Current nuke in NPS, just finished first half.

Im a junior in high school ive been talking to my local navy recruiter and he said he could help me become a navy nuke its something ive always wanted to do since i was about 9 ive always loved science and math but i feep as if i wont be good enough your video helped me releave some nerve but im still i bit nervous about going to basic and NNPS

9 years later after this video. You gave me a lot of confidence. I'm extremely nervous about the school. I'm very excited to go in, I'm hoping to continue with goverment work through DOE or Nasa. Something of that nature. Thank you for this video

Hey Peter, great video, saw you don’t upload anymore. Hope all is well

"Hey there everyone! My name is Chairman Mao!" (my intrusive thoughts)

I actually was supposed to retake the NAPT but dont have any more time to. Im really sad however I do have an Elite Job that I think would be fun.

Lots of changes since I went through Nuke Pwr School in Bainbridge, MD, 68-2 back in 1968. School was 8 months long, then 8 more months at NPTU in Ballston Spa. D1G was being refueled, so did S3G instead. Best thing I remember most was Moe's Sub Shop in Port Deposit, MD. Best friend to this day met his wife in Fiddler's Green one evening, and still married to this day. Most of those in 68-2 had college. Some even with 4-yr degrees. They did not want to be an officer. There were two of us just out of high school among all the "adults" in the class. 6yrs, 3mos, 28days later discharged exactly to the hour in Long Beach, CA. 4yrs and 2mos in #1ER and RX on the USS Truxtun DLG(N)-35 had us see almost every emergency and casualty procedure from MM A-school, except for a major steam leak. Even went dead in the water in the Tasmanian Sea while doing emergency training. Scrammed both reactors after the EOOW in #1 told the EPCP operator to switch load centers following a simulate major steam leak in #2ER. Dead bus. Too late. Was on upper level ER watch leaning on the LP turbine casing when I heard the main engine start to wind down. Was talking to a young 17yo non-Nuke kid who caught the ship in Perth. He was asking me what would happen if #2RX went down. I said we'd go dead in the water. Almost simultaneously that's when the main engine wound down. That young 17yo kid eventually years later was head of the IT Department at the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, TX. Dozens of stories. Should write a book. Scariest was when the EPCP operator tried to sync a 30Hz TG with a 15Hz MG set. It looked like the CTG jumped about a foot off the sub deck mounting simultaneously creating an energy ball that totally cooked the breaker just behind the TG workbench. We were told if the energy ball had come out of the breaker housing it would have bounced around the deck and may have killed us. Also, shot of water into a 10K SSTG totally wiped the Kingsbury thrust bearing clean of all babbit, leaving a deep blue burn in all the individual thrust plates. And, loss of main lube oil on main engine drill, engaged jacking gear but shaft started to turn before the locking plate could be engaged. Brass worm gear actually drove the gear to the jacking gear motor turning it toward 10K rpm before it blew apart. Pot metal was found all over the engine room, even by the DFT and Feed Control. I was just recently qualified on lower level ER TG watch. Amazing no one was killed with all that metal flying around the ER and the Still operator, Alan Souza (Maui, HI), standing directly above the jacking gear motor on deck grating. Dozens of more stories about what happened in the ERs over those 4 years and 2 months. Came aboard as an MM3. Discharged as the MM1 ERS. Great experiences to say the least. Definitely memorable! Would be interesting to visit Nuke Pwr School via SKYPE to answer questions from new Nukes these days.

My friends were nuke techs and they both really hated it. One got dis honorable discharge cuz he hated the military overall. The other one eventually ended up becoming an electrical engineer after the navy. He’s been working with power now for over ten years. What did you ended up doing after the navy? Or are you still in. I Have one more year left for my EE degree after this semester.

You're right, it's not college. But when combined with a hitch in the fleet, the company recruiters look past the college grads with no experience.

1

Weren't you in my 'A' School Class? I believe is was 1004MT. Or maybe it was 1005.

Good video

So I have a 3.9 GPA in Physics and already have my BS. I am currently going to a Ph.D. program in nuclear engineering, they decided to disqualifies me because of a college transcript that I have when I was 18 and was in a dark place of my life. I joined the Air Force to turn myself around and get a degree at a different college. I never got a grade of under a B since I joined the Air Force 6 years ago but they are going look at my transcript from 10 years ago to tell me that I am a poor student with horrible academic record. I try explaining it to them that this was a bad time of my life and I have change so much since I enlist in the military and would like to continue serving my country in the Navy. They told me that they will only look at my cumulative GPA and that they are doing me a favor since I would not be able to survive course work at Naval school on my poor academic record. Me having a 3.9 Physics degree, know that these people does not know how to listen.

Thank you for the information, and thank you for your service.

Sup nigga

Ty

Im looking into the Naval Reactor Engineer position within NUPOC, would I still be considered an officer? Also once I finish training and schooling in the program, the position said I'm non-operational and I wont be at sea. is that true? My guess is that I will be working for the fleet at different bases?

What do you do for a living now?

Did you still learn radar systems and theory, even though reactors don't have waveguides?

