Career Path > Navy:Getting Out
How little is too little?
Ssquid326:
Hello nukeworker.
Been browsing the site, and there's a lot of helpful content for a lot of diverse problems. I'm in the process of fighting with Medical about chronic insomnia that's lead to what they deem anxiety. I don't agree, but this isn't the place for that. My doc's talking with mental health soon, after a lot of push back from me. I've heard that pretty much any sub nuke that ever goes to MH doesn't come back to the boat. I'm begrudgingly agreeing to see an actual doc because I've had seriously unhealthy sleep problems for about a year now, despite speaking with a sleep behavioral specialist for months with no progress. My family, friends, and division are pushing me to focus on health over grinding it out, and from what I read here, it's the right choice. Moving on...
I've read that even if I "take the pill" (which my doc says is pretty much shredding the NEC/Navy), as long as I'm a stable person with no relapse, and off of medication, I have a shot at commercial power and most normal civilian jobs. My concern is that in other forums, I see guys saying that guys who get kicked out early are useless because they have 0 experience. I've qualified. Been on the boat. Stood watch underway. Done maintenance underway and in refit.
My question in regards to experience is... How little is TOO little?
For commercial power? For using nuke experience to push for general jobs?
I qualified at prototype roughly 8 months ago, and I worked really friggin hard to do it. As I've seen Broadzilla bring up, a lot of nukes feel like they're owed a cakewalk 6-figure job after A school, but I'm a really hardworking guy, trying to tell my family it's going to be okay and to make a plan to stand by, if things go south. If I'm DQ'd, I want to try to work commercial power eventually. I like standing watch. I like being a mechanic. I'd bust my a** for it. Do I have a shot? I know everybody from NLO's to SM's chime in here, so I've got high hopes for feedback.
And if not, will the experience I have give any pull for normal jobs on hydro/gas/hydraulics? I hope so, so I can afford to get a degree instead of working minimum wage all over again.
Thanks in advance.
Frank Cable:
If you have sleep problems now, why on earth would you want to work more shift work?
HeavyD:
--- Quote ---I hope so, so I can afford to get a degree instead of working minimum wage all over again.
--- End quote ---
That statement right there should be covered by the Post 9-11 GI Bill, provided you're separated with an Honorable discharge. Or maybe I'm missing something.
Also, to echo Frank Cable's question, if you're having sleep issues now the commercial nuke world isn't going to help that any. You can do operations, maintenance, QA, planning, etc. in any number of industries besides nuclear that won't run you into the ground. Just sayin.
HydroDave63:
I know a guy who knows a guy who had a friend....that had similar symptoms. Turned out to be sleep apnea. Get a sleep study done ASAP, as that they aren't cheap, and should be covered by your present "employer". If it turns out to be apnea, it isn't mental, there are no drugs for it, and the handy little CPAP device will be a lifesaver. Otherwise, apnea hugely increases risk of stroke. Seeing the 'actual doc' is the BEST thing you can do in this situation, ASAP.
Druid:
--- Quote ---I don't agree, but this isn't the place for that.
--- End quote ---
I'm assuming that you are agreeing with sleep disorder diagnosis but not the anxiety disorder diagnosis.
--- Quote ---I qualified at prototype roughly 8 months ago, and I worked really friggin hard to do it.
--- End quote ---
So you know that you've learned how to learn. Pick a direction and run with it.
I just went and looked at my former shipmate profiles that I've connected with on LinkedIn. There's about twenty of them and I'd say only four or five are actually working in the power industry directly. One works for a professional training company, several work in non-power utility plants (two at separate universities and one at a metal production plant and another at a chemical plant). There is another besides myself in the medical world. He's retrained as a physical therapist. There's still another that's a program manager for a college athletics program. Hard work and the ability to learn quickly are valuable assets and will take you far.
But seriously, take care of your health. Talking to a counselor and taking pills may help you mask the problem, but only constant therapy and exercises will rewire the brain back to something semi-normal. I had to do this for a balance problem. I had an ear issue that went undiagnosed and my brain changed its wiring to compensate. When the ear problem resolved, the new neural pathways remained. It took about four months of weekly sessions with a therapist and assigned exercises several times a day to regain a fairly normal balance state.
Best!
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