Graduating Senior

[NROTCdad]

Hello folks. My DS graduated and commissioned into the Navy last week and his first assignment (not sure what you call it) is at the Nuclear Power Command school in Charleston, SC. I was never in the military so I know nothing about this. Can anyone give or point me to any advice on that would help him? From talking to the NROTC leaders I got the feeling he is getting into something very difficult.

On another note, if any of your children go to school in Boston and are part of the Boston Consortium unit, they do an amazing commissioning ceremony. Being part of it is an indescribable feeling. Putting on his new bars and hat on the deck of the USS Constitution was thrilling.

Thanks for any help.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

Hello folks. My DS graduated and commissioned into the Navy last week and his first assignment (not sure what you call it) is at the Nuclear Power Command school in Charleston, SC. I was never in the military so I know nothing about this. Can anyone give or point me to any advice on that would help him? From talking to the NROTC leaders I got the feeling he is getting into something very difficult.

On another note, if any of your children go to school in Boston and are part of the Boston Consortium unit, they do an amazing commissioning ceremony. Being part of it is an indescribable feeling. Putting on his new bars and hat on the deck of the USS Constitution was thrilling.

Thanks for any help.

I suspect he is going to get plenty of guidance from his nuke advisor and from the school house itself. They usually send a PDF file like the one I attached here.

Or you can check out the "NavyDads" forum here.

Nuclear Power School

I just got off the phone with my son and he is so rattled and discouraged. He failed a physics exam today. He's got another exam Monday and another one next…

navydads.com

We have a STEM Professor type on here who might have some additional info. But since he's a nuke he's probably off somewhere optimizing a rubik's cube or something.

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello folks. My DS graduated and commissioned into the Navy last week and his first assignment (not sure what you call it) is at the Nuclear Power Command school in Charleston, SC. I was never in the military so I know nothing about this. Can anyone give or point me to any advice on that would help him? From talking to the NROTC leaders I got the feeling he is getting into something very difficult.

On another note, if any of your children go to school in Boston and are part of the Boston Consortium unit, they do an amazing commissioning ceremony. Being part of it is an indescribable feeling. Putting on his new bars and hat on the deck of the USS Constitution was thrilling.

Thanks for any help.

He’s likely going to nuke power school, then the nuclear prototype hands-on operation of a nuclear power plant, then to the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, assuming he is on the submarine officer career track. To go this career path, college STEM grades must be very good and other competitive hoops jumped through. He’ll spend 1.5 to just under 2 years in this training pipeline, then report to his first submarine for duty.

Nuke power school is difficult. There will be long hours of studying, but they don’t send people there they do not expect to succeed.

The “Silent Servce” is justifiably proud of its history and mission focus, and both officers and enlisted crew tend to be smart and professional. Post-service, there is plenty of job opportunity.

 

[WT Door]

Hello folks. My DS graduated and commissioned into the Navy last week and his first assignment (not sure what you call it) is at the Nuclear Power Command school in Charleston, SC. I was never in the military so I know nothing about this. Can anyone give or point me to any advice on that would help him? From talking to the NROTC leaders I got the feeling he is getting into something very difficult.

On another note, if any of your children go to school in Boston and are part of the Boston Consortium unit, they do an amazing commissioning ceremony. Being part of it is an indescribable feeling. Putting on his new bars and hat on the deck of the USS Constitution was thrilling.

Thanks for any help.

Congrats to your son. My son and some fellow nukes lived in Mt. Pleasant for Nuke school and then lived in Charleston for prototype training. Your son was carefully screened for the nuclear power training program. He had and oral interview with technical questions thrown at him by representatives from Naval Reactors. Obviously, he has the technical acumen to handle advance level courses in reactor chemistry, thermodynamics and the like. Nuclear power school is going to be very, very demanding. He’ll earn every penny of that nuke bonus. What I gleaned from my son is that one has to put in the study time. Tons and tons of study time. Study hours are logged and reported. Nukes are a different breed with exacting standards. If I remember correctly, 70% is not a passing grade in nuke school. 80% is passing. At Sub school DS told me that in one course (Rules of the Road?), 90% was passing. Encourage your son to get off to a good start, put in the time and stay on top of everything.

I’ll add that it wasn’t always study at Nuke School. DS and his friends got out to unwind at times. They visited Fort Sumter and other places, sampled the cuisine in and around Charleston and took in a Clemson football game. He said the atmosphere was wild.

Good luck to your son.

 

[USNA_STEM_Prof]

Hello folks. My DS graduated and commissioned into the Navy last week and his first assignment (not sure what you call it) is at the Nuclear Power Command school in Charleston, SC. I was never in the military so I know nothing about this. Can anyone give or point me to any advice on that would help him? From talking to the NROTC leaders I got the feeling he is getting into something very difficult.

