Nuke Life

[Adamdg51]

Can anyone comment, hopefully in very specific detail WHY nuke life "sucks" and is so hard? From what ive read, many nukes do not reenlist and I was wondering if its because their working conditions are so harsh. If this is true can any current/former nukes comment on exactly what is so rough about it.

[Starkist]

Can anyone comment, hopefully in very specific detail WHY nuke life "sucks" and is so hard? From what ive read, many nukes do not reenlist and I was wondering if its because their working conditions are so harsh. If this is true can any current/former nukes comment on exactly what is so rough about it.

No. Each person makes this decision for their own reasons. Theres no "carte blanche" reason for it. To quote Uncle Ben, "With great power, comes great responsibility". Nuke life is "great power". In the interim, you should focus on actually BECOMING a nuke first. Worry about the fleet when you get there.

[cedugger]

So, a person can do something dumb multiple times throughout his/her life, but that doesn't make that person a dumb person. Likewise, in 11 years, I had many sucky days in the Navy, but my time as a Navy Nuke by no means sucked. And the 10 years that have followed have made that 11 years worth every gripe, moan, and complaint I may have uttered during that time in my life.

Why do many current or ex-Nukes say that it sucked...less liberty, less sleep, more stress, not always appreciated by non-nukes (not that I ever cared). Why I think it didn't suck...better job, plenty of opportunities to excel, "nuke humor", reactors are awesome (you all know they are), has made everything else I've done since seem rather easy!

Word of advice...negativity from others doesn't warrant your time or attention. I didn't have a negative thought about the program when I went in (but then again, there wasn't this damned internet thing to pollute our minds). Maybe that absence of negatively is why I just pushed through, even after finishing 30 out of 32 in A-school. Performing poorly is simply a metric...signaling that what you're doing isn't working and some additional effort is required.

[spekkio]

Mostly a gross mismatch between expectations and reality.

You will work long hours doing a boring, relatively easy job that no one will care about unless you screw it up. The admin red tape just adds frustration on top of that. Whenever someone monitors you, you will be criticized for every minor error, some of which you made because the last monitor told you to do it that way. You'll be sleep deprived for your entire sea tour.

[GLW]

Mostly a gross mismatch between expectations and reality...........

most advertising is,...

I bought a Camaro once,...

all that stuff in the commercial?!?!?!?!

not so much,...

I did grow to appreciate the Camaro just for what it was though,...

[DLGN25]

Can anyone comment, hopefully in very specific detail WHY nuke life "sucks" and is so hard? From what ive read, many nukes do not reenlist and I was wondering if its because their working conditions are so harsh. If this is true can any current/former nukes comment on exactly what is so rough about it.

Look up three second duty.  It matters not if in port or underway.

Cold iron for a RO is no different the when steaming. Well, now the let EM's stand shutdown watches, a nice relief.

BT's of old, would cool the boilers then be gone.  Not true on a nuke.

Then there is the constant training, quals, and testing.  After awhile is sucks and you leave the Navy.

[DSO]

Here is a reason it sucks Skippy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Reactor_Safeguard_Examination

[HydroDave63]

Look up three second duty.  It matters not if in port or underway.

Yep, that'd be the ELT's....... 

[GLW]

Look up three second duty.  It matters not if in port or underway.

Cold iron for a RO is no different the when steaming. Well, now the let EM's stand shutdown watches, a nice relief.

BT's of old, would cool the boilers then be gone.  Not true on a nuke.

Then there is the constant training, quals, and testing.  After awhile is sucks and you leave the Navy.

works for me,...

[GLW]

Yep, that'd be the ELT's....... 

well now, I see Mr. Chaplinsky has entered the room,....

[GLW]

....And the 10 years that have followed have made that 11 years worth every gripe, moan, and complaint I may have uttered during that time in my life.....

yup, a' course the lingering "sucky" part of all that is you could have made the last ten years happen the same way with only six or maybe eight years in the canoe club vice eleven,...

[cedugger]

yup, a' course the lingering "sucky" part of all that is you could have made the last ten years happen the same way with only six or maybe eight years in the canoe club vice eleven,...

Not really. Landing the gig with non-proliferation, and now my current job, had as much to do with my podium/instructor time as it did my nuke operations experience. Wouldn't have had that without the last four years of my time in...six or eight wouldn't have landed the same results. Guess it all depends on what one wants to do when they move on from the canoe club.

[GLW]

Not really. Landing the gig with non-proliferation, and now my current job, had as much to do with my podium/instructor time as it did my nuke operations experience. Wouldn't have had that without the last four years of my time in...six or eight wouldn't have landed the same results. Guess it all depends on what one wants to do when they move on from the canoe club.

noted,...

I do love that face palm clip,...