Nuclear power is nuclear power whether its under water or in the middle of a corn field in Illinois.
I have to differ with you, Wingsfan. I did my 20+, and now am in commercial power at a plant in middle of Kansas wheat fields. While I tolerated well navy nuclear power, I love my job now. Lets see.......
1. Time and a half Overtime
2. Double Time Sundays
3. No duty days, vice 3 at worst, and a rare 5 section
4. I never sortie when a hurricane is coming. (not that they come often to KS)
5. When I get called in, I am compensated.
6. I never have to buy cleaning supplies and toilet paper on the way to work because the ship has none.
7. I am not responsible for cleaning bathrooms, or ordering my guys to chase dust bunnies in the XO's passageway when they get done with watch and maintenance.
8. Extra pay for being on a fire response team.
9. Extra pay for shift differential.
10. Excellent medical, dental, and educational benefits. For example, glasses for dependents.
11. No sea time, or 6 months away from my loved ones.
12. I chose where I work
13. Outages with tons of OT Vice shipyard periods with tons of OT, but no extra pay.
14. I work with great people...
I'm not downing the Navy... It can't be helped being the way it is... When assigned to a ship, it is pretty inherent that you'll go out to sea, and I never bitched when in, and I don't bitch now. If I have a fault at work, it's telling too many stories about things that I experienced in the navy, and I relate positive experiences. No one likes someone who downs their last employer.
I am saying, though, that my quality of life in commercial nuclear power/civilian status is heads and shoulders above my last 20 years, and that's to be expected. They don't comment on the sacrifices of military life for nothin.
ETC(SW) Ret