Need Better Info. on Nuke Program

[LaviniaSkies]

My husband just went to Great Lakes as an Enlisted-Nuke after a year-long process of trying to go to OCS and being told to reapply later.

My husband:
1. Has a Bachelors in Math, graduating with Honors and thesis work.
2. Made a "perfect score" on the ASVAB. Twice.
3. Meets all physical requirements.

However, he was denied entry for (Nuke.) OCS this time around because he did not do as well as he could have in Graduate school due to serious burn-out and the Navy Nuclear heads were worried about how committed he would be for their program.

He is (we both are) very, very committed to the Navy and to the Nuke program no matter what, but I wonder if there really is any chance of him still possibly going to OCS later and what he would need to do?

Thank you for your time and I greatly appreciate all of you!!!

[NukeLDO]

Excel at everything.
Unfortunately, he's already enlisted, so he'll get exactly what he signed up for.  He wasn't interested in another field?  Because officer anything beats enlisted nuke any day...particularly on payday.

[xforcehunter]

He will probably have a better shot at OCS after he gets down to A school in Charleston.  But, he's gonna have to work for it!  If he is as committed as you say, then he will get a good recommendation from his supervisors and the CO.  Getting the best recommendation possible from your CO is probably the biggest helper to any OCS application!  I'd have to agree with NukeLDO though.....don't restrict yourself to the nuclear community.  The Navy offers several engineering related fields.  Being flexible will definitely improve your husband's chances of being accepted.  Good luck, and welcome to the Navy! 

[Gamecock]

The Navy offers several engineering related fields.  

The guy has a math degree...so he is not going to get into the Civil Engineering Corps or Engineering Duty Officer communities.

His best bet if he can't get nuke would be Surface Warfare (SWO).

Cheers,
GC

[Harley Rider]

Excel at everything.
Unfortunately, he's already enlisted, so he'll get exactly what he signed up for.  He wasn't interested in another field?  Because officer anything beats enlisted nuke any day...particularly on payday.

You know I am getting darn tired of people on this site saying how bad it is to be a "enlisted Nuke". I was an "enlisted Nuke" and was damn proud to have served 24 years as an "enlisted Nuke". You want misery,,,become an Officer in the Naval nuclear community. I have never seen people treated so poorly and with such disrespect from their superiors in my life. As far as payday goes (Officer vs Enlisted) I would be happy to compare my checkbook balance to any 0-10 on down (The disclaimer there being invest wisely). I had fun as an "enlisted Nuke". I enjoyed my job and I took care of my Sailors because for me that was job one. My whole point here is I respectfully disagree with you NukeLDO, Officer anything does not necessarily beat enlisted Nuke "anyday" and quite frankly I find your remarks insulting and lacking merit especially coming from a former "enlisted Nuke".

[JustinHEMI05]

Man, if my second XO was allowed to take his "petty" officers with him I would still be in the Navy. 

Justin

[NukeLDO]

You know I am getting darn tired of people on this site saying how bad it is to be a "enlisted Nuke". I was an "enlisted Nuke" and was damn proud to have served 24 years as an "enlisted Nuke". You want misery,,,become an Officer in the Naval nuclear community. I have never seen people treated so poorly and with such disrespect from their superiors in my life. As far as payday goes (Officer vs Enlisted) I would be happy to compare my checkbook balance to any 0-10 on down (The disclaimer there being invest wisely). I had fun as an "enlisted Nuke". I enjoyed my job and I took care of my Sailors because for me that was job one. My whole point here is I respectfully disagree with you NukeLDO, Officer anything does not necessarily beat enlisted Nuke "anyday" and quite frankly I find your remarks insulting and lacking merit especially coming from a former "enlisted Nuke".

No disrespect or insult intended.  Without doubt, junior officer in a submarine wardroom is probably one of the toughest jobs in the Navy.  Treated like crap by qualified enlisted and senior officer alike.  But, the job is different from that of an enlisted man.  Believe me, I enjoyed my time in blue too...I also thought there were some things that just plain sucked.  And on the suck scale, if I have to do it, I prefer to be paid highly for it (highly being a relative term).  Sheep are a nickle a herd if wearing blue, but wearing khaki, you stand a chance of getting 7.5 cents a herd, as well as learning some things the rest of the blueshirt nuke crowd doesn't get to....like the shipdriving piece of it.  That's why they get the extra 2.5 cents per herd.   
And hey...we're allowed to disagree from time to time....Peace.

