so i keep hearing talk about qualifying for these different things EOOW/EWS, im trying to research it but i cant really find exactly what these are? How hard is it to qualify for whatever they are in your first tour? Also would qualifying interfere with any classes i would take on the side to try and pick up a degree for potentialy becoming a comissioned officer(notreally something im sure about yet, but its a thought for if the opportunity comes my way)? If it would interfere and take up some time outside of my daily work to get such qualifications would it be more important to get these qualifications or a degree for me in the commercial world of nuclear power?
It can be a little hard when you don't know the context of the knowledge search.. You're doing fine, Trevar.. You're 17, about to head off on a great adventure, and probably most of us would happily trade places to be 17 and starting out again!
When you get to your first ship, they'll run you through an indoc period, where you get training on basic systems on board, then you'll start qualifying watches. Let's assume you'll be an ET. The first one will be something like Log recorder/Phone talker, which is where you'll take a bunch of logs, and handle the phone communications for the Watch Officer. Every hour you'll take about 6 pages of logs, run get coffee or cokes, maybe do wake-ups in the early morning hours.. stuff like that. It's a pretty easy watch, but one that will get you used to the goings on in EOS. EOS is a small room in a reactor plant where the major control panels are located. The reactor operator, throttlemen, maybe an electrical operator.. And an EOOW, who is generally an officer, and responsible overall for the operation of the plant, and communicating it's condition to Central, which coordinates the operation of all the plants with each other and the bridge of the ship. After you've been phone talker a little, you'll be given a card for throttleman, where you control one of the ships main engines, and the speed of the shaft. Control Equipment after that, where you're in charge of logs on a bank of electronic gear that keeps an eye on pressures, flows, levels, etc... Finally, you'll qualify Reactor Operator and Shutdown Reactor Operator.. Which is Senior in Rate for an ET, meaning the top watch you'll qualify as an electronic technician. Other rates have different top watches... MMs have CMO (Chief machinery operator) or CRAO (Chief Reactor Auxiliaries Operator) and EMs have Load Dispatcher. After you've been Senior in rate for awhile, if certain things line up, you may be allowed to qualify as PPWS, or Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor. On most ships, this is the same as EWS, or Engineering watch supervisor. The PPWS walks around the whole propulsion plant, and keeps an eye on everyone, makes sure that folks are awake, being attentive to their jobs, not having a water fight in the lower level of the main machinery room.
What has to line up?
1) If you're going to qualify and stand PPWS, you wont be available to stand reactor operator any more. Can your division spare you?
2) What's your reputation? Are you mature and cool under pressure, as well as technically competent? Can you be relied upon to make correct decisions? Can you supervise guys 10 years older than you are?
3) Are you a second class, or a first? Some ships absolutely wont let a 2nd class qualify PPWS. Some will. Some skippers are hesitant to let 1st classes qualify. Some might.. IF you agree to reenlist. Politics and career intentions can get involved.
Now, EOOWs, like I said, are typically officers. But, if you have a senior enlisted, at least of CPO rank, then he can get a letter of approval from Naval Reactors (Our corporate masters of all nukes in the navy) and then you can qualify. You won't be able to do this on your first tour at sea. Maybe your second tour.. But, again, many things have to line up. You better be considered an excellent watch stander, with a very good level of knowledge, and your chain of command has to recommend you.
The Degree? Get one. If you're on a surface ship, with the internet they have available, there's no reason you shouldn't pick up most of your TESC BS degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology before you get out. Play your cards right, and at 24, you'll be degreed, have a wealth of experience under your belt, have a resume that'll knock their socks off, and be very eligible to enter the nuclear industry...
Best of luck to you!
