Nuke Deppers, Ship Dates, and Stories

[Golly Orby]

23-year-old factory worker here.  I didn't go to college after high school, and instead ended up at the local beef packing plant as a line worker (knives).

I've been told this program is a good route to go for someone with no college who works hard and learns fast.  I scored 97 on the ASVAB, and 62 on the NFQT (for academic waiver) for those curious and skeptical of my background.  Before I signed the contract, I read everything I could from this forum, and I'm pretty comfortable accepting the answers I've gotten.

However, "six-and-out, bachelors degree" keeps coming up often in resumes that I'm reading.  Is this possible when starting from 0 credits and serving aboard a submarine?  I understand that I'll be expected to qualify, too.  How important is it to have an accompanying degree when going civilian after service?  It's a credit to this forum that this minor nag is the only thing I can think of asking.

[JustinHEMI05]

It should be "six and out, degree optional." That said, I am speaking only in reference to the commercial nuke world and starting as an NLO in operations. That is the simple nuts and bolts to a great career path.

Justin

[PapaBear765]

It should be "six and out, degree optional." That said, I am speaking only in reference to the commercial nuke world and starting as an NLO in operations. That is the simple nuts and bolts to a great career path.

Justin

What would be a realistic starting pay (on average) for someone who does 6 and gets out with no EOOW/EWS qual and no degree?

[JohnK87]

What would be a realistic starting pay (on average) for someone who does 6 and gets out with no EOOW/EWS qual and no degree?

$15-25/hr as a nonlicensed operator or apprentice maintenance.

[JustinHEMI05]

What would be a realistic starting pay (on average) for someone who does 6 and gets out with no EOOW/EWS qual and no degree?

NLOs at my plant start at 28/hr top out at 39/hr in about 3 years.

Justin

[withroaj]

Does 8-and-out or 10-and-out look worse than 6-and-out?  From what my recently out of Navy and hired buddies tell me, greater than six years begs the question, "why didn't you stay in?"

[Preciousblue1965]

Does 8-and-out or 10-and-out look worse than 6-and-out?  From what my recently out of Navy and hired buddies tell me, greater than six years begs the question, "why didn't you stay in?"

I can't see how 8-and-out would be considered all that bad.  Generally that is quite a few nukes that only re-up once to get that bonus and shore duty.  Anything more than 10 I could see as having possible implications but either way a nuke is a nuke. 

[JustinHEMI05]

I think a lot of it will depend on what you did with that 8 or 10 and out. I have two friends right now that went the 8 or 10 and out route but in that extra time, did nothing to advance their careers. No degrees, no advanced quals, no special duty, no nothing. So they are getting the following question at their interviews;

"So why didn't you qualify EWS with all of this extra time?"

Ouch, not a question I would want. So far, they are still looking. Not that I don't think they will get hired, but at the place they asked that question, they will not.

I think if you are going to stay 8 or 10 and out you need to do something productive with the time. That time should be spent resume building so that you can hire into a higher position than if you had done 6 and out. In my opinion, unless by choice, if you got hired into the same position as a 6 and outter with 10 years in, you are doing something wrong.

Justin

[Preciousblue1965]

Justin Definitely agree with you on that on.  I know I got asked what my qual levels were for my job and I don't even work in the nuke operations industry.  Yea if you are over 8 without EWS/PPWS most employers that know anything about the Navy nuke world are going to want to know why.  Unless you were LIMDU for like 2 years or something that severe that might just assume that you weren't considered supervisor material by the Navy.

[geek_chic]

Hey everyone! I've been reading a bunch of posts on here and they have been so helpful! It's nice to see posts from people ranging from deppers to retired nukes. I'm 17 and I'm depped into the nuclear field. My ship date is 14 April 2009. I really don't want to have to wait that long, but that was one of the soonest dates they had for a female. What are the top three most important things to know going into basic? Just keeping my eyes open for new facts. Not only is it fun to learn about all this stuff, but I'm sure that a lot of these random tidbits will be useful at some point later on. Thanks!

