Nuclear SWO

Well, I'm no expert, but I have a relative (through marriage) who is a sub officer. It's not just being at sea and underwater for months (six?). It's also no sunlight, no fresh air, and most importantly not being able to communicate with family. Said relative didn't know his child had been born for 5 weeks after the birth.
 
This thread is super interesting but my burning question having no military experience is - what is so unattractive about subs that there is discussion of draft or being voluntold? Just being underwater for months/weeks (no idea)?
The being underwater part may seem important to folks who have not spent much time at sea on Navy ships but I can tell you that our surface ships have few to no "windows" and large portions of our crews do not see the outside of the ship while at sea unless they really go out of their way to do so. This can easily go on for days and weeks for a lot of folks as they move from work to berthing compartment and the other places they move through on a daily basis. Engineers on a carrier for instance have to really go out of their way to see the outside while they're operating at sea.

What is left unsaid is that VERY different culture between the Submarine community and (most of) the rest of the Navy. Much much more detailed and procedure driven to the nth degree and generally with detailed academic level scientific level interest in areas that are largely ignored in the SWO community as an example.
 
My DD was screened into the Nuke interview and was asked to join the process last year. After discussing it with the cadre (or whatever they call it in NROTC!) she respectfully declined and ended up with her first choice of SWO.
Did your DD still do the interview or was she excused from the whole interview/test process and given SWO?
 
My DD was screened into the Nuke interview and was asked to join the process last year. After discussing it with the cadre (or whatever they call it in NROTC!) she respectfully declined and ended up with her first choice of SWO.
Did your DD still do the interview or was she excused from the whole interview/test process and given SWO?
She did not have to interview and selected SWO as first choice. She loves it!
 
She did not have to interview and selected SWO as first choice. She loves it!
I don't have the privileges to do a private conversation. Are you able to? If so, would you please send me PM about how your DD went about declining the interview?
 
I am making some assumptions here... but probably being a female played in her favor. There are only so many female sub slots. I know at USNA they are very competitive to get, probably same for NROTC. So if a female doesn’t want to go subs, it won’t happen. More women want subs then subs that can accommodate them. I think the number increases each year, which is a good thing in many ways. I have not heard of a surface nuke draft... maybe I missed. I think these factors probably played more into than anything.
 
I don't have the privileges to do a private conversation. Are you able to? If so, would you please send me PM about how your DD went about declining the interview?
I don't think the actual interview ever really got scheduled, however, I do know that she had several conversation with her class advisor (O-3) and the unit CO. I don't know how hard she had to push back. She was an engineer major, with decent grades, but not the top of the class. I suppose it could very well be easier for a woman to get out of it than a man, too. I would ask her more details, but she is currently deployed and out of communication at the moment.
 
From reading, it sounds like it is up to your son to be firm and make clear his desires. It may be a tough discussion, but it’s up to him. That’s where he is at in the process. Memphis has given very good advice, which arms your son with the proper tools to take care of his business.
As a mom, I get your concern. It’s very evident. But it doesn’t sounds like there is more to do other than let your son handle his business. GREAT tips for declining a spot! Lucky to have that insider info from Memphis. But now it’s up to your son, in his interview.

When is his interview? Let us know how it goes...will be curious!
 
From reading, it sounds like it is up to your son to be firm and make clear his desires. It may be a tough discussion, but it’s up to him. That’s where he is at in the process. Memphis has given very good advice, which arms your son with the proper tools to take care of his business.
As a mom, I get your concern. It’s very evident. But it doesn’t sounds like there is more to do other than let your son handle his business. GREAT tips for declining a spot! Lucky to have that insider info from Memphis. But now it’s up to your son, in his interview.

When is his interview? Let us know how it goes...will be curious!
He has not scheduled the interview yet. I will report back later.
 
I don't think the actual interview ever really got scheduled, however, I do know that she had several conversation with her class advisor (O-3) and the unit CO. I don't know how hard she had to push back. She was an engineer major, with decent grades, but not the top of the class. I suppose it could very well be easier for a woman to get out of it than a man, too. I would ask her more details, but she is currently deployed and out of communication at the moment.
Thank you for taking time getting back to me.
 
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