I went through nuke school both enlisted and as an officer.

My short advice is "buckle up." Nuke school is very difficult and I once heard it described as the academic version of BUD/S (SEAL training). Students juggle three subjects at time, starting with Reactor Plant Systems (RPS), Math, and Physics. RPS is an overview and one week long, then switches out for chemistry. Math is three weeks if I recall correctly and then switches out for thermodynamics. This process continues for six months. Students stay in the same classroom and instructors rotate through, ~8-4pm, with mandatory evening study hours predicated on how the individual is performing. The material is classified so there's no studying at home. Tests occur frequently, typically 1-2/week and part of the challenge is the limited time the student has for an individual exam (very rare to finish early). Scores are posted by name, best to worst, with the failures highlighted (talk about peer pressure!).

Now, I've always been the "dumb smart kid" -- smart enough to get into the smart kid programs but then struggle. Nuke school, particularly as an officer was brutal for me. I averaged around 70-80 hours/week total in the schoolhouse for a 3.1 GPA. Comparatively, when enlisted I averaged 55-60 and had a 3.6. I bring this up because I hope your DS is similar to peers who had minds capable of far fewer hours and better grades than myself.

What if DS is more akin to myself in aptitude? I'll say this: once upon a time NNPTC had a mentality of failing as many people as possible. However, in the modern era the Navy knows that's an inefficient business practice. Significant screening goes into the officer applicants that are sent and the staff, which is generally phenomenal, works hard to get individuals across the line. I only saw a few people who legitimately could not make it. The others didn't want to put in the necessary effort to succeed in my opinion: yes, they logged 30 extra hours per week with evening / weekend study, but that time was spent feeling bad for themselves and whining, not hustling.

The six months end with the "comp", short for comprehensive exam, which is an eight hour test on everything. It's a lot of fun...
As others have mentioned, after comp the student then attends NPTU (prototype) either in South Carolina or up in New York. I did NY both times and enjoyed prototype much more. What I perhaps lacked in raw book smarts compared to my peers I made up for in practicality and application when actually operating a power plant. NPTU is shift work and a grind, don't get me wrong. Still very academic but also different.

My final comment is this advice: if you DS is offered attending SOBC (sub school) between nuke school (NNPTC) and prototype (NPTU) do not do it. Several peers took that route and while SOBC is a much better quality of life, those individuals regretted falling out of sync with their classmates and arrived to NPTU feeling that they had forgotten too much. None of them were glad they took that option. Anecdotal, but my observation.

Good luck!

Edit: Clearly, nuke school is hard. It's also worth it and I don't mean because of the large financial incentives. All of the successes I've had during my unique career I attribute to the individual I became via Admiral Rickover's legacy.

 

[hokiesfan]

My final comment is this advice: if you DS is offered attending SOBC (sub school) between nuke school (NNPTC) and prototype (NPTU) do not do it. Several peers took that route and while SOBC is a much better quality of life, those individuals regretted falling out of sync with their classmates and arrived to NPTU feeling that they had forgotten too much. None of them were glad they took that option. Anecdotal, but my observation.

Absolutely agree with this based on DS' experience. He wasn't given a choice, IIRC, because of delays in the nuke pipeline. He didn't find the academic level of nuke school especially hard but he found chasing signatures in prototype VERY frustrating. The crazy schedule and the constant push from above to be ahead of the curve because of the delays in the program were compounded by the pressure to get to his sub as quickly as possible because they were about to deploy, and that did not make for a great start to his sea tour. Had he done the program in order, I suspect the more relaxed pace of SOBC would have made for a better transition to the fleet.

 

[Proudmama1103]

My DS will be attending Nuke Power School. He just got his orders and has to check-in by a certain date and report a few days later. We are helping him move into his apartment and driving the Uhaul while he drives his car down. Question: is check-in just that? Just reporting in so they know you are at your duty station Or is it an all day thing? His check-in is no later than 0730 on a Friday with his report date the middle of the next week.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

My DS will be attending Nuke Power School. He just got his orders and has to check-in by a certain date and report a few days later. We are helping him move into his apartment and driving the Uhaul while he drives his car down. Question: is check-in just that? Just reporting in so they know you are at your duty station Or is it an all day thing? His check-in is no later than 0730 on a Friday with his report date the middle of the next week.

Typically, there is a check in No Earlier Than and No Later Then. That helps prevent back ups at the government lodging. Once he checks in and his orders are stamped, then he has officially reported for that duty.