[Fermi2]

Actually you don't need to know anything for basic. Just have fun in your last days as a civilian and no matter what comes your way in the Navy think "This too shall pass".

You'll do fine.

Mike

[HydroDave63]

What are the top three most important things to know going into basic?

1. Boys are trouble

2. If you study hard and work harder, nuclear power is very rewarding and worth the effort.

3. If you let the boys distract you, you'll still go to sea, but not in nearly as cool of a job.

[Fermi2]

Boys are trouble. You'll have time for boys later in life.

Keep your nose clean and do not get yourself wrapped up in anyone elses drama. Prior to getting yourself involved in someone elses issue ask yourself IS THIS MY PROBLEM? 100% of the time you'll find out the answer is no.

Never and I repeat NEVER loan another sailor money no matter what the circumstances, they make the exact same as you do, do not finance their lifestyle.

[JustinHEMI05]

Like the others said, you are likely to meet the love of your life in the pipeline. Well, let me tell you... they are not the love of your life.

Justin

[geek_chic]

Haha, thanks. I'm not sure that this advice is exclusive to the Navy though. Perhaps more ladies should be reading this What exactly is the current ratio of guys to gals? I know that I'm definitely outnumbered, but I heard everywhere from 1:8 to 1:24 from different people. I really have no interest in guys so I guess this puts one major distraction out of my way. Were girls really that big a distraction for you guys? Vice versa? Thanks again 

[Preciousblue1965]

Well if I had a nickel for everytime I saw a female nuke get married to a male nuke that was in the Pipeline around the same time, well I would have a butt load of nickels.  Yes you will be the receiver of a lot of attention in the pipeline.  Probably more than you have ever before.  You will be outnumber greatly.  About 20:1 is a good average.  Just remember that life is not secluded to the social microcosm that is the Navy Nuke Program.  I can say that I have seen a few Nuke marriage work, but most have not.  Generally what happens is that two nukes meet each other on the smoke pad or in class or whatever.  They start dating, about a month or two later decide to get hitched so they can live in base housing, she inevitably gets pregnant and gets about 8 months of LIMDU/TAD at medical/dental/PSD then gets a hardship discharge, the guy graduates the pipeline and off they go to the real Navy where he is working all the time or out to sea and money is tight and bada boom bada bing things go wrong.  NOT saying that this is absolute or guaranteed, just calling it like I saw it so many times before.

But to really answer your question, yes you will be the subject of numerous requests for dates, some with alterior motives.  Hard fact of the Navy Nuclear Life as a female.  Just keep in mind what you really want to do with your time in the Navy.  Finish the pipeline and have experience that will be profitable on the outside or find a husband/boyfriend that may or may not be life long and run the chance of getting out before you finish training or before you get some good experience.  Sorry to ramble.

[Fermi2]

You might not be interested but they'll be persistent as HELL! Keep focused on what you are there for. You're 17 or so, you've probably mostly dealt with teenage guys. In the Navy you'll be in class with people anywhere from 18 to their late 20s (provided they get a waiver). You have no idea how much more trouble a boy sailor can be as opposed to the rookies you've probably dealt with.
No one here is assuming you're going in the Navy to meet boys, we all believe you want to give nuclear power your best shot and I'm pretty certain everyone here, especially us gray hairs would do our very best to help you along because we believe we are in a good industry, we know we need new blood and we like the idea of helping young people along. We just want you to be aware of what will most likely be your biggest distraction in the pipeline.

Mike

[Preciousblue1965]

One other small tidbit of advice....

Do not assume that RHWB, GCE, MOTO, ATFQ, ECF, and other things like that are anywhere related to OMG, TISNF, BFF. 

