.

Is that what you meant by explaining the whole thing? and If I am not accurate or specific enough some one with more experience please pipe in.

[⚓ darsatm ⚓]

if i understad #18 and #34 are the only numbers left... so I pick thoses...??????

[MichianaMom]

A suggestion is the words "knowledge, integrity, excellence". They appear everywhere. I'm going to try to attach a pic of the design on the sweatshirt I bought at NNPTC, it incorporates a lot of symbols.