Career Path > Navy:Getting Out
Career progression and quals questions
Roll Tide:
Instant RO at union plants is extremely rare; I can only name 1 that has done it in the past 5 years. Other plants could get into a tight and agree to it; no promises.
Right on the money on the rest
M1Ark:
--- Quote from: check valve on Jun 23, 2006, 12:56 ---To be sure I am clear so far-
No instant RO quals at union plants.
--- End quote ---
FPL just hired an Instant RO class. It was negotiated through the union. The class consist of roughly half recent college engineer graduates with no plant experience and the other half navy nukes with no degree. The two I've met are 6 and 8 year navy mechanics. Roll Tide is right in that things will change in the future but what I stated regarding union plants are true today.
RO Instant programs are rare in that only an SRO Instant program is reccognized by the NRC. I have seen RO Instants in the past but is usually on a case-by-case program requiring waivers. The RO Instant class I'm mentioning will probably take 3 years of training before they get their RO license.
check valve:
Yes, this is just what I was hoping to hear. About three years for an instant RO. Here is the impression I have of where I stand right now. Anyone with good knowledge feel free to correct me:
I have a B.S. in HR MGT, 8.5 year E6/or 7, EWS, great evaluations, etc. I can expect that at the end of next summer, I will be able to get tons of offers for NLO positions, probably no "instant RO" positions, and a good chance of one or two "instant SRO" offers.
I am not EOOW qualified, (Maybe before I get out)and my degree is non nuclear. I am still so confused about what is the best way to get into the field. (LOL is said I didn't want to create another instant SRO post and that's just what I'm doing!)
The only comparison I have right now is the situation I see at prototype. We have Navy staff that qualify EOOW with all their operations experience, and they usually do well, but not always. Then when the new civilian staff come in to qualify, they are just glorified students, and we have to suffer through their growing pains. Some are better than others. Is this the same dynamic for the SROs that come up from NLO vs. the instant SROs? Or is there more to it that I can't understand? Because in all reality, sure, I wouldn't like to be viewed as inept, but if the end goal is going to be the same, I don't see any justification to not speed up the process if at all possible. Comments?
shayne:
Your qualifications will certainly get you in the door. You just have to hope the door is open. Most of the plants hire NLOs every fuel cycle which is about every 18-24 months. So if you are willing to go anywhere in the country, you have better odds than if you are just trying to get into one plant, which could be a long time between classes. I would also consider maintenance positions to get your foot in the door. Many companies will fill positions from inside before posting to the general public.
As you compare it to prototype, I believe it is just about the same (there were some exceptions). I found the enlisted MMs EOOW qualified, and some EMs, (ETs just lacked the steam plant knowledge or they just wanted to be back in the RO seat) were some of the better watch officers that I had the privilege of working with in the box. If this is true, then the CRS that started at NLO are better. In my short two years at a commercial nuclear power plant, I had some opinions of a few CRSs and I generally liked working with the ones who started at the NLO level much better. However, I did like working with STAs that didn't have a strong operational background, so an instant SRO in that position I thought was a better balance for the shift.
I started as a NLO with the goals of moving up into the RO licensing, but after a couple of years, I realized that wasn't what I wanted to do. Moving on in careers was much easier for me from the NLO level that it may have been from a licensing aspect. So it is my opinion that starting at NLO is better than an instant route. You could get into NLO, learn the plant, see how the operational structure works, then move into positions that interest you. Then if the RO/SRO Upgrade is the route you want, you will also have a better understanding of the plant.
Roll Tide:
--- Quote from: M1Ark on Jun 23, 2006, 03:11 ---RO Instant programs are rare in that only an SRO Instant program is reccognized by the NRC. I have seen RO Instants in the past but is usually on a case-by-case program requiring waivers. The RO Instant class I'm mentioning will probably take 3 years of training before they get their RO license.
--- End quote ---
To put this in perspective, I had been on the board for 3 months as an RO by my 3 year point after hiring in at Turkey Point. No waivers, no special permission, no union negotiations. Luck of the draw, but I saw people do it in 2.5 years. You can do it under 5 years many places (as workers retire).
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