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.