[Maziwrath]

I'm not even in the pipeline yet and rumors are already being spread around, sheesh. :p

[JustinHEMI05]

Well if I had a nickel for everytime I saw a female nuke get married to a male nuke that was in the Pipeline around the same time, well I would have a butt load of nickels.  Yes you will be the receiver of a lot of attention in the pipeline.  Probably more than you have ever before.  You will be outnumber greatly.  About 20:1 is a good average.  Just remember that life is not secluded to the social microcosm that is the Navy Nuke Program.  I can say that I have seen a few Nuke marriage work, but most have not.  Generally what happens is that two nukes meet each other on the smoke pad or in class or whatever.  They start dating, about a month or two later decide to get hitched so they can live in base housing, she inevitably gets pregnant and gets about 8 months of LIMDU/TAD at medical/dental/PSD then gets a hardship discharge, the guy graduates the pipeline and off they go to the real Navy where he is working all the time or out to sea and money is tight and bada boom bada bing things go wrong.  NOT saying that this is absolute or guaranteed, just calling it like I saw it so many times before.

But to really answer your question, yes you will be the subject of numerous requests for dates, some with alterior motives.  Hard fact of the Navy Nuclear Life as a female.  Just keep in mind what you really want to do with your time in the Navy.  Finish the pipeline and have experience that will be profitable on the outside or find a husband/boyfriend that may or may not be life long and run the chance of getting out before you finish training or before you get some good experience.  Sorry to ramble.

I agree, and I thought I summed it up nicely above LOL. 

Justin

[geek_chic]

One other small tidbit of advice....

Do not assume that RHWB, GCE, MOTO, ATFQ, ECF, and other things like that are anywhere related to OMG, TISNF, BFF. 

Well thanks. I don't actually know what any of those first ones stand for, but trust me, I won't be using internet lingo on anything except the internet. I hate when people literally say 'OMG' out loud. Just say the words 'oh my god'. Honestly. Nothing screams incompetence like a person saying 'LOL' instead of actually laughing out loud. *sighs* Anyways, I digress. I am really excited now about the Navy and the nuclear field in particular. Nervous too, but mostly excited. I heard that I should aim for being an ET, yes? Something about how it would make more economic sense. Any truth to that? I hear some very contradictory statements as I peruse through the forum. Once again, thanks for all your advice! (I love reading through all of these and living vicariously through you all )

[Fermi2]

No rate means anymore economic sense than any other rate, you get paid the same regardless.

Mike

[Preciousblue1965]

The only difference between the rates economically is..

1. Your re-enlistment multiplier if you decide to sell your soul at least once.
2. The type of job you get outside of the Navy assuming you don't go into Nuke Power when you get out(you wouldn't have a 6 and out MM rewiring pumps generally, not to say that it couldn't be done though).

Other than that, if you stay in long enough to qual EWS or you go Nuke Power your rate doesn't matter so much.  It all depends on what you want to do while you are in, be a real sailor playing with valves and pumps, or some glass eyed ET that threatens you with his Level 37 Broadsword of Eldar that has +3 Mana Burn(or something to that effect). 

[Preciousblue1965]

Well thanks. I don't actually know what any of those first ones stand for, but trust me, I won't be using internet lingo on anything except the internet. I hate when people literally say 'OMG' out loud. Just say the words 'oh my god'. Honestly. Nothing screams incompetence like a person saying 'LOL' instead of actually laughing out loud. *sighs* Anyways, I digress. I am really excited now about the Navy and the nuclear field in particular. Nervous too, but mostly excited. I heard that I should aim for being an ET, yes? Something about how it would make more economic sense. Any truth to that? I hear some very contradictory statements as I peruse through the forum. Once again, thanks for all your advice! (I love reading through all of these and living vicariously through you all )

Check out the thread for Navy Nuke Terms in the main forum.  That shoudl have several of those little devils in it.  As a little precusor, thos are all things that you would not necessarily want to see on a test.  I can say that the last test I graded for a student did have ECFFC, the last two words being "from conception"

[Golly Orby]

I believe I wish to serve my time on a Boomer.  Is it in my power to achieve this goal, or do they select submarine volunteers for anywhere they might be needed?