Nuclear "A" School

[bsburke85]

How many months is Nuclear "A" School?  Is it set up like a normal college where you could leave and go into Charleston?

[shayne]

Depends on your rate.  Someone correct me if it has changed:

MM 3 months (13 Weeks)
EM 4 months (16 Weeks)
ET 6 months (24 Weeks)

Power School (24 Weeks)
Prototype (24 Weeks)

[RCLCPO]

Close....

EM and ET is 6 months, the first 4.5 being the same stuff.
MM is 3 months.

There is some description at www.cnrc.navy.mil/nucfield

[shadowhunter]

Is Nuclear "A" school teach nuclear field specifics, or does it teach general rating skills?

[nukeET1]

 NFAS goes through a variety of topics very quickly.

EM + ETs recieve the same training until week 17

You arrive from boot camp and are given an pillow/blanket/room and a one hour orientation.  Depending on when you get there (weekend, weekday, holiday) will depend on when you have to show up to work.  You get a week of orientation (usually starting on the Monday after you arrrive), then start class the following monday (week 1).

Week 1-7 is Basic Electricity (very basic, Ohms Law, Kerchovs voltage/current laws, resisters, parallel/series circuits and my favorite.... safety!!!!!  (with the guy touching 2 wires:)

Week 1-3 is Math .... super super super super basic, you MUST follow the procedure on how to solve the problems, complaining or pretending you are smarter than the instructor will not help you in any way.

Week 7 through 14 is Electronics Fundamentals.  Transistor theory, Capacitors, Inductors, and a wide variety of circuitry associated with these, also more Motor and Generator theory.

Week 15-17 is Digital electronics - Basically take a semester of digital in college and cram in into 2 weeks. From boolean algebra, logic gates, flip flops all the way through microprocessors.

Week 18-23

EM - Equip. - Motors, Generators, and controllers and very basic PLCs.  The stuff you work on out in the fleet

ET - I+C -  Temperature, pressure, level instrumentation along with a TON of microprocessor driven equipment.  A lot of basic troubleshooting  and some soldering.

Week 24  study for Comp, and graduation the following Friday.

MMs

Take Basic Machinery, and Math together....then get into lube oil strainers, air compressors, hydraulics and valves.  Their 'A' school is about 15 weeks long.


Tips:

1. LISTEN TO YOUR INSTRUCTORS/SLPO.  They have the experience necessary to help you pass if YOU LISTEN.  If you want to do things your own way you will eventually figure out that its not going to work.  Most nukes in general never had to study in high school or college.  In NFAS/NPS/Prototype you will have to study effectively in order to get through.

2. Leave your complaints out on the smoke pad.  Noone wants to hear "my toe hurts". 
Take responsibility for your actions.... in almost all cases of exam failures it came down to one thing.... students not putting forth the EFFORT required to learn the material.  If you do not put forth the effort/time then you will end up failing exams and being forced to do your job..... that is you are being PAID to be a student so  you are expected to learn.

3.  Do not get into trouble.  Stay FAR away from those who have striped badges (on restriction) and consider the sources if you get their opinion.  They have already been in trouble.....

4.  Give your 100 percent effort and you will receive 100 percent return.

Hope this helps,

Ex-Nukeet1

3.5 years instructor at NNPTC

[Fermi2]

Damn good advice nukeET1

How's the SRO Class going?

Mike