[NukeLDO]

And, this wasn't a lets compare paychecks or bank accounts comment.  The facts are that after 20 years, you get 50% of your base pay as retirement.  The pay tables are a matter of public record and anyone can do the math. 
That's not to say I do this for the money....in fact, in order to accept a commission from Chief to Ensign, I took a pay cut.  Looking back, as an E-5 with two kids and wife, I'm not sure how I did it (phenomenon where expenses grow to meet/exceed bank account).  I do it because I still like it, get a sense of job satisfaction, and for the most part, work with some great people.  As has been said many times on here, if you're doing it for the money, you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

[Gamecock]

You know I am getting darn tired of people on this site saying how bad it is to be a "enlisted Nuke". I was an "enlisted Nuke" and was damn proud to have served 24 years as an "enlisted Nuke". You want misery,,,become an Officer in the Naval nuclear community. I have never seen people treated so poorly and with such disrespect from their superiors in my life. As far as payday goes (Officer vs Enlisted) I would be happy to compare my checkbook balance to any 0-10 on down (The disclaimer there being invest wisely). I had fun as an "enlisted Nuke". I enjoyed my job and I took care of my Sailors because for me that was job one. My whole point here is I respectfully disagree with you NukeLDO, Officer anything does not necessarily beat enlisted Nuke "anyday" and quite frankly I find your remarks insulting and lacking merit especially coming from a former "enlisted Nuke".

I think every O-ganger who posts here is prior Enlisted.  I know I am proud to have served as blueshirt, and look back on that time fondly.

BTW....I never was miserable as a nuke JO and was never treated with disrespect from a superior.  Maybe I'm the exception.

Cheers,
GC

[Harley Rider]

Sheep are a nickle a herd if wearing blue, but wearing khaki, you stand a chance of getting 7.5 cents a herd, as well as learning some things the rest of the blueshirt nuke crowd doesn't get to....like the shipdriving piece of it.  That's why they get the extra 2.5 cents per herd.   
And hey...we're allowed to disagree from time to time....Peace.

Qualified OOD underway on the USS Enterprise 1998. I realize that it highly unusual however it can be done even by us lowly enlisted folks.

As has been said many times on here, if you're doing it for the money, you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

I swear to you as sure as I am typing this I have never and I mean never talked to a LDO who when asked by me why he was leaving his community replied with: because the retirement pay is better or I'll will make more money OR it was the fact that he could not make Chief. For some God awful reason the Navy has it in their minds that you can take a First Class, who can't make Chief, and make him a LDO. Nothing worse than a prior submariner First Class LDO going to a carrier as a TA. I have met exactly one in that category that was worth his salt and if he reads this post he will know it is him to which I refer. He was the exception not the rule. The prior surface First Class LDOs are not much better. So according to you they are all doing it for the wrong reasons and I completely agree. No, I do not dislike the LDO community. I have known many that I have respected greatly.

I think every O-ganger who posts here is prior Enlisted.  I know I am proud to have served as blueshirt, and look back on that time fondly.

BTW....I never was miserable as a nuke JO and was never treated with disrespect from a superior.  Maybe I'm the exception.

Cheers,
GC

Most prior enlisted were not treated as badly by the Reactor Officers and PAs as were the line bubbas. I could speak for hours on this specific subject and how we have really screwed ourselves in the Naval Nuclear Officer ranks,,,,especially the JOs but alas I have been supplying the grid all night down here in Central Louisiana from clean / green nuclear power and I am wore slap out. Don't take my opinions personal fellas because they are just that,,,my opinions and despite inflation a penny is still a good investment for many peoples thoughts. My apologies to the original poster for getting off subject. Be safe

[xforcehunter]

I think we've gotten a little off topic....

[Gamecock]

Off topic is fine.......sometimes.

It can keep a somewhat mundane topic such as this one interesting.

Cheers,
GC

[Marlin]

   Officer and or enlisted experiences vary greatly between commands and individuals. I was on two fast attacks and the hours worked by our JOs was not enviable. When I got out my first job out of the Navy was trouble shooting and writing PMS for the Navy. My DOD ID card gave my the equivalent rank of Cmdr for purposes of accommodation when I was on a ship or stayed on base overnight. When I did my research to answer problem reports I would go to a ship and introduce myself to the XO, I would then be passed down until I did my investigation/inspection with the division chief or his rep. If I was on board through a meal, I ate in the ward room on the opposite end of the table from the captain and with the division officer I was supporting next to me. We waited on the captain or his leave to eat without him, I found this very alien and wished I could have been in the crews mess instead. I know the ward room was not always this formal but I certainly felt much more comfortable in a blue collar environment.
   This is all little odd when you consider that my Meyers-Briggs exam  resulted in a ENTJ which shows that I am most comfortable as a manager. My last job was as a Superintendent for a remediation project, I was very comfortable with this but then it was a very blue collar job with equipment operators, laborers, technicians etc. working for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator
   We have had many noted enlisted personell who were not comfortable with the officer route, Audie Murphy being the best example I can think of who initially turned down a battlefield promotion but eventually accepted under pressure. A large number of chiefs I worked with were very happy in their blue collar role and would not have given up their status as a chief for gold braid. So to wrap this up before I ramble much more, although I was more comfortable being enlisted if I had made the Navy a career I would have persued one of the career paths that would have led me to LDO. It is amazing what opportunities come available when you are at the end of your enlistment.  You and your husband may have a better view of what you want later in his enlistment.