The "New" Nuke Program...

[dagiffy]

Ok, this is my first post. Warm, friendly greetings everyone.

The reason I am posting is because a young gentleman of about 20 just took his ASVAB (score of 83) and was told he could be a Navy Nuke. They told him, and I quote, "Push button E4 out of A School, E5 out of NPTU plus 25K for making it through the program, 60K re-enlistment bonus, bright future of fun, frolic and frivolity in the US Navy."

Needless to say, I helped calibrate his perceptions, but as to the financial and rank rewards, well they just seemed astronomical to me. I went into the program in 1984 and what they get now dwarfs what we got.

Does anyone know, is this fella giving me the straight dope?

[proud dad]

First thing,I thank you for you prior service.
From what my son has been through and what I have read here,the advancements and bonus are as your friend stated.Sign on bonus varies as to ship date(RTC).
 I would hope that part of your "calibrate" program was to send the youngster to nukeworker.com to read the coments from people curently in the program.Whether your experience was good or bad I would guess that his navy might be a little different from your navy.
Alan

[Gamecock]

Re-enlistment money can be as high as $100K these days, so, if anything, those numbers you posted are low.

[Samabby]

My only challenge would be regarding " E-5 out of NTPU " . This one is not an automatic promotion unless your young friend gets a Staff Pick Up assignment and extends.

[Golly Orby]

Here is the most recent Enlistment Bonus information I've seen.  I've quoted the Nuclear Field bonuses:

NF: Nov-Jan $18,000
NF: Feb-May $20,000
NF: Jun-Oct $16,000

Source:   http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navybonuses/a/enlbonus.htm

[Wareal]

The numbers quoted are relatively accurate.  The enlistment bonus has increased a good bit just in the last three years.  It may be increased for prior college.  My son has been in three years as of 1/3/09.  He was a push button E4 out of A school.  He's a SPU ET and has been an E5 for six months.  His reenlistment bonus was considerably more than $60,000.  The "fun and frivolity", I'm not so sure about.

[sullied]

Speaking from direct experience here. E-4 out of A-school is guaranteed unless there's some sort of disciplinary action. E-5 out of NPTU is an absolute lie...it's very likely to get it soon after leaving...but it's no guarantee at all. It is, however, automatic if he STAR reenlists after his two-year point and adds on another 2 years to his already 6 year contract. There's no $25K for making it through the program. You get the enlistment bonus that's offered to you depending on what time of year, but that's all. Half is paid out after A-school...if I remember correctly. The other half is paid after NPTU (that one I'm sure of). 60K reenlistment bonus could be low...depends on what rate he's selected as. ET's get the highest bonuses...and they are over 60K easily. Of course, the bright future of fun, frolic and frivolity is left to one's own perceptions. However, I must say that 95% of the people don't see that from day to day.

[dagiffy]

Well, the calibration I gave him was more about the Navy, not the Nuke part. I'd gotten to know him a little..ie..he has no use for the "dress code" here at work, is late almost every day, etc. I told him that "hurry up and wait" is a way of life in the Navy, that most times you will wait in line an hour for chow after marching, in the rain, and no one will care if you are soaked, they don't care if you'd rather not do GQ because you had a late night playing cards, etc. You know, that kind of thing.

We have since had to let him go because of his habits, which seemed mainly that he used this job as a way to further "express himself". I'm sure his recruiter has told him all kinds of stuff, I just don't think that m.o. is going to fly in the military. But maybe the Navy, from boot camp on out to discharge, has changed in 20 years? Maybe now it's changed so that his Company Commander can demand one thing but since he feels like doing another, that's ok. He's a really nice kid, friendly, etc. It's just that, no matter what you tell him, he knows better...even if he's never done it before.

Wow, the money is amazing now. I remember I got 2k for getting through NPTU and the re-enlistment was 30K for two years. The only thing I'd change about it now is that I'd never, ever go on a carrier if I had the choice. Did we have a choice? I can't remember...

[93-383]

Well, the calibration I gave him was more about the Navy, not the Nuke part. I'd gotten to know him a little..ie..he has no use for the "dress code" here at work, is late almost every day, etc. I told him that "hurry up and wait" is a way of life in the Navy, that most times you will wait in line an hour for chow after marching, in the rain, and no one will care if you are soaked, they don't care if you'd rather not do GQ because you had a late night playing cards, etc. You know, that kind of thing.

We have since had to let him go because of his habits, which seemed mainly that he used this job as a way to further "express himself". I'm sure his recruiter has told him all kinds of stuff, I just don't think that m.o. is going to fly in the military. But maybe the Navy, from boot camp on out to discharge, has changed in 20 years? Maybe now it's changed so that his Company Commander can demand one thing but since he feels like doing another, that's ok. He's a really nice kid, friendly, etc. It's just that, no matter what you tell him, he knows better...even if he's never done it before.

Wow, the money is amazing now. I remember I got 2k for getting through NPTU and the re-enlistment was 30K for two years. The only thing I'd change about it now is that I'd never, ever go on a carrier if I had the choice. Did we have a choice? I can't remember...

Maybe it would be good for him. That kinda reminds me of how I was 10 years ago before I joined. I got sold a lot of "stuff" from the recruiter and enlisted, the adjustments was very tough but I think I am a better person for it. For example I just looked the other day I looked at my transcripts I graduated HS with a 2.53 GPA I wasn't dumb I just didn't apply myself typical D and F on homework and A and B on the test. My current college GPA is a 3.37. The military can change people for the better but it's not gentle. 

