Elites, err ELT's

[Fadge]

Hey everyone,

I am a Dep'er shipping out Apr 11, 2011 and I have been researching about ELT's and can only find limited information on them. From what I have read they are more Chem/Radiation Controllers and work in a lab.

So from that info I also heard you have to volunteer as an MM. Now when I went down to MEPS my Nuke Coordinator told me that I would most likely get the MM rate because they are always in need of Mechanics.

Now what I want to know is a little bit more about the duties of ELT's compared to the other rates. And also what are the chances of me becoming and ELT from and MM. I have been reading some older posts about the need for ELT's and how the selection has become significantly easier than it was prior. And my Nuke coordinator said that most of the MM's that volunteer to become an ELT do in fact become one if they qualify.

Could anyone also tell me what I would need to qualify to become an ELT.

Thanks.

[Marlin]

   It was one in ten to one in twenty at one time. I think your recruiter has embellished the truth a bit on your chances of getting an ELT billet. 

   ELTs on "targets" (surface skimming vessels) may spend more time in the lab but on a sub ELT is just a collateral duty (though a highly elevated and exalted one  ), you will be a mechanic/plant operator first.

[Fadge]

Yes, my research has been perusing the forums and minor talks with my nuke coordinator.

[Abiien]

A little side note:

I wouldn't believe that you will 'most likely' get MM if you pick it. It's mostly about needs of the Navy. Don't be surprised if you get picked for ET or EM. Make sure you look into the base rate before you choose something specific, which is only for MM's really... If you really want to be an MM and work inside the plant, or sit a desk watching lights and turning things as an ET, or fixing the Coffee Pot, don't be surprised if you don't get it. A lot of people have been upset before, and they aren't going to change how they pick jobs for new guys any time soon.

[Styrofoam]

ETs fix the coffee?

I want to be an ET. 

[withroaj]

I'd like to say that I was selected as an ELT for my outstanding abilities as a prototype student, but I'm pretty sure it boiled down to networking ability and social skills (not the facebook/twitter kind, but the face-to-face kind).  I'm pretty sure some smarter guys got passed up for the job, and I know damn well that some real rocks have gone on to qualify ELT in the fleet; but we sure are a charming bunch.

It makes sense when you think about it, though.  The Mk 1, Mod 0 3356/3386 run-of-the-mill ELT is responsible for reactor plant and secondary (and even tertiary -- that's right, I said tertiary) system chemistry, and also radiological controls.  A real ELT can communicate chemical and radiological conditions in a manner that makes a massive problem into a quick fixer-upper.  Our job is to have a plan with an approved procedure to give our chains-of-command a warm fuzzy when the poo hits the fan.  We already have the answer before the question gets asked.  If we obtain abnormal results we don't let supervision point them out to us, we bring them to our supervision with our plan of attack.

On the sub we were mechanics who had to control chemistry, perform radiological surveys and cover radiological work (though we didn't really have to get dirty with all of the M-div work, it just came with the job on a 688 -- not enough guys to have people hold out). 

On the carrier...  Well, on the carrier...  We... We generate a TON of paperwork.  We still have the chemistry and radcon, but somehow we go through REAMS of paper each week.  From a supervisory perspective I can justify a lot of it, but it feels like we do a whole lot of justification for a modest amount of actual work.  We actually have almost as many office/supervisory positions on the carrier as we have plant workers.  By the way, there is a distinction between office folk and plant folk.  It still leaves a funny taste in my mouth, but somehow I justify my paycheck working an office job on a ship at sea.  I actually had to ask to get put on a watch rotation because I was going to be left with only a day job... at sea... to handle my administrative functions.  Long story short, life as a surface ELT can get boring if you don't keep busy.

I'm looking forward to qualifying PPWS and transferring to the golden palace in Goose Creek.  I'm not sure there's any more sea duty in the cards for me.

EDIT:  Now that I think about it, facebook was a college project and twitter didn't exist when I was in prototype.  Weird.  Maybe I have been in for a while.

[Gamecock]

EDIT:  Now that I think about it, facebook was a college project and twitter didn't exist when I was in prototype.  Weird.  Maybe I have been in for a while.

Nah.....

When I first came in, we didn't even have cell phones....or email.

BTW..good to see you back on here.  to you

[Marlin]

Try no computers, calculators were brand new and too expensive for even the basic functions ($400 for what is now on a watch or ruler for a couple of bucks). Slide rules and hand calculations for everything at Nuke school.

It went nicely with the Teak submarine hulls. 

Snail mail or land line. Woe is me! How did we survive? 

