Wow... talking about a can of worms opened! I thought there was going to be boxing gloves and a ring pretty soon! I will try to throw my two cents in while I am at it. Please do not mind my typing/english grammer as I just got up from mids

Here is my background info.
10 years Navy.
5 years RO
2 years EWS/EDPO
3 years instructor at NFAS
Finished my degree while I was in.
There were quite a few jobs out there at various power plants it really depended on where you wanted to go. I had job offers on the table for I+C instructor, NLO job near Raleigh, Ionization implant supervisor something ruther (forget the exact title) but that was near Boston, and SRO (instant) at the big OC.
Things I have observed so far:
1. EOOW to SRO comparison does not exist. Forget the leadership tactics that worked in the Navy. The "Do it because I am telling you to" flies like a box of bricks on sunday in the shade. There are some similar aspects depending on your experience with personel but not many.
2. The Navy designs are all similar and all VERY easy to manipulate/run. I would estimate there are probably at least 80-100 more systems in a civilian plant. Everything from the normal systems to support systems (air, oil, H2, zinc, etc etc) to support to the support systems (fuel oil, Hvac, rad waste, rad waste support systems) to environmental systems. Its like comparing a Yugo to a Huge slow moving Dump Truck... there is no comparison.
3. The amount of knowledge required to become a SRO is overwhelming coming from the military. The systems part mentioned in #2 is really the easy part. That is all just memorization and you were correct in your post they really are not all that different in theory. I would not worry about the systems. The real challenge is EVERYTHING else. Knowing how to get things done, who to call, where to go, what the solutions are for every day things as well as when things break. When you are dealing with a support staff of 400+ people ( sorry.. not support staf... umm Engineering, I+C, mechanical, electrical, station services, FIN, etc etc) knowing who to call is pretty important and takes an immense time to learn.
4. Running drills in the simulator (which is amazingly similar if not exactly like the actual plant) is ALOT harder then any drills we ever ran in the Navy. The command and control necessary to be successful is amazing. Every Reactor Scram drill lights up around 100-150 alarms. Which ones are important?

It makes running a slow leak drill on the Navy reactors... kinda like running a light bulb burned out at your house....The Navy design was simple. Did I mention that there are no two Civilian plants alike.
The good observations:
There are quite a few instant SRO that have their licenses here and two are SM. So being and instant SRO is possible and can be done. It really depends on where you end up. Some plants do not allow Instants, others I have heard have ALOT of animocity towards them, and others want to see you succeed and do well since they need people. The Nuclear industry IMO is at a turning point right now. There is going to be an huge turn over of people in the next few years (5-10) because of the retirement of the older operators. Does it take an immense amount of work? Yeah absolutly. You basically have to forget a lot of the leadership BS the Navy burned into your head and actually start using some common sense.
I, personally, would not put down what Mike (Sequoyah 1&2) was telling you. He is a Shift manager and has his SRO/RO license. That right there tells you a lot. Although his tact may need some honing, his opinion on the whole trying to compare Navy to Civilian is correct (there just isn't).
I'll debate a Naval Officer has any leadership skills. But it's been said we're here to help. I used to LOVE putting newly discharged Naval "leaders" in a room full of union guys and watch them get their heads ripped off while attempting their unique brand of Leadership with people who aren't captivesIt is a good thing I was not eating while reading this... I think I would have to do some "Sea turtle" resucitation on myself... If that is not the truth I do not know what is....
How to get to SRO.
Common option:
1. Get a job as an NLO (20-23/hour to start, 30-32/hr plus overtime/doubletime once qualified .... about 12-14 months). Go from NLO to SRO (possible depending on the company and ROs that want SRO. Some places uses the seniority aspect because of the union. Check that before you take the job) Depending on the licensing and need for people classes run every 18-24 months (maybe).
Semi Common option:
2. Get a job as a system engineer. Make a good reputation for yourself. See what operations actually does, how the plant runs, and overall dynamics of the operation.
Rare and illusive position:
3. Get a job as an "instant" SRO. Make a good reputation for yourself. Learn everything you can possibly learn prior to class (6 month on site requirements for SRO). Listen to the SRO/RO/NLOs and learn.
Like I said before we have several SROs that work here and were instants..... and several SM. They are all licensed and for the most part if I did not ask their background you would not know the difference. The ability to learn is a powerful thing. .
One thing I will say... there are both good, medium and bad people that work in all plants/corporations. To say that the civilian industry has the "creme of the crop" was BS. I work with all types of people and I trully beleive the diffence b/w good SRO/RO/NLO is their attitude.
GL with your job search and do not limit yourself to just one type of work. The military experience is good, your degree helps, but once you get out.. its a WHOLE new world

ex-nukeet1
PS: One thing I found amazing.... they actually have sick days

You can call in.. and say hey.. I am sick LOL (without a doctor note or a bottle of Motrin). Anyone else find that amazing after they got out of the Navy?
Another cool thing... is that the fuel glows blue after it comes out of the core... I always thought that was pure Hollywood BS.