Picking a rating.

[nukemdukem]

I am a very visual person.  I love to design and problem solve things.  Always have.  What rating should I pick?

  Thanks!

[JustinHEMI05]

I am making the popcorn.

Justin

[Fermi2]

I am a very visual person.  I love to design and problem solve things.  Always have.  What rating should I pick?

  Thanks!

Uh yeah. how about FD (Fashion Designer)

Mike

[DSO]

I am a very visual person.  I love to design and problem solve things.  Always have.  What rating should I pick?

  Thanks!

You don't get to pick, but you might ask for "DQPO"--and I bet you will get it.Thats "Dumb Question Petty Officer"

[JustinHEMI05]

MMM this is good popcorn. 

Justin

[Rad Sponge]

If this is your thing "Problem Solving and Design", then do not go nuke, because you will have no chance or very little chance to design anything. Problem solving? Yes, to a point, but you will read a manual and follow a procedure to solve problems, not come up with ingenius solutions on your own.

Honestly, research the Engineering Aid (EA) rating.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyjobs/navyjobs2/blea.htm

[Samabby]

You will be ASSIGNED a rate in Great Lakes. Since there are three, you have at least a 1/3 rd chance of getting your choice. 

[nukemdukem]

If this is your thing "Problem Solving and Design", then do not go nuke, because you will have no chance or very little chance to design anything. Problem solving? Yes, to a point, but you will read a manual and follow a procedure to solve problems, not come up with ingenius solutions on your own.

Honestly, research the Engineering Aid (EA) rating.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyjobs/navyjobs2/blea.htm

Sounds somewhat interesting.  I still have no idea if I would enjoy nuke as much as that or which is more respectable.  I have a great mind for design and would hate to see it go to waste.  If someone says "I need this to do this" or whatever, I can probably think of it.

[Rad Sponge]

Well, there is little room for a designer in navy nukedom.

People, payed far more than you, wearing ties, are paid to design reactor components and fit them all together.

A nukes job is to operate it.

Most Navy jobs are like that. You evaluate and process data, operate equipment, and read procedures.

I mention EA, because it is the closest thing an enlisted man gets to engineering work. You would pick up skills in construction engineering that would benefit you if were to explore an education and career in Civil Engineering.

[93-383]

Well, there is little room for a designer in navy nukedom.

People, payed far more than you, wearing ties, are paid to design reactor components and fit them all together.

A nukes job is to operate it.

Most Navy jobs are like that. You evaluate and process data, operate equipment, and read procedures.

I mention EA, because it is the closest thing an enlisted man gets to engineering work. You would pick up skills in construction engineering that would benefit you if were to explore an education and career in Civil Engineering.

the problem with EA is they are pretty much draftsman and must already have training in drafting and cad work. I asked several guys I've known that did recruiter tours and none of them ever put in a EA they said it was very hard to get

[Rad Sponge]

This could be true, I know you have to have taken a full course in Trig.

[nukemdukem]

Well I have taken up to calc II. 

Can Navy nukes eventually be the ones who design the reactors?  How do you pursue that (i assume post-Navy?)?

[HydroDave63]

Sounds somewhat interesting.  I still have no idea if I would enjoy nuke as much as that or which is more respectable.  I have a great mind for design and would hate to see it go to waste.  If someone says "I need this to do this" or whatever, I can probably think of it.

So what do you design now? Or is this conjecture based on public schools...?

[ddklbl]

If this is your thing "Problem Solving and Design", then do not go nuke, because you will have no chance or very little chance to design anything. Problem solving? Yes, to a point, but you will read a manual and follow a procedure to solve problems, not come up with ingenius solutions on your own.

I don't necessarily agree.  When I checked out with my CMC, one of my biggest complaints that I unloaded on him was the verbatim compliance nazis.  Nowhere does any navy nuclear procedure incorporate battle damage.  You can't anticipate the results of taking a shot like the Stark or Cole.  You have to be able to adapt and overcome.  Geeze, I sound like Gunny Highway  .  Change the slightest variables with the San Fran and you could have had much more serious consequences (and I don't mean to marginalize the actualized hardships of that crew either).  There has to be a certain level of ingenuity within personnel to be able to counter any of the infinite un-analyzed scenarios.  Some answers are not found in the procedure.  Generally speaking, I don't think the navy does a good job developing an awareness for such things.  Certain a-holes, yes.  The program as a whole, no.

[mlslstephens]

Can Navy nukes eventually be the ones who design the reactors?  How do you pursue that (i assume post-Navy?)?

Do you normally wear bow ties?  Is there any tape holding your glasses together? Ever spend any time in a Turkish prison?...(oops sorry, wrong reference)

Can you even tie a bow tie?  If the answer to these questions is no, then you aren't ready to design nuclear reactors.

On a serious note, if you truly like designing things, then check out the CS rating.  That field needs people who can think out of the box.

X

[Fermi2]

Sounds somewhat interesting.  I still have no idea if I would enjoy nuke as much as that or which is more respectable.  I have a great mind for design and would hate to see it go to waste.  If someone says "I need this to do this" or whatever, I can probably think of it.

Outside of making model cars out of clay what exactly have you designed and what problems have you solved?

