Navy: as appetizing as it seems?

[kufa]

I recently took ASVAB, a military apptitude test. I got a really high score on it and I've been getting all sorts of offers from the military. None of them had been too appetizing, but the most recent one from the navy caught my interest. They were offering me a job(I think they probably sent it to quite a few who got high enough scores) working with nuclear technology. That is something I would like to do. The only thing I'm afraid of is that it takes up a good four years of my life, if the offers not as good as it seems, I wont be able to leave it.

Has anyone on here done such a thing, and if so what was it like?

[KendallJ]

This is probably something revolving around nuclear aircraft carriers or nuclear submarines.

When I graduated from engineering school, every graduate got solicitations to join the sub program. I didn't, however, so I can't tall you much about it.

[SkyTrooper]

I recommend ROTC over enlisting, in general. You get the college experience and you get to "try on" navy life before you commit to it.

There are plenty of benefits to enlisting but just make sure you know what you're getting into. Life in the military is not easy. Bear in mind that nuke engineers in the navy are usually on submarines or the lower decks of surface ships.

[davidmsc]

Been in the Air Force for nearly 20 years, but have worked with and studied with several Navy folk -- including some nuke dudes who spent plenty of time at sea (and under it). My iimpression is that it is very grueling -- arguably the toughest non-combat job you can imagine -- but the shore leave and the extra pay (bonuses) definitely go a long way towards making it bearable -- especially for four years. The training is excellent, by all accounts.

And FWIW: military service to America is indeed a noble thing. Unquantifiable -- can't calculate how much $$ something like that is worth.

My advice -- do it. I have met very very few people who regret serving in the military, be it a four-year hitch or a career.

[kufa]

Thanks for the responses. davidmsc: I can handle toughness, your response made it all the more appetizing. I think I will probably do it. I've still got another year till I graduate, and then I'm going to travel for a while, but after that, I'll do it.

[Daniel Fritz]

You would be wasting six years, actually, two of which would be spent in what is possibly the most difficult nuclear science program on the planet. "Nukes" as we call them have tremendously high re-enlistment bonuses because the private sector is so anxious to hire immediately after the six years is up. I have heard that the bonus will soon be $100,000. Few re-enlist. The training is academically intense, but it's the (second) best job in the Navy.

If you are worried about the offer being a waste, I would only ask what your goals are. If you simply want to be able to make a living, it would be a good option. In fact, it's fair to say that you would be extremely wealthy without any college education.

Edited August 24, 2008 by Daniel Fritz

[Jake]

While you had a few good pieces of info about the Navy Nuke program...

The original and last posts in this thread were written over 15 months ago, and the original poster hasn't been seen in over 6 months.

Edit: Pilot, of course, is the best job in the Navy.

Edited August 24, 2008 by Jake

[Rearden_Steel]

I separated from the Navy about a year and a half ago. I severed on board a Nuclear Aircraft Carrier and have many friends who are Nukes. My advice is if your are really interested in engineering or nuclear physics go to college. Once you out of college you can go into the Navy as an nuke officer and have a better quality of life as well as much better pay.

The enlisted nukes (though highly trained) are for the most part are push buttons. Their hours are long and hard and when most of the crew is off in port visit’s the nukes are still kept aboard and don’t receive as much liberty. Your shifts are 14 hour days seven days a week for weeks or even month at a time while at sea. All in all it’s a hard life that’s why their community has one of the highest suicide rate in the military.

However the pay and advancement can be rather good and there are also many benefits as well.

If you don’t know what you want to do with your life and want see the world the enlisting in the Navy can be a great experience. However if you are interested in physics engineering or any other field you should go to college. Don’t join thinking that you will be working as an engineer. Also keep in mind there are other really great and some would say better rates and communities. I recommend looking at the IT or Information Tech rating which is a really great community as well and CT or Cryptographic Tech and last but certainty not least IS or Intelligence Specialist (my old rate).CT’s and IS’s are called spooks which are an elite class in themselves.

Email me if you have any more questions. As a former Petty Officer First Class and coming from a long line of Navy family members (both of my brother are still in) I have a lot of information about ratings and navy life in general.

They say join the Navy and see the world!. But they don’t tell you that two thirds of it is water!

Edited August 24, 2008 by Rearden_Steel

[JASKN]

I separated from the Navy about a year and a half ago. I severed on board a Nuclear Aircraft Carrier and have many friends who are Nukes. My advice[...]

[...]

They say join the Navy and see the world!. But they don’t tell you that two thirds of it is water!

I know someone whose Navy stories parallel this, who also worked around nukes. The way he describes life (on a submarine, at least) would I think deter anyone leaning toward any other life direction. Long, similar days, not much to do otherwise on board, and annoying issues of bureaucracy.