Career Path > Coming Back

Yet another Newbie thinking about getting back into Nuclear power

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gatordad699:
Greetings,

Male, Age 46, Retired Sub EMC, NPS Class 8406, SIU BS Degree.

I have been retired from the Navy and working at Caterpillar in East Peoria, IL for two years. The Exelon plant at Clinton, IL has offered to put me directly into a SRO class after working there for 6 months. I do not know anything about Civ Nuclear power and was wondering if I could ask a few questions. Sorry if they are answered in another post, I read posts for about two hours before asking these questions (trying to be good Nuc and research on my on).

1. Is Exelon/Clinton good company/plant to work for/at(did not see them mentioned in post about companies)?

2. Is 46 too old to be going into SRO class? Saw Broadzilla post were he said that SRO at 44 was no fun. I was ok student in Navy pipeline. Of course that was many, many years ago. I taught at both NFAS and NPTU, but am worried that I might not remember enough.

2a. Along those lines, I have not taken any test yet. Will I have to take any type of initial test to get in?

3. Read several posts on the timeline for SRO class. What I did not see was the hours you would be putting in during the class. 8, 9, 12 hour days? Do they have extra study if you need it?

3a. Is the class like NFAS/NPS with tons of theory? or is it more systems related?

4. Did not see anything talking about the hours for SRO once you are done with the class. I have read several articles about NRC not letting SROs work as many hours as in the past. What are the normal hours/workday like for an SRO?

5. Pay. They have not talked money with me yet. What is the pay like for SRO? Is there Bonus? Overtime? With my 2 weekend days of OT per month, I currently make about 85k/year. Would this be worth the move?

6. I am from the South. One of the reasons I chose Cat was the ability to transfer back down south in the future. Once you are a SRO is it possible/easy/hard to go work at another plant?

Thank you for any help.
Gatordad699 (Gators fan, first sub SSN699)

UncaBuffalo:

--- Quote from: gatordad699 on Feb 14, 2007, 10:51 ---d1. Is Exelon/Clinton good company/plant to work for/at(did not see them mentioned in post about companies)?

--- End quote ---

I liked Clinton 15 years ago under the previous owners, but...check out the 'Talk about: Clinton' forum...

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,950.0.html

Fermi2:

--- Quote from: gatordad699 on Feb 14, 2007, 10:51 ---Greetings,

Male, Age 46, Retired Sub EMC, NPS Class 8406, SIU BS Degree.

I have been retired from the Navy and working at Caterpillar in East Peoria, IL for two years. The Exelon plant at Clinton, IL has offered to put me directly into a SRO class after working there for 6 months. I do not know anything about Civ Nuclear power and was wondering if I could ask a few questions. Sorry if they are answered in another post, I read posts for about two hours before asking these questions (trying to be good Nuc and research on my on).

1. Is Exelon/Clinton good company/plant to work for/at(did not see them mentioned in post about companies)?

2. Is 46 too old to be going into SRO class? Saw Broadzilla post were he said that SRO at 44 was no fun. I was ok student in Navy pipeline. Of course that was many, many years ago. I taught at both NFAS and NPTU, but am worried that I might not remember enough.

2a. Along those lines, I have not taken any test yet. Will I have to take any type of initial test to get in?

3. Read several posts on the timeline for SRO class. What I did not see was the hours you would be putting in during the class. 8, 9, 12 hour days? Do they have extra study if you need it?

3a. Is the class like NFAS/NPS with tons of theory? or is it more systems related?

4. Did not see anything talking about the hours for SRO once you are done with the class. I have read several articles about NRC not letting SROs work as many hours as in the past. What are the normal hours/workday like for an SRO?

5. Pay. They have not talked money with me yet. What is the pay like for SRO? Is there Bonus? Overtime? With my 2 weekend days of OT per month, I currently make about 85k/year. Would this be worth the move?

6. I am from the South. One of the reasons I chose Cat was the ability to transfer back down south in the future. Once you are a SRO is it possible/easy/hard to go work at another plant?

Thank you for any help.
Gatordad699 (Gators fan, first sub SSN699)

--- End quote ---

Let's see if I can help.

1: Exellon has a good reputation HOWEVER they also expect you to sell your soul to them. They pay well but have serious repercussions for not following Exellon Standards.

2: Don't sweat not remember NPTU. You're going to a BWR so most of what you learned in Rookie League Ball does not apply. They teach the theory you need to know. I won't say 46 is too old but let me give some advice. License class is a LONG grueling Marathon with LOTS of peaks and Valleys. You will be treated at times like a child. It's been exhausting for me and I ALREADY knew how to get a License. I cannot imagine what it would be like starting fresh.

3: Depends on the schedule. At first my current class was on 5  8 hour days. Then 4 10 hour days Th-Sunday.  Now we're on 5  8s 3 to 11PM

3a: Not much theory after the first 8 weeks. Its VERY systems and integrated plant related. Later it's very Procedural related with failures thrown in during drills. You cannot just know the facts, you better understand how the system works when items are failed and how this fits into your Emergency Procedures. Also as an SRO you better know Admin procedures and the Law. You also have to know everyone elses procedures.

4: Online you'll work anywhere between 40 and 72 hours a week. During outages it'll be 72 Hours unless waived then who knows?

5: Most utilities do not pay SROs OT. I believe the average base rate is something like in the low to mid 80s. Many companies have Company Performance Bonuses. Also SROs get License Bonuses too, How it is paid depends on the Utility. My old company paid it 1/2 Semi Annually. TVA pays it as part of your pay check. I also get A shift differential bonus which is paid as part of my normal pay check. TVA pays bonuses for Refueling Outage Performance. The minimum I've ever made as an SRO is 105K and that was in 1997 when I first got my SRO License.

6: Licenses are not transferable and I'll speak realistically. By the time you get your License you'll be close to 48. You'll have no real experience yet and the License is really only worth something if you've used it. So lets say you do about 3 years as a Unit Supervisor which is what I'd look for if I was to hire you. Do you really want to change jobs at 51 years old?

By the way, if you want more info there are plenty of posts by myself, M1Ark and Roll Tide describing the training program and what's expected of you. Keep in mind the Operator in SRO is a misnomer because you'll never actually operate anything but you WILL be responsible for EVERYTHING that goes on in that plant.

Mike

MLew44:
Ditto EVERYTHING Mike said; not much to add to that.... I will say, it will be a tough nut starting from scratch. You will naturally compare the program to your Navy experience as you go through it, but you'd be better off minimizing that the best you can. Money-wise it will eventually be worthwhile. Question is, will you make it through the program? I have seen a couple of retired enlisted guys NOT make it through -- maybe in part because they thought they had done it all, seen it all, and didn't have anything else to prove to themselves. You have to ask yourself, are you really ready for this challenge? When an outage extends for a week, will you be the one who won't be griping and complaining because you have to work the extra time for no extra pay? When you fail an exam, are you one to get mad and pity yourself or will you really toughen up and improve your performance? During stressful moments in the control room, you'll be the leader... Besides the grades, your composure & response to those moments will be scrutinized. Your age will be a factor; you'll have to constantly remind yourself to keep an optomistic attitude.

I am a couple of years younger than you. I'm an SRO & shift manager; have been at a commercial PWR for 11 years, former 10 year Navy enlisted. Getting an SRO license and then actually succeeding in the job is the toughest thing I have done in my career.

Sorry for the lecture; I'm betting you know this this stuff. What would I do in your shoes? I'd go for it! Good luck.

M1Ark:
Everything Mike said.  Go for it.  It'll be the most rewarding thing you have ever done both financially and intellectually.

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