Mike

[mlslstephens]

I don't necessarily agree.  When I checked out with my CMC, one of my biggest complaints that I unloaded on him was the verbatim compliance nazis.  Nowhere does any navy nuclear procedure incorporate battle damage.  You can't anticipate the results of taking a shot like the Stark or Cole.  You have to be able to adapt and overcome.  Geeze, I sound like Gunny Highway  .  Change the slightest variables with the San Fran and you could have had much more serious consequences (and I don't mean to marginalize the actualized hardships of that crew either).  There has to be a certain level of ingenuity within personnel to be able to counter any of the infinite un-analyzed scenarios.  Some answers are not found in the procedure.  Generally speaking, I don't think the navy does a good job developing an awareness for such things.  Certain a-holes, yes.  The program as a whole, no.

I would like to use your own words to refute your response.  You say the Navy does not do a good job developing awareness for such things, but you use the USS Cole and the USS San Francisco as great examples where the Navy has done a good job.  The San Fran is an unbelievable example of this.  Having spoken to my friends who were on her when she hit the side of the mountain, there Navy training was instrumental in saving many lives.  The Cole, once again, great training led to great results and a minimization of loss.  What variables of the San Francisco would you like to change???  I can take any example of history (which means past where hind sight is perfect) and "change the variables" and have a much worse outcome.  Your argument doesn't hold much water here.

As for the verbatim compliance issue, the Navy doesn't teach verbatim compliance.  It does teach understanding, anticipation and procedural compliance.  I will be glad to argue the points of the Navy's view on instruction of nuclear power.  I'm quite qualified in this area.    

[Fermi2]

I deviated from procedure 3 times when I was in the Navy and got commended all three times because I realized the procedure would not work for the situation I was in and took appropriate action based on my training. I never heard anyone in the Navy leave the term "verbatim compliance" as a stand alone item. The words Intelligent Use Of Procedure were used a lot when explaining vErbatim Compliance and I bet they still are.

Mike

[mlslstephens]

I deviated from procedure 3 times when I was in the Navy and got commended all three times because I realized the procedure would not work for the situation I was in and took appropriate action based on my training. I never heard anyone in the Navy leave the term "verbatim compliance" as a stand alone item. The words Intelligent Use Of Procedure were used a lot when explaining vErbatim Compliance and I bet they still are.

Mike

Perfect example of my point.  Yes, BZ you are correct.  We have changed the wording from intelligent use of procedures to understanding and anticipation.  Many, and I mean many procedures have flaws.  Verbatim compliance would be a very bad thing.

[ddklbl]

I'm quite qualified in this area.    

Yes, XO.  I know your qualifications .  We are on the same page that the recovery of the Stark, Cole and San Fran are testaments to those crews.  I am trying to choose my words carefully, but I think that we have been very fortunate in all of our mishaps. 

My favorite checkout dealt with loss of control power.  The look on students faces was priceless when I told them I didn't care what your standing orders said when a certain #2 pump failed.  Anyone can memorize words.  I wanted to know what they would do when the one loop was isolated following a SLR and other operable means of pressure I&C became erratic.  I wanted them to tell me what to do when flooding was from one side and the other generator wouldn't tie on.  What would happen when fire spread in AMR2 making panels X,Y, and Z deranged?  I think I gave you a STaTs comment once because a Bettis lady came into one of these checkouts and asked why I wasn't following the volume 1 and challenged me on wether or not my questions were even legit.  I told her to pack sand.

As far as the six watchstanding principles, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree.  I had plenty of discussions with your shift engineers about the five, oft forgotten principles.  They were a matter of convenience for some of them, to be used as necessary.  I know that will probably torque you a little, but you weren't there during the closed door sessions I had with some of them. 

My last SE threatened to disqual me over a verbatim compliance issue.  Something akin to removing test leads from test jacks during a TP&CC before the procedure told you to.  He wasn't happy when I gave him lookups on procedural compliance in the T7, EDM, and ET Bible.  I'm sure I could have been a little more tactful, but you know me ...

[mlslstephens]

As far as the six watchstanding principles, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree. 

Thanks for the thoughtful response. This is why I love this forum.

I know that will probably torque you a little, but you weren't there during the closed door sessions I had with some of them. 

...me,  get torqued? 

[ddklbl]

You know honeycomb, this little segway wasn't too far off track.  I've done more damage elsewhere on these boards. 

I am just saying that I believe there is room for a creative spirit in the nuclear navy regardless of rating.  Each division is faced with problems that aren't easily addressed by the standard playbook.  Now, the OP shouldn't be misled into thinking he is designing or engineering anything per se.  But, rather, operating systems to their full capacity under a myriad of circumstances.

[Mike McFarlin]

And for some reason I thought this was about 'Picking a Rate'.   

I've noticed that they pick the skinny (can barely lift a pencil) guys for ET and then a little more muscular is the EM and the ones that are buff (muscular), handsome and strong for MM.  If that helps anyway.  Oh yeah the Really great MM's are picked for Submarines.  And, they go on to Welding and Diver school to complete the transformation to 'Fully Functional Nukedom'. 

Jason, Your were a MM, right?  

[JustinHEMI05]

Whatever you decide remember these hallowed words...

"Choose your rate, choose your fate." unknown many wise men


Justin

[xobxdoc]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


Okay you got me.  I was all of those things .... great now I've been out'ed.

The game is up.  The humiliation of it all. 

Hi'...My name is Jason.  I'm a MM.....(*the sound of sobbbing in the background ... the audience sobbbbbing in the background not me I'm a MM we don't sob). 

Chuck Norris was an MM


But, hey we need skinny guys to be nukes too.