Getting a college degree as a nuke. (Sub Volunteer)

[Chuman]

I've heard that some nukes end up having crazy work schedules and I'm wondering if I will have plenty of time while in the navy to work towards getting a college degree in some kind of engineering related field. If it helps, I signed up as a submarine volunteer, and while I know that aircraft carriers sometimes bring college professors on their ships and submarines don't.

My question is: Will it be much harder to work on getting a college degree as a submariner than it would be if I chose aircraft carriers?

[Roll Tide]

You can get college credits for courses aboard sub for external programs. VHS tapes and submit the assignments through your proctor (who mails them when you hit land).

Big-time credits for examinations; look at the www.excelsior.edu website under testing for credit.

[taterhead]

It will be extremely difficult to get enough of the classes you need to get a Bachelor's degree on a carrier, particularly until you are fully qualified.  As for the classes offered onboard, think mostly Composition and Algebra, perhaps a History course now and then.  I have never known many nukes to use the courses offered aboard ship.  Watch/Drill/Maintenance Schedules can be exhausting, and you will want to use your "personal" time to catch up on sleep, laundry, or poker.

However, I think that being on a submarine would make things even more difficult.  Underway schedules are strenuous, and in-port working hours can stretch to 17-1800 (witnessed at PHNSY).

If you STAR reenlist and get the add-on shore duty, it is possible, no, easy to finish before your 8 years is up.

So can you do it?  An AA, maybe, but it will be challenging no matter which you choose.

MMC(SW/AW)