What can I expect from a SRO position? I'm sure it will be vastly different from my current situation (navy), but I'm basically wondering what's generally encountered on shift by an SRO. Also, what are the general expectations for dress and appearance? Any other thoughts would be wonderful to hear also.
You can expect the training to be harder than anything you have done in your life until that point (not from a material difficulty standpoint, rather a material volume standpoint).
You can expect a lot of paperwork, a lot of plant testing/surveillance's, a lot of exams, a lot of collateral duties, a lot of responsibilities that are too numerable to name here, a lot of stress, a lot of money and a lot of respect (depending on your attitude, of course).
You can expect that there will be nothing, at all similar (except nuclear BS), to your current situation as you thought. Well except that fission is fission and steam is steam and there are only so many ways to make it turn a turbine. That is where the similarities end.
In general, you can expect to wear slacks and some sort collared shirt like a polo or button down. Colors will vary by plant but they all (or at least most) wear an "ops uniform." You will be expected to be clean shaven (mustache ok), for the Scott air packs. I have heard a senior SRO tell a nub SRO that he "didn't look like an operator." I still don't know what that means, but if I figure it out, I will let you know.
Hope that helps.
Justin