Symbolism of honor man coin?

[DadofMM-ELT]

Well, son of DadofFutureNuke graduated as honor man with his MM A-School class . The CO gave him a nifty commemorative coin and the imagery is pretty self explanatory except for what appears to be a Be (4 electrons anyway) atom on the obverse. I see from the Wikipedia that Be has a variety of uses in the industry and weapons. So today's question is this:

Is there any special Navy Nuke symbolism involved with Be?

And thanks for all the great info here - it helped keep him on track during enlistment and DEP.

Cheers,

-DOFN

[HydroDave63]

Is there any special Navy Nuke symbolism involved with Be?

Probably to avoid resembling the dreaded ET rating insignia

[goobs22xx]

This question peaked my curiosity, so I tried looking around online. All I found were technical answers and nothing that specifically addresses NNPTC. Its worth noting that the image you described is on the logo used by the command (can be seen on their website). Seems as though Beryllium can be used as a neutron source, which would have obvious symbolism for the command at which nukes are initially schooled.

If it was intentional, I would imagine that's why.

[Wanna Know Mom]

Congratulations to your son and to you DOFN.  Sounds like he has awesome parental support. Another commemorative coin awaits him  after shedding his NUB status (becoming fully qualified) in the fleet......at least that is what happened with my ET.  He saw the CO of his ship for the final oral board and was then given the coin.

Kathy VPNNM (VeryProudNavyNukeMom)

[Marlin]

Is there any special Navy Nuke symbolism involved with Be?

The short answer is no.

(The atom is Helium, two electons, two neutrons and two protons.)

for caring to check it out though. Good luck to your son.

[bawb]

My son received this when he graduated from NNPTC:



Reverse side:

[playswithairplanes]

Not sure there's any specific symbolism to go with Be. More's the like it's enough to recognize it as an atom, but few enough to not cost too much for the design.

The whole coin thing is relatively new, started with the Army. Now the whole military gives them out. I have a few from the USAF for projects I've worked on over the years. I guess they are kinda neat-o, but you know... the life of a Nuke is doing more than the Coner's/topsiders (non-nuclear trained folks on submarines and targets respectively) and getting half the respect. When I was in it was not uncommon for Cones to get commendations and awards for simply doing their jobs, Nukes "need not apply" as the old saying goes.

Oh, and congrats to your boy.  Now tell him to get hot, he's Dink.

[HydroDave63]

My son received this when he graduated from NNPTC:



Reverse side:

Anyone recall when slide rules were decommissioned out of Nuke School?

[bawb]

Those were the days. $150 was a lot of money in 1972. My trusty slide rule did just fine for Ohms law and it didn't need batteries.

[goobs22xx]

The short answer is no.

(The atom is Helium, two electons, two neutrons and two protons.)

for caring to check it out though. Good luck to your son.

There's definitely four electrons.

[JustinHEMI05]

I am not so sure that the 4 "electrons" on that coin represent anything. I would wager that not that much thought went into it. They had 4 ellipses, so they put 4 circles on them...

Justin

[Marlin]

There's definitely four electrons.

I stand corrected.

[MacGyver]

Anyone recall when slide rules were decommissioned out of Nuke School?

1978 (approximately, iirc)

[fourteener]

Beryllium is used as a neutron reflector in nuclear weapons.  But I doubt that is the reason they chose the particular atom.  3 or 4 orbiting electrons are more esthetically correct than 1 - 2 or 235.

[JustinHEMI05]

I am not so sure that the 4 "electrons" on that coin represent anything. I would wager that not that much thought went into it. They had 4 ellipses, so they put 4 circles on them...

Justin

[Cycoticpenguin]

Beryllium is used as a neutron reflector in nuclear weapons.  But I doubt that is the reason they chose the particular atom.  3 or 4 orbiting electrons are more esthetically correct than 1 - 2 or 235.

back to fundamentals for you

[Cycoticpenguin]

back to fundamentals for you

Why am I the only one that sees whats wrong here? I am dissapointed NW.com!

[RDTroja]

Why am I the only one that sees whats wrong here? I am dissapointed NW.com!

I saw it. Just didn't need to comment on it. 235, 92... what's the big deal?

[Cycoticpenguin]

I saw it. Just didn't need to comment on it. 235, 92... what's the big deal?

Coaching sir, Coaching. 

[RDTroja]

back to fundamentals for you

I don't remember ever using that phrase when I was coaching someone. Normally we call that 'ridicule.'

[Cycoticpenguin]

I don't remember ever using that phrase when I was coaching someone. Normally we call that 'ridicule.'

Toe-may-toe , toe-mah-toe.

[MacGyver]

Toe-may-toe , toe-mah-toe.

[Fermi2]

Where the heck did JustinHemi go?

[Smooth Operator]

Probably studying for his SRO exam?

[Cycoticpenguin]

Where the heck did JustinHemi go?

He's around. He just wont admit it yet.

[Fermi2]

Probably studying for his SRO exam?

Study? Whats that? Besides he just finished GFES and I doubt he'd have any troubles with systems, especially instrumentation and ECCS. Compared with what he had to learn on a BWR they're ridiculously easy.

[Smooth Operator]

I think then he is too busy posting on facebook 

[Different]

1978 (approximately, iirc)

I think that is close, it may have been 1979.  I was in Class 8003.  I remember speaking with a NPS student in late 1979 when I first arrived in Orlando.  He said that a couple classes before him was the last class to use the slide rule at NPS.

[OldHP]

  

Where the heck did JustinHemi go? 

I think then he is too busy posting on facebook   

Or just maybe, using a different name?   

[Higgs]

 

Or just maybe, using a different name?   

Fresh start.

[OldHP]

Fresh start.  

Kinda my thinking looking at dates and statements!