[xobxdoc]

Hey everyone,

I am a Dep'er shipping out Apr 11, 2011 and I have been researching about ELT's and can only find limited information on them. From what I have read they are more Chem/Radiation Controllers and work in a lab.

So from that info I also heard you have to volunteer as an MM. Now when I went down to MEPS my Nuke Coordinator told me that I would most likely get the MM rate because they are always in need of Mechanics.

Now what I want to know is a little bit more about the duties of ELT's compared to the other rates. And also what are the chances of me becoming and ELT from and MM. I have been reading some older posts about the need for ELT's and how the selection has become significantly easier than it was prior. And my Nuke coordinator said that most of the MM's that volunteer to become an ELT do in fact become one if they qualify.

Could anyone also tell me what I would need to qualify to become an ELT.

Thanks.

Be the first mechanic qualified at prototype and more than likely you will be selected for ELT. Seek out  your section's L-Div LPO. Let him know your desire of being an ELT and then go work your tail off. Don't suck up. We hate that. Once you qualify ELT, it will be like you are the most interesting man alive. Mechanics will outwardly hate you, but deep down they want to be like you. I'm pretty sure Chuck Norris was an ELT.

[IPREGEN]

Back to the question, Most ELT's were born out of MM. WAYYY back they even included IC people. (Glenn Sawtelle was an IC/ELT for all you old timers.) Anyway the selections came during prototype when I was in. The staff at prototype made the picks. In my house we had five people, 3 became ELT's, one, a Stainless Steel welder and the 5th went to the fleet. I was on a surface ship, liberty came late while we did a lot of blowdowns for chemistry control long after the topsiders and others were experiencing the culture of our port stop. But, being an ELT is better than not being one. The only people that say different are the ones that WISH they could have been ELT's.

[IPREGEN]

I'm pretty sure Chuck Norris was an ELT.

Perfect

[Marlin]

Back to the question, Most ELT's were born out of MM. WAYYY back they even included IC people. (Glenn Sawtelle was an IC/ELT for all you old timers.) Anyway the selections came during prototype when I was in. The staff at prototype made the picks. In my house we had five people, 3 became ELT's, one, a Stainless Steel welder and the 5th went to the fleet. I was on a surface ship, liberty came late while we did a lot of blowdowns for chemistry control long after the topsiders and others were experiencing the culture of our port stop. But, being an ELT is better than not being one. The only people that say different are the ones that WISH they could have been ELT's.

Go back a little further and the ELTs were Corpsmen.

[Marlin]

Yup, we've talked about that before, I knew one of 'em out here in CivLant;

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,17592.msg99499.html#msg99499

(you can tell Marlin's gettin' old, he's starting to repeat himself on internet forums,... )

Go back a little further and the ELTs were Corpsmen.

[Fadge]

Well I feel that I am going to shoot for MM, and EM as a fallout because I am willing to work my butt off to become and ELT.

[withroaj]

I wouldn't recommend looking at any rate as a fallout.  I don't mean to be condescending when I say that, no matter what, you have no idea what you're getting in to.  Take whatever you get, and you'll find that each rate has its own arrogance and pride as a subset of the overall nuclear community arrogance.  Either you'll have fun as a nuke or not.  Or somewhere in between.  My advice is to have fun with it.

[KUrunner]

Make sure that you're willing to be a mechanic before you request MM (although, like several people have said, you don't really get much of a choice).  When I went through as a student, only two or three people from the whole class got picked up (with more than 25 people putting in applications).  Last cycle, I think 14 people were accepted (and I've heard that only 14 people applied.)  

Having good grades, qualifying early and the staff liking you will help your odds, but at the end of the day, it's all about the needs of the Navy.  

[Fadge]

It isn't really a fallout more like a second choice. 

[co60slr]

Well I feel that I am going to shoot for MM, and EM as a fallout because I am willing to work my butt off to become and ELT.

While this may be subsequently debated, in my own experience and in what I saw over the years...the Navy doesn't do a bad job of putting you in the right job.  (All debates on people not liking anything about the NNPP and leaving asap aside for the moment).   I'd love for someone in that RTC process to shed some light on their little black magic ball they use to decide this for people.   Overall, they're not going to put you into a job that has your lowest aptitude (ASVAB scores?).  I know of no secret formula...all I do know is that they seem to fit the right personality with the right job.