[sullied]

Maybe it would be good for him. That kinda reminds me of how I was 10 years ago before I joined. I got sold a lot of "stuff" from the recruiter and enlisted, the adjustments was very tough but I think I am a better person for it. For example I just looked the other day I looked at my transcripts I graduated HS with a 2.53 GPA I wasn't dumb I just didn't apply myself typical D and F on homework and A and B on the test. My current college GPA is a 3.37. The military can change people for the better but it's not gentle. 

Was it the military that changed you or was it just you becoming more mature? Most people lose their bad habits when they get past their early 20s. I know this is really off-topic for the post, just thought I'd throw it out there.

Daggify: You should've had a choice of carrier, sub, or cruiser...they were all around when you were in. But you're right on the other things...that sort of attitude doesnt work with the military. But, like 93-383 said, maybe boot camp will change him.

[Wanna Know Mom]

I do believe the initial Nuke contract is 8 years, not 6.  (the last 2 years are inactive reserves.  If you were in DEP prior to AD then subtract 1 month for every month of DEP).    Kathy VPNM

[Gamecock]

Daggify: You should've had a choice of carrier, sub, or cruiser.

Wrong....the only choice there was or is currently available is whether to volunteer for subs or not.  You couldn't choose CVN or CGN.

If you didn't volunteer subs (and in some cases even if you did volunteer subs), you got assigned to a surface nuclear ship in accordance with the "needs of the navy."

[Samabby]

That " dress code issue " still might present a challenge or two. 

[dagiffy]

Wow, an eight year commitment. I don't think it was like that when I went in, it was only six and you were OUT afterward if you discharged. Well, hopefully my ex-coworker goes into the program, loves it and lives happily ever after.

[Gamecock]

It still is 6 and out.  However, you are still in the inactive reserves for an additional 2 years.  This is  the same as it was when I entered active service in 1990.

[dagiffy]

maybe it was that way in 1984, too. I can't remember ever hearing or thinking about it, though.

[JustinHEMI05]

maybe it was that way in 1984, too. I can't remember ever hearing or thinking about it, though.

You wouldn't unless things got so bad that they needed the inactive reserve. At that point, we are pretty much screwed.

Justin

[Preciousblue1965]

Well, the calibration I gave him was more about the Navy, not the Nuke part. I'd gotten to know him a little..ie..he has no use for the "dress code" here at work, is late almost every day, etc. I told him that "hurry up and wait" is a way of life in the Navy, that most times you will wait in line an hour for chow after marching, in the rain, and no one will care if you are soaked, they don't care if you'd rather not do GQ because you had a late night playing cards, etc. You know, that kind of thing.

We have since had to let him go because of his habits, which seemed mainly that he used this job as a way to further "express himself". I'm sure his recruiter has told him all kinds of stuff, I just don't think that m.o. is going to fly in the military. But maybe the Navy, from boot camp on out to discharge, has changed in 20 years? Maybe now it's changed so that his Company Commander can demand one thing but since he feels like doing another, that's ok. He's a really nice kid, friendly, etc. It's just that, no matter what you tell him, he knows better...even if he's never done it before.

Wow, the money is amazing now. I remember I got 2k for getting through NPTU and the re-enlistment was 30K for two years. The only thing I'd change about it now is that I'd never, ever go on a carrier if I had the choice. Did we have a choice? I can't remember...

I am seriously supprised we haven't heard from HydroDave on this one.......


300 Quatloos against the newcomer.

[PapaBear765]

Was it the military that changed you or was it just you becoming more mature? Most people lose their bad habits when they get past their early 20s. I know this is really off-topic for the post, just thought I'd throw it out there.

I've asked myself that many times: do I attribute who I am now to growing up in general, or due to my time in the navy/nuke navy?  I'll take the cop-out and say it's both.  You either grow up or you don't (see pro athletes), but the nature of your adulthood depends on how you grew up.  The nuclear navy atmosphere, being on a sub, etc. can't help but produce an adult who's more pragmatic than the average person.  I have to check myself sometimes when dealing with the "normies" out there like an auto mechanic who shears the bolt off of my truck's valve cover.

[HydroDave63]

300 Quatloos against the newcomer.

Good luck finding someone to take the bet!

However...plenty of those that get bumped from the program, still have fun at sea and wise up later, so there is always hope!

[grimmreaper42]

The first reenlistment went goes up to 90k now and ET multipliers are pretty ridiculous. If you want you can fiddle with the SRB Calculator https://staynavytools.bol.navy.mil/SRB/Default.aspx . The 90k is for the STAR. You should use one of the NUC 3363 NEC's or one of the other numbers....don't remember what's surface and what's subs, put in a rough estimate of 2 years till someone does a STAR and reenlistment term is 6.

[JustinHEMI05]

Still not worth it.

Justin

[mlslstephens]

Been there; done that.  I got several T-shirts.    Some have battery acid, others have carbon dust.  However, my last few t-shirts are still in pristine condition.  Now all I have to show for my time is two DD-214s, a shadow box, and a sword over the mantle.

Oh yeah, and a monthly check for doing nothing.  [If you turn your computer speakers up real loud, you just might hear the Navy Hymn playing in the background]

Just kidding Justin, I'm not that much of a diggit.

[JustinHEMI05]

Been there; done that.  I got several T-shirts.    Some have battery acid, others have carbon dust.  However, my last few t-shirts are still in pristine condition.  Now all I have to show for my time is two DD-214s, a shadow box, and a sword over the mantle.

Oh yeah, and a monthly check for doing nothing.  [If you turn your computer speakers up real loud, you just might hear the Navy Hymn playing in the background]

Just kidding Justin, I'm not that much of a diggit.

Still not worth it. 

Justin

[withroaj]

Still not worth it. 

Justin

Didn't your reenlistment allow you to qualify T-EOOW and wind up instant SRO in a big kids' plant?  You might not have pulled off SRO with just six-and-out.  Still not worth it?