Hey guys. I've recently graduated boot camp and have been given the route of an EM. I originally wanted ET as my #1 (you’ll see much information on them here), but over the time I was at boot camp, I learned some valuable information, tips and tricks for future nukes in actually getting the rating you want (along with previous knowledge posted here on the boards)! Hopefully this guide I've written can help out some future sailors! Of course, there will be some misc. information that may prove useful to you as well!
General Information:In Fleet: AROUND* 20% ET; 30% EM; 50% MM
Accepted During My Basic Training: 24% ET; 27% EM; 49% MM
Percentage of Acceptance:74% given first rating choice
22% given second choice
4% given last choice.
Random Divisions near my graduation date receiving ET:(Total Nukes in Division; Who Chose ET #1 Choice; Received ET)
15; 7-8; ALL 7-8
16; ?; NONE
8; 3-4; ALL 3-4
My Division: 8; 4; 3 ME = :’(
5; 2-3; 1
As you can see, some divisions were very lucky, while some weren’t at all.
Attrition Rates:30% Overall Attrition rate, including boot camp.
6-10% Academic Attrition Rate throughout nuclear pipeline
When you choose your nuclear rating:Probably 3-2 day (pronounced three-two day) during boot camp. You will come in with your brother division's nukes into a brief with your nuclear advisors. They will be answering questions and will show you many videos. There will be slides that discuss each individual ratings, and much more information about the entire school experience. There are no “interviews” at all.
After that, they will read each of your names out and you verbally give your #1 and #2 rating of choice while in your group.
Your Academic Package:All the reviewers look at for your “package” is your
ASVAB, NAPT, and ratings of choice. They try their hardest to give you your top choices.
No transcripts from school, etc., nor college degrees.
*Asvab AFQT score means absolutely NOTHING. It’s mostly about the Nuke (MK + AR + VE + MC) and Electrician(GS + EI + MK + AR) score. You dont have priority over someone with a lower score though, as it seems they look at individual line scores rather than your entire nuke score.
Of course, having the highest score possible will be your best ticket into being given priority for your #1 choice.
Many line scores can go to high 70’s. I had a shipmate with a 292 nuke score, so be sure to note that you can get a very high score.
I had a 97 ASVAB and a 262 nuke and electrician score. An 86 ASVAB and 258 nuke/electrician scoring ship mate in my brother division got ET. Of course he got a low 40 in his Mechanical Comprehension. His division also had a bunch of 99 asvab nukes who wanted ET as well. He was the only one who got it. I do remember a ~244 nuke scoring shipmate received ET.
***Note that it's not just you and your brother division that you're "competing" for your job. You are also going against around the other divisions that are graduating the same date as you. You will possibly have around 10 divisions total. We had only about 27 nukes fly to Charleston after graduation with 9 divisions (some other divisions that graduated at different dates had 20 nukes in ONE division!). Seems like we didn't have many nukes in our time.
A week or two before me, there were two shipmates. One had a 95 and the other had an 85 on the ASVAB. The 85 got ET with a 164 nuke score. I am not sure about the nuke score of the 95 ASVAB. All I know is he wanted ET very badly.
It does seem they give priority to those with high scores, but if a rounded nuke wants ET, but a nuke with a lower score AND without an Mechanical background wants ET, the reviewers will probably move the rounded nuke into a different rating, since he still has an aptitude for it. It’s also seeming to be based on luck (who wants what during your boot camp, what their scores are etc.). A lower scoring “rounded” nuke probably will be placed into his second job if that’s the “needs of the navy”, while a higher scoring “rounded nuke” will probably be safe.
Combinations:If you want ET #1 (and EM #2 automatically):
Choose ET, EM, MM
None of these "combinations" are full proof (your scores still matter a lot!). A shipmate received MM with around an 85 ASVAB score from using this combination. Not sure about his line scores (still much, much more important than the AFQT score).
If you want MM as your #2, you better have very high scores. I have only seen people get MM from that route, but of course I haven’t seen a very high scoring nuke attempt it in my very limited experiences.
If you want EM strictly #1 and MM #2:
EM, ET, MM
Use the ET as a buffer for your “3rd” choice. If you want EM #1 and ET #2, this is possibly your only combination to do that in, with extremely low chances of receiving ET.
If you choose MM as your #2, you’ll probably be given MM nearly AUTOMATICALLY. Not a rule, but just some experiences I've seen. Of course, if you get a really high score, you'll probably be very safe in doing whatever you want.
I had a shipmate in my division go that route (EM, MM, ET) and received MM, while a lower scoring shipmate in my division went EM, ET MM, and was given EM.
If you want MM #1 and EM #2:
Either
MM, ET, EM
OR
MM, EM, ET
I had two shipmates from another division. One wanted EM, the other MM. They somehow switched ratings since they chose each other’s as #2. The first combination is probably the safest. Sorry if you get ET from doing it!!! It CAN happen.
Anyways, KEEP STUDYING AND RE-TAKING THE ASVAB EACH MONTH, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RECRUITER SAYS. Of course, till you get a score you’re happy with! As you've heard, there's scores around 240 that get ET (A Nuclear Advisor said 240 is around the average as well). I'd say 270+ is what you should aim for, for the "best" chance. Always aim higher though
Again, it’s really up to luck and many variables of your timing!
If you want ET, many and I have noticed the trend of lower MC scores (although some had good MC scores with 270+ nuke scores). It probably is a coincidence. All I know is that the nuclear advisors told me that it isn't true. There’s probably some truth to it, though seeing many members here talking about it as well. Some say to answer some MC questions incorrectly on purpose if you want ET, which makes complete sense!
In either case, get the highest line scores you can get! Maybe some other members can elaborate on the MC section and give insight in if that's a viable strategy (*check updates).
Again, line scores can go above 70. I may have seen a 76 or higher in one of my friend’s scores. Take note of it!
GOOD LUCK !!!
Thanks to all of you guys here for always giving me such great support and information anytime I asked! I hope I can continue to give back to the community in every way I can.
UPDATE: My NNPTC neighbor received ET (his second choice). He chose EM, ET, MM. He wasn't auto-qualified and didn't have a good MC score.
Another nuke who also didn't auto qualify went ET, EM, and MM. About 8 in his division wanted ET and had much better scores than him. He was given ET and had a 70+MC score. Only two of his divisions got it. His last name started with "C", so he is speculating that they may lean towards (or look over each applicant) giving ratings alphabetically. The second ET also had a last name starting with an early letter. The rest down the list were EM/MM. Very interesting!!