👍👏👏👏

Can anyone tell me about NUPOC? I am thinking about applying. I am a junior chemistry major at a well known university in the southeast. I have a 4.0 GPA and a 29 on the ACT (both of which they look at apparently).

Hey nice video, thanks for it.

I went to Nuke School Orlando from 90-91. EM. Prototype at NPTU Idaho until Nov 91, then off to the sub fleet at Pearl Harbor. USS Indianapolis from Nov 91- Jan 96 , EM2 and ship's diver. Stayed in Hawaii after for GI Bill at U of Hawaii...as my wife was born and raised there. At the time in 96...the economy was booming(first .com boom) and re-up bonuses for us was between 45 - 60K....in the mid 90's. I didn't even consider re-upping, which should tell you how much I hated it toward the end.

7904

As a Navy Nuke, we were made to think we were God’s gift to the Navy. I suspect it began in the recruiter’s office and continued through Nuke school. Naïveté! My advice, get rid of the ego. Today, I think I would smile (I am now) if someone bragged about their ASVAB, Nuke test scores or how many flags they won in boot camp. Yes, Nuke school was tough. I cannot imagine how much easier it would be with access to KZbin, Khan Academy, etc. There are other careers in the Navy that are just as difficult and in high demand. On a carrier, one soon realizes it’s all one big team. Respect them all. It’s amazing what is happening on the flight deck every day. There are others on the ship just as smart or smarter than you. Others may not be as book smart as you but they know more about their job (planes) than you. Be wise! Prepare Before Nuke School I read another post where the person said not to prepare. I disagree, 1000%. Study all you can, especially math. In “A” school (EM) I had a tough time with “order of operations”. I had not seen them in a long time. I did not have Google, KZbin, etc. I had to get up and go to the instructor. I got really frustrated. Years later, I taught DEV classes at a community college. The math was not hard; it was the rules (order of operations) that people had forgotten or never grasped. Now, many of them were going to be nurses and they had math requirements. I also taught HS advanced math and science (AP Physics). I once showed a video that showed the importance of math and how one could cover ALL HS math in 3-6 months. My advice: Go back and review, refresh and learn HS math. Go to Khan Academy and begin in K-gten and go as far as you can. You may be surprised at what you learn (or relearn) in 6th grade math. I’d say the math in Nuke school is not super hard; however, it may be super hard if you haven’t gone back and relearned some things. I had HS students that didn’t know the multiplication tables. First thing, I gave them a test on it. They knew them after that. Know that, what is 14x14? Know basic algebra... manipulating equations like I=E/R. You will prob see that equation even if you are a MM. Do not waste your time before going to school. Make a plan and spend time studying. Know Sine, Cosine, etc... know the formulas. Know how to use a calculator. It would NOT hurt to start memorizing things. One can increase memory. It’s like a muscle. You will be required to memorize things and just know things, especially in prototype - “draw the reactor coolant system”. Getting Kicked Out Most people I knew that got kicked out were kicked out for drugs (marijuana) or underage drinking. I played basketball a lot... it’s amazing how many former Nukes I saw handing out basketballs. Nuke “A” / Power / Prototype Some did great in “A” school but not in Power. I knew one guy who thought he was God’s gift to intelligence in Power school but did poorly in Prototype. Later on the ship, it seems he got in serious trouble. I did average in “A” school, better in “Power” but excelled in Protype. I could have been an instructor. I quailed 1st I think. Not bragging just worked hard and good timing. Joe R I remember Joe R. He was quiet and focused. He would come into Power School and sit down. He started working and 45 minutes later he put his books up and left. He was never arrogant, that I recall. I think he must have had some of the things previously in a college class or had a really good Physics teacher. Others messed around... laughing, etc. we were there till midnight while Joe was relaxing watching a movie or getting rest. My last advice : If you can go in as an officer ... do it. Let the Navy pay for your college. If you can go to college instead ... do it. There is a reason most people are 6 and done. Seek the Lord early (Psalm 105:4). Nothing else matters more. Salvation is in Christ (Acts 4:12, 2:38). USS Enterprise (CVN-65) 1989-1995

What would possess someone to volunteer to work in a nuclear reactor that's on a boat and the boat is underwater? We have some amazing people in this country!

Hello Mr. Lee. i just saw your video and thought it was very informative, so thank you for that. i am currently signed as a nuke and leave in april 2020 but i do have concerns when it comes to the pace of everything. i went to school for two years and things got expensive so i decided to join after getting married to my husband. i have heard so many mixed reviews about being a nuke and i just want to know what to expect on a broad spectrum of things. if you could please email me (for some reason i’m never able to see the notifications from my youtube account) so if you could just email me directly at [email protected] that would be lovely. happy holidays and thank you for your service.

