Well there are several approaches we have to consider on this issue. Most of the are "above my paygrade(thank you BHO)".
We have to maintain X number of qualified nukes in the program at all times. We make up for the ones that leave by training new ones. So in order to raise the overall quality of nukes we have to minimize losses of quality individuals and we have to raise the quality of new trainees. As the links provided earlier stated, 1 in 4 high school graduates are qualified to serve in the military. Now figure that is for all branches of service(we won't count Puddle Pirates at this point for argument sake). Supposedly Navy Nukes are the top 5% of the Navy. So now we are talking about 5% of 25%of all military candidates out of 25% of all high school graduates. So we are handicapped from the start.
Looking strictly at the new recruiting standpoint, we know that the truly intelligent high school graduates, for the most part, go off to college on scholarships. We might get a few of those kids if they party too much and lose their financial aid. So mostly our "pool" to draw from are those that made decent grades but not good enough to get a scholarship and have no other financial aid means to attend college. Of course there are the exceptions such as family tradition to serve, wanting to serve, and all those that really don't fit into any of those categories. Well now with all of these Lottery scholarships, easy to get college loans, and numerous other financial aids, that pool we had to draw from is getting smaller and smaller. So my solution is pretty simple. Get rid of a lot of these financial aid programs. I know that is going to ruffle A LOT of feathers, but if we truly want to see our military and in particular our Nuclear Navy get some better material to work with, it is an avenue that must be considered. It used to be that very few went to college. Those that did were either kids of rich parents, superstar athletes, or extremely smart individuals. Now anyone and everyone is in college and a lot of times it is for the wrong reasons(True story, heard a young lady-about 19 or so- say she wasn't in college to get a degree, she was there to find a husband to take care of her so she didn't have to work, and this was at a community college). I mean you can go to college to be a disc jockey on the radio. Hell you almost have to have a degree to be a disc jockey. So if we do away with all this Government backed financial aid and free college to anyone who wants to go just for the hell of it, then those that TRUELY want to go will see the MGIB as a viable option and head over to the recruiters office. As much as I hate to say it, but based on current events I don't think the "softer, more intelligent types" are going to be signing up in droves to be boots on the ground, which means they will steer themselves toward Navy and AF. VIOLA` we got a lot more people to choose from and can be much more selective in our recruiting process for Nuclear and afford to go back to attrition levels of the good ole' days. If all they give us is 6 years, well we aren't getting much more than that now but maybe, just maybe, a few might actually enjoy the job and stay on a little longer.
And that is how nuclear power works......