Nuke and family?

[Tbarn1985]

Hello everyone,

       I spent a fair amount of time browsing the forum looking for an answer to my question but I didn't find a post that specifically asks what I'd like to know. 

       I am in the process of applying for NUPOC.  My wife and I were recently married.  I'll graduate in the fall of 2014 and head to OCS soon thereafter as long as everything goes according to plan.  I spent four years enlisted in the Marine Corps and I understand the strain that the military lifestyle can put on a family.  My question is vague, but I'm looking for personal insight type answers.  I haven't decided between carrier and sub yet and I am wondering which of these would be better for a new-ish family.  Thanks for reading. -T
       

[Smart People]

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,6476.0.html
search "carrier sub"

[drayer54]

Hello everyone,

       I spent a fair amount of time browsing the forum looking for an answer to my question but I didn't find a post that specifically asks what I'd like to know. 

       I am in the process of applying for NUPOC.  My wife and I were recently married.  I'll graduate in the fall of 2014 and head to OCS soon thereafter as long as everything goes according to plan.  I spent four years enlisted in the Marine Corps and I understand the strain that the military lifestyle can put on a family.  My question is vague, but I'm looking for personal insight type answers.  I haven't decided between carrier and sub yet and I am wondering which of these would be better for a new-ish family.  Thanks for reading. -T
       

Emails, phones, clear schedule... Carrier

Best sea schedule... Boomer

[Tbarn1985]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

[HeavyD]

A carrier going into RCOH (Refueling Carrier Overhaul) will probably not be offered to a newly commissioned Ensign. 

There are a TON of quals that those guys and gals need to plow through during their initial sea tour.  If I recall correctly, first term Nuke surface officers spend their first 18 months or so on a cruiser or destroyer getting that stuff out of the way, including their SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) pin.  After that, they go to Power School and Prototype.  So right there is your first 2 1/2 to 3 years of being commissioned.

If NUPOC graduates do go the normal SWO route (GC will have to answer definitively on that), you will be underway, and I mean UNDERWAY.  Cruisers and destroyers aren't like carriers; they are out there doing things like hunting down pirates, joint ops with other navies and drug interdiction.

One last thought about RCOH.  I'm not sure what carrier AbidingProduce was on, but I was involved in parts of three RCOHs.  There was absolutely nothing easy about any of them.  Yes, we were not underway.  We had the good fortune of being in 3 or 4 section duty, with lock shift work thrown in for major evolutions.  Include in that mix the fact that the rest of the ship has little to do that is a part of their normal routine, and therefore wont be there past about 1300 each day, makes for some stressful and not-so-fun days.  There were PLENTY of times I would have rather been underway than in the yards.  PLENTY.

Either way, thank you for volunteering to serve and best of luck to you!

[cheme09]

If I recall correctly, first term Nuke surface officers spend their first 18 months or so on a cruiser or destroyer getting that stuff out of the way, including their SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) pin. 

Don't think it's confined to just cruisers or destroyers.  My buddy went to an amphib for his first tour.

[AbidingProduce]

Let me start by stating that in no way was I trying to promote RCOH. Sooner or later, it will become a nightmare, especially when restoring systems.

Granted, I haven't been around for several rotations like most people here. However, when I reported to a ship in RCOH, it was right after they finished scoop. We started off in four section and moved to five, and most people (officers under the PA level) didn't have much to do in comparison to an operational ship, especially once the fuel was removed. Not that I'm going to say those people dipped out early on non- duty days or walked off the ship with a DivO or two around noon or anything like that...

However, when we got closer to flood drydock, we started to feel the pain for not putting an emphasis on quals. We dropped down to four section (not that I'm complaining about four section), began staying several hours late on a daily basis (especially the khaki), and eventually had to go into shift work when we brought steam in the plants. No matter how many times I tried to go TAD to another ship (and no matter how high the authority was that ordered me to submit a chit), my chit always "get lost." Having no family to go go home to, I really had no reason to choose RCOH over deployment, and wouldn't have made the decision if I had the option.

My first DivO got there about the same time I did, and he loved life up until he went up for PNEO. My second DivO was always seemed stressed out but didn't mind things too much until shortly before he was relieved. My third DivO (and soon the other DivO when we finally got a second) worked like dogs. They seldom complained, but I would not want their job, family or no. Every ship is different, and seldom in the Navy are there guarantees something will happen if it's not in writing. I think almost everyone here can attest to that last line one way or another. It is what it is, and one way or another your family will find some way to make it work. Best of luck.

[A Random ETN1]

Carrier by far. If you have a family, your marriage is a lot more secure by going on carrier than sub. Although best option would be to get out of the navy if you are married. Just a honest opinon.

[HydroDave63]

My question is vague, but I'm looking for personal insight type answers.  I haven't decided between carrier and sub yet and I am wondering which of these would be better for a new-ish family.  Thanks for reading. -T
     

As a funnier man than me once typed:

Well, if he goes subs and gets a T-hull, he can probably get a choice of being there for the birth or the conception, but not both.......

[Higgs]

If the navy wanted you to have a family, it would issue it in your sea bag.

Justin