Got into A school thinking I was the smartest guy I knew. Everyone in your class at NNPTC was probably the smartest person at their school. There will be geniuses among other geniuses. School was rough as hell. Glad I'm out now

So currently i’m a high school student and i’ve already sworn in as a GSE(Gas turbine electrician).My ship date is after high school which is july 15th,2020.... However, i actually qualified myself to be a nuke. My recruiter told me all the good things about it that day and i said that i’ll consider changing my rate to be nuke(mainly because of money). Nowww, if i were to go to nuke school,my fear is being the dumbest one there. I got an 86 on the asvab which barely qualified me to take the NAPT test. I just took the test today and failed it. Somehow, the guys at the office wants me to retake it after a month or two... I’m just not sure what to do anymore...

I have an associates degree, I want to finish my degree while in the Navy, I took the NAPT, and now I’m due to ship out sometime next year. I want to get my degree in physics while in the Navy, how do I go about that? Online courses or can I go to school while in the program?

How many people don’t make it through the pipeline because of failing exams?

This was a very informative video. Thanks for discussing the rigors of Nuke school. If I didn’t have a graduate degree, I’d go for it. I like learning, but after going through two graduate programs, school has gotten tiring. I still want to join the navy, but will try for a job related to my graduate degree.

dude i massively appreciated this. got a 92 on asvab and considering a job in IT, CTI, or NF. i want to challenge myself so nuke school is enticing but i’m not sure what rate to push for. i’d say i enjoy physical labor so MM sounds up my alley but could you attest to the other rates? also what is kinda apart of daily life on a carrier/sub? am i pulling 24hr shifts often?

Is it possible for a nuke to be as fit as a Navy SEAL?

how was the security clearance process? my father still has a Chinese green card

Finally found a good Video abut NF training. Thank you. I know its all classified, the meat of it. But this information was very valuable to me.

Shit was fucking trash, don't do it kids

Hi Peter! Thank you so much for your video -- it provided a lot more insight compared to the other videos and posts I've seen on the internet thus far. I was originally looking into being a corpsman and am putting that on the back burner as I've heard that advancement is slow and currently not in high demand. My recruiters have been pushing me towards the nuke program because of my ASVAB score, however, I am reluctant to sign into the nuclear field as I would like to hear more about the daily life on the fleet? I hear it is rough but the enlistment bonus is very tempting and was told that career opportunities are 'endless' after finishing the contract, so I'm trying to do as much research as I can before signing because everyone's said that it's a very hard job but you're compensated fairly for it? What was your experience with this? Do you also know anyone who went the officer route after A school? *I read into several of the comments and your replies; I saw that you got your degree using the GI bill and have plans for medical school (congratulations!)* I was wondering if you could provide some insight as to how were/are career opportunities in the nuclear field after you finished your contract (or for anyone else you've known)? Sorry that my post isn't the most concise -- I've wanted to be a dentist ever since freshman year of high school and had a change of heart after getting my BS in Biology this year and although I've been exposed to STEM courses, engineering and the like haven't been on my radar until now so any and all input/advice is very much appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Yeah, that was pretty much the way is was for me. I went through Orlando and Balston Spa in '79-'80 as an "EM". The last of the "IC" rating was just ending at that time. Spent 4 years on USS Nimitz CVN-68. Studying never stopped because you're always learning your next watch station or teaching the new guys. Most people I talk to have no clue what I used to do. But most everything that I've done since has seemed a little easier because of what I went through to make it. Congrats on qualifiying RO. I've often wondered what its all like down there now after almost 35 years. I'm sure they've made a lot of changes.

LOL you can tell a fellow nerd when he uses the word "hammered" to mean working and studying hard.

NPS 8903 (proto in Idaho) then 5 years on SSN-646. Oh, and then 16 years in the Marine Corps. Orlando is long gone but the ghosts still inhabit the dark side...

Hello I'm super interested in a career with the nukes. I'm a high school senior and I wasn't the most attentive student in math classes. My question is whether or not I should self study things like physics and chemistry before even taking my asvab or just focus on things like algebra and trig? Thank you in advance

Hey I just want to say thanks for this video I’m starting nuke school in a couple months and I’ve been freaking out about it this video given me a semblance of confidence on the matter so thank you sir

Im one month away from going to boot camp and then nuke school and this absalutely has helped me ease my nerves

Hey man how was the culture in the navy? Especially being an Asian American how was it in there? I recently finished college with a chemical engineering degree. Wondering about enlisting or officer. Thanks a lot for your story it was really helpful

Well said, Brother Lee. Well done. Class 7803 Sec.12 (Orlando) & MARF (S7G) Prototype (NY) EO here. Plankowner: Arkansas (CGN-41). Made EM1 a year before EAOS.

Hey Future Sailor here, bout to hit the road for Great Lakes in September then off to Nuke School. Thanks for the tips, I can't help but be nervous for the future but your pointers are sure to help.

I got a 74 on my asvab and I got 254 on my NUC(VE+AR+MK+MC) score which makes me eligible for the nuke program without taking the NAPT but my recruiter wants me to retake the asvab. So that I can get a EL(AR+MK+EI+GS) of 252 also because it was too low. If i got high enough scores on both of these what are my chances of getting into the program because I am going to be a senior in high school next year and my grades have not been good for my previous years.

I got into Nuke!