How to get chemistry experience without getting ELT?

[sjb7061]

So I have a biochemistry degree and my one shipmate worked in rad on prior to the navy for 4 years.

Nether of us got ELT 

What can I do to get some chemistry work experience while in the navy? He told me he's going to star reenlist for some rad con school to get experience in his field. what can I do to get experience in mine? That's all I really want is work experience so I can get a chemistry job of sorts after the navy. I like MM but I'm worried I'll be working for 35k a year in some entry level chemistry job after the navy if I stay in that field. I've also thought about going into HS chemistry teaching.

[spekkio]

So I have a biochemistry degree and my one shipmate worked in rad on prior to the navy for 4 years.

Nether of us got ELT  

What can I do to get some chemistry work experience while in the navy? He told me he's going to star reenlist for some rad con school to get experience in his field. what can I do to get experience in mine? That's all I really want is work experience so I can get a chemistry job of sorts after the navy. I like MM but I'm worried I'll be working for 35k a year in some entry level chemistry job after the navy if I stay in that field. I've also thought about going into HS chemistry teaching.

Here's the sad truth: You rolled the dice on getting ELT and it didn't work out. You will not do chemistry while in the Navy outside of simple turbidity tests for salinity. Even if you selected ELT, you wouldn't be doing the type of chemistry labwork that would be commensurate with your level of education. You would be doing the stuff that colleges get undergraduate and graduate students to do for free.

Sorry you bought the recruiter's sales pitch. The Navy operates warships; it's not a vocational training organization for college graduates with STEM degrees. Since you already have a college degree, the only thing the Navy can really offer you to enhance your future chemist career is subsidizing the cost of grad school via the post 911 GI bill once you separate.

[hamsamich]

My LELT was a mechanic who reenlisted after being a SPU for several years.  They gave him ELT school I believe because he reenlisted for a C school.  I know you used to be able to star reenlist for a C school.  I don't know the exact details all I know is he was not an ELT his first shot thru proto.  It was at the end of his spu time when he went.  So there may be a way to do it.  Do some research.

[sjb7061]

Even if you selected ELT, you wouldn't be doing the type of chemistry labwork that would be commensurate with your level of education. You would be doing the stuff that colleges get undergraduate and graduate students to do for free

This so much! There was a point near graduating prototype where I realised the ELT's are basically just trusted to mix chemicals. And I believe they have charts which tell them how much to add for what pH. Don't even have to do the math. It's as if the nuke program went from very challenging to a monkey could do this. But I figured it'd be good work experience.

[Marlin]

This so much!

There was a point near graduating prototype where I realised the ELT's are basically just trusted to mix chemicals.

You clearly are not an ELT.

And I believe they have charts which tell them how much to add for what pH.

They are called nomographs.

Don't even have to do the math.

I think you will find they can.

It's as if the nuke program went from very challenging to a monkey could do this.

In a program that takes 18 year old men and women who will be qualified to supervise the operation of a reactor plant perhaps by the age of 22-25 how complicated can you make it when they also do maintenance and other collateral duties.

But I figured it'd be good work experience.

YMMV, but good luck and thank you for your service

[Frank Cable]

From my experience, my chem manager was more concerned with actual laboratory experience when it came to hiring chem techs. Since you didn't become an elt I would focus on getting a part time laboratory job to get the laboratory experience or take the first lab job you can find out of the navy work there for two years and then apply for nuke chem jobs.

[GLW]

From my experience, my chem manager was more concerned with actual laboratory experience when it came to hiring chem techs. Since you didn't become an elt I would focus on getting a part time laboratory job to get the laboratory experience or take the first lab job you can find out of the navy work there for two years and then apply for nuke chem jobs.

which leaves the OP in the position of trading six years of his life to blueshirt brightwork field day specialist for the benefit of a government subsidized MS, MBA, et al,...

bad trade,....