NPS/Prototype GPA.  When you ask for something in the Navy, you're standing in line with your peers according to your GPA (yes...with exceptions...there are always outliers).  Don't ask for additional academic training if your NPS/Prototype grade is "barely passing".  First task at hand, high GPA in NPS.
ELT.  Aside from wanting to ask what you know about what you're "willing to work you butt off" for, where do you see yourself with it in 8 years?  You're either looking to make E-7 or getting out and working Commercial.  There is no such thing as a "career ELT", who isn't struggling to get past E-6.   In order to promote, you have to do an M Div LCPO tour (this is a sticky point for those ELTs that never learned how to also be MMs).  Then you go on to an Engineering Dept. Master Chief tour where you're supervising everyone.  As you go up in rank, your rating tends to become more and more transparent.  Once you're the senior enlisted at your command (e.g., Chief of the Boat, Fleet Master Chief, etc)...your rating is all but gone in terms of your day-to-day job. 

The chemistry procedures by the way aren't chemistry experiments.  The analysis, procedures, reports, etc are all "follow the procedure exactly"...same procedures, using trained techniques, same thing, every day.  Highly technical?  Absolutely!  More fun than the EMs cleaning a motor generator after watch?  No doubt.  However, if being an ELT was the "greatest thing in the universe" than all the exELTs here would still be in the Navy.  (Ok guys, have fun with that...I'm out).  :-)

I'll admit, this is all somewhat lofty and perhaps too far down the road for you at this point; however, the Navy:Getting Out threads are filled with "ok, what do I do now?".  Regardless of your path, keep a future resume in mind as to what you want it to say one day.  Do what makes you happy....but if you go MM/ELT, make sure you're good at your job...both of them.

Co60

[DDMurray]

 
The chemistry procedures by the way aren't chemistry experiments.  The analysis, procedures, reports, etc are all "follow the procedure exactly"...same procedures, using trained techniques, same thing, every day.  Highly technical?  Absolutely!  More fun than the EMs cleaning a motor generator after watch?  No doubt.  However, if being an ELT was the "greatest thing in the universe" than all the exELTs here would still be in the Navy.  (Ok guys, have fun with that...I'm out).  :-)


Co60

Hey, I loved cleaning motor generators after watch!  Okay, that was a lie.

[HydroDave63]

Hey, I loved cleaning motor generators after watch!  Okay, that was a lie.

Or pulling 16 cables of shore power covered in scheiss CHT effluent Pearl Harbor rainwater 

[gamma_ray]

I got ELT by telling everyone every five minutes that I wanted to be an ELT and being a pretty good watchstander.  That, and the ELTs in my section said they thought I'd make a good drinking buddy.  There are no guarantees but make your preference known, do well in Chem/Radcon in the pipeline, don't p*ss anyone off, and maybe things will work out for you.  Volunteering for subs might help too.  Keep in mind the biggest driver is "needs of the Navy."  Good luck. 

[haverty]

I got ELT by telling everyone every five minutes that I wanted to be an ELT and being a pretty good watchstander.  That, and the ELTs in my section said they thought I'd make a good drinking buddy.  There are no guarantees but make your preference known, do well in Chem/Radcon in the pipeline, don't p*ss anyone off, and maybe things will work out for you.  Volunteering for subs might help too.  Keep in mind the biggest driver is "needs of the Navy."  Good luck. 

Lol, this is about as close to the truth as you are going to get. Some of the ELT's they picked up were... "questionable" (people with extremely low GPA, prior mastings, one got caught forging signatures, etc).

ELT is ELT... Everyone wants the job they can't have, yet once they get to their job, they begin to enjoy/defend it (i.e. "god I'm glad I didn't get picked up electrician", whereas many of the electricians say the same crap about mechanics . ELT's make the mistake of assuming they are "mechanics" from time to time. We step in to correct them as required ).

Do yourself a favor, don't "expect" anything. The navy will put you where you are needed, and there's very very little you can do to change that. No sense stressing about it. Too bad you won't get to prototype for a while, I'm friends with quite a few ELT's up in new york right now.

[crusemm]

Or pulling 16 cables of shore power covered in scheiss CHT effluent Pearl Harbor rainwater 

Hey, on all of my boats Everyone pulled shore power cables covered in whatever (Rainwater, seagull effluent, SEAL slime).  Cardinal rule-NO ONE goes home until cables are across (except the CO to see his girlfriend, or the YN's with the "mail", or the radiomen with "message traffic".....)

[Ksheed]

I'm pretty sure Chuck Norris was an ELT.

USAF http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-chuck-norris.html

[Fadge]

Well I chose ET as my first choice at bootcamp and got it. So will not become an ELT unless they change something in the future. I am glad that I am an ET though.