Navy straight out of highschool? Or go to college first?

[hachie07]

I am a highschool senior, and I was wondering if it would be a good a idea to go into the navy nuke program straight out of highschool. My asvab score is high enough to get into the program, so it is just a matter of making a decision. On the other hand, Ive been accepted into the Nuclear Engineering program at Texas A&M University. So I don't if I want to go to college first or just go right after it. I want some input from experience, because all my recruiter has done has been selling the idea that ill be making tons of money after I'm done in the Navy, and he hasn't really given me any negatives, but thats his job, so i have nothing against that!
Thank you!

[drayer54]

I am a highschool senior, and I was wondering if it would be a good a idea to go into the navy nuke program straight out of highschool. My asvab score is high enough to get into the program, so it is just a matter of making a decision. On the other hand, Ive been accepted into the Nuclear Engineering program at Texas A&M University. So I don't if I want to go to college first or just go right after it. I want some input from experience, because all my recruiter has done has been selling the idea that ill be making tons of money after I'm done in the Navy, and he hasn't really given me any negatives, but thats his job, so i have nothing against that!
Thank you!

If you are really into the military idea and nuclear engineering.... you could always join the Corps at A&M. It's a big deal there and they seem to like it.

You could always go into the Navy afterwards as an officer and enjoy a significant quality of life increase, pay increase, and better career that is much more than what you will experience now by enlisting. I married an Aggie and have spent my share of time in College Station and think it is a unique experience that you would enjoy 5000x more than enlisting in the Navy. would benefit you for the long haul. If you can make it through college, I would strongly suggest going to A&M. It's a good school and a good experience.

The Navy can always be a backup plan if it doesn't work out. It's been around for awhile and shouldn't be outsourced in the next 5 years still be there if you spend too much time on Northgate

[GLW]

If you are really into the military idea and nuclear engineering.... you could always join the Corps at A&M. It's a big deal there and they seem to like it.

You could always go into the Navy afterwards as an officer and enjoy a significant quality of life increase, pay increase, and better career that is much more than what you will experience now by enlisting. I married an Aggie and have spent my share of time in College Station and think it is a unique experience that you would enjoy 5000x more than enlisting in the Navy. would benefit you for the long haul. If you can make it through college, I would strongly suggest going to A&M. It's a good school and a good experience.

The Navy can always be a backup plan if it doesn't work out. It's been around for awhile and shouldn't be outsourced in the next 5 years still be there if you spend too much time on Northgate

Good post, anything more would be boring purposeless redundant,....

It's the best assessment the OP is gonna get,...

thread closed,....

good luck hachie07,....

[ToadSuck]

Check out the NUPOC program. After you finish Physics 1 and 2 and Calc 1 and 2, you can join the Navy and get E-6 pay and benefits while finishing out your degree. The time in college counts toward retirement and there are no drills/workouts/uniforms...only twice a year Physical Fitness Test and Urinalysis Program.

My personal opinion is don't do ROTC. NUPOC you have to pay for your own school, but you get paid >$4600 a month to maintain a >3.3 GPA...any engineer with >3.3 should be making some kind of grant or scholarship.

If you need cash now and you want to earn degree while getting experience, do the Nuke enlisted program. I don't know the exact figure, but probably >50% of the people in the industry came through the program.

[MMM]

Be careful about enlisting with the goal to go to college. Once you're in, you either have to make time for college or get picked up for an officer program (STA-21 in you case) and then get accepted to college, again. While the college of your choice might accept some credits from the pipeline, it likely won't be much. Additionally, the navy nuke program is different from nuclear engineering. The only real advantage I see is that if you enlist, get selected for STA-21 and accepted to A&M (again), you're tuition would be free (if you enlist from TX).

[Gamecock]

I enlisted when I was 17 years old.  It was the best decision I ever made.  I did not have the discipline to go to college.  Had I gone to college right after high school, I would have had a Blutarskie like GPA which would have closed many doors for me later in life.

[drayer54]

I enlisted when I was 17 years old.  It was the best decision I ever made.  I did not have the discipline to go to college.  Had I gone to college right after high school, I would have had a Blutarskie like GPA which would have closed many doors for me later in life.

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

[Gamecock]

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

[HydroDave63]

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

But it is how First Lord of the Admiralty Churchill planned Gallipoli ! 

[GLW]

I enlisted when I was 17 years old.  It was the best decision I ever made.  I did not have the discipline to go to college.  Had I gone to college right after high school, I would have had a Blutarskie like GPA which would have closed many doors for me later in life.

Blutarskie became a Senator,...

[Starkist]

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.

yeah, you should get that stuff checked out buddy

[Jechtm]

W.e the OP decides to do, I say good luck to you. I have no real experience, but what I've seen and done, its fun and challenging. Sure somedays your gonna wanna be home doing nothing but most of the time you'll be too busy to think about that, ha.

No matter what you do choose though, as long as you stick with it either choice will not be a bad one. A lot of doors will open to you after your time through the program... as im sure you know.

(I get my orders next week {for a real boat...})

[thenuttyneutron]

I am a highschool senior, and I was wondering if it would be a good a idea to go into the navy nuke program straight out of highschool. My asvab score is high enough to get into the program, so it is just a matter of making a decision. On the other hand, Ive been accepted into the Nuclear Engineering program at Texas A&M University. So I don't if I want to go to college first or just go right after it. I want some input from experience, because all my recruiter has done has been selling the idea that ill be making tons of money after I'm done in the Navy, and he hasn't really given me any negatives, but thats his job, so i have nothing against that!
Thank you!

I will give you some advice so you can ponder it.  I earned my BS in Nuke Engineering from that fine institution in College Station, TX.  It is a tough program that will give you many opportunities in whatever you are interested in (military or civilian).  I was also a member of the Corps of Cadets (looking at those boots now).  If you are interested in the Corps, I highly recommend you participate in the Spend the night with the Corps  program http://corps.tamu.edu/spend-the-night-with-the-corps.

You will gain many lifelong friends in the Corps.  You also need to find an academic focused outfit.  I would recommend Squadron 16 because of their track record with engineering students.  Just because you go through one of the AFROTC outfits does not mean you are required to be in Air Force ROTC.  You can be in the Navy ROTC if that is what you chose.  If you get a contract, do yourself a favor and stay away from alcohol.  I saw many peers that lost their pilot slots because of the stuff (I was in an AFROTC outfit).  The kids that got tangled in more serious alcohol issues like DUIs usually ended up losing their contracts and having to go in as an enlisted member.

My final advice may seem counter intuitive but you need to know all of the risks.  Do not go to school unless you can have it paid for 100% by someone else.  Student Loans are some of the most toxic loans that you can run across.  They can't be forgiven in bankruptcy.  The only way to get rid of student loans is to die or pay it off.  They will hound you till your last days on earth with deficiency judgments looking for money and they can take tax refunds, SS checks, or any other form of government checks going to you.  I just finished off paying my loans off with no issues but I know several people that were not so lucky.  Earning a degree is no guarantee of landing a good job at the end.  You would be better off taking the full ride from the Navy with the understanding that you will owe them time at the end as an officer than taking out student loans.

I can't comment on going through the Navy first because I have no knowledge or experience with the subject.

Scholarship links:
http://corps.tamu.edu/scholarships