In his orders, there should be notes about exactly what is required of him. There is also a phone number for the school house that he can contact. His NROTC unit has a nuclear engineer there who should have told him this.

Once a person has formally checked in, they could be sent to do administrative paperwork or they could just be told to go settle in with their household goods. It is best for him to call the school house to get his specific requirements.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

My nuclear engineer happened to pass me in the hallway, so I asked about the check in process. He seemed a bit confused that your DS has not been sent a check in form from the power school. Perhaps they do not have a good email address for him?

At any rate, please see the attached. There are some specific things that he will need to have ready during the check in process in order for it to proceed smoothly. And there is a phone number for him to call. Hope this helps.\\And in true nuclear fashion there are several pages of recommended math including differential and multi-variable calculus that he can dig into if he wants a head start

 

[Capt MJ]

Exactly as @GWU PNS says - check-ins at new duty stations, especially schoolhouses, can range from being handed a checklist that has you running around the base to check in at base medical clinic, dental clinic, personnel, security, in a mix of intra-command and typical new base check-in admin. Or you could be told to just show up in X uniform by 0700 in Room Z on Y date, go get settled in.


Your son can always call any points of contact at the schoolhouse listed on orders or other paperwork. All commands have an onboarding process. Being an Ensign has its advantages. Everyone knows you are cluelessly green about this PCS stuff. The worst thing he can do is not be proactive and make assumptions. Always better to make errors of commission than omission.

Oh - found this. Most commands have online onboarding gouge.
See the link near bottom of page for Officer students.

Naval Sea Systems Command > Home > NNPTC > Power School

 

[Capt MJ]

Think I cross-posted with my favorite NROTC PNS fellow captain!

Maybe @Proudmama1103 ’s son should have a parent drive him in his car while he dives into the advance problem sets in the back seat. Might as well get started on the two year brain grind sooner rather than later.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

And at the risk of beating a dead horse (but I'm in the Navy, so gimme my baseball bat).....this is straight from the check-in sheet.....

CHECKING INTO NNPTC.
1. Once you receive your orders to Nuclear Power School (NPS), it is highly recommended you contact the Assistant Director, Officer Department (ADOD) at 843-794- 8115 to discuss the timing and conduct of your check-in. We are here to help with your transition to the schoolhouse and encourage you to voice any questions or concerns you may have early and often. Contact in advance will also help us mutually ensure an efficient use of your time during check-in.

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

Think I cross-posted with my favorite NROTC PNS fellow captain!

Awwww

Hmm, wait a minute.....I think I'm the only NROTC PNS fellow captain here.......

 

[Proudmama1103]

Typically, there is a check in No Earlier Than and No Later Then. That helps prevent back ups at the government lodging. Once he checks in and his orders are stamped, then he has officially reported for that duty.

In his orders, there should be notes about exactly what is required of him. There is also a phone number for the school house that he can contact. His NROTC unit has a nuclear engineer there who should have told him this.

Once a person has formally checked in, they could be sent to do administrative paperwork or they could just be told to go settle in with their household goods. It is best for him to call the school house to get his specific requirements.

Thank you. He just commissioned from USNA. I know he is figuring it out. I am just trying to figure out my travel arrangements since now I am dealing with his move being in the middle of the week. Semper Gumpy and all...

 

[Capt MJ]

Awwww

Hmm, wait a minute.....I think I'm the only NROTC PNS fellow captain here.......

Just like when I hand a phone to my DH and tell him it’s his favorite (and only) brother on the phone.

 

[Capt MJ]

Thank you. He just commissioned from USNA. I know he is figuring it out. I am just trying to figure out my travel arrangements since now I am dealing with his move being in the middle of the week. Semper Gumpy and all...

Since he’s USNA, surely he has some classmates who have already started in an earlier section he could contact?

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

And if he asks you for help in paying for the U-Haul, you can just put your hand up and say.....Stop!! Some Captains already told me you get paid for this......and you got paid 30K for being a nuke!

 

[Proudmama1103]

Thank you all....I'll just wait to see what my DS says and be flexible. Good news is that I do not need to check in early. Hoping he gets answers to timing here to make the most efficient use of my time.
And I sure hope the fact he got his BS in nuclear engineering pays off here. This school does not sound fun at all!

 

[Proudmama1103]

Since he’s USNA, surely he has some classmates who have already started in an earlier section he could contact?

He is checking but since he is a nuclear engineering major he didn't have to do pre-school.

 

[Proudmama1103]

And if he asks you for help in paying for the U-Haul, you can just put your hand up and say.....Stop!! Some Captains already told me you get paid for this......and you got paid 30K for being a nuke!