Hello all,
I just had a quick and simple question. I really want to become an MM with an ELT/ or Welding skill set. Can MM's still qualify to do welding? I had seen some older posts (from back in 2003-2009) that said they could, but I also saw evidence that they were phasing it out of the Nuclear community. Would anyone happen to know?
Thanks,
Yes, nuke MMs still get picked up for welder. When I left NPTU a few months ago, I think we were picking up 1-2 per class at my plant. My memory might be a little faulty as far as the numbers go since we hadn't graduated a class since January.
Keep in mind that you need to be a sub volunteer in order to be eligible for this. Also, the qualification is for you to be an "emergency welder". That means that your skills would utilized while underway in order to facilitate a repair to help the boat get safely back to somewhere that proper repairs can be made.
Best of luck and thank you for volunteering to serve!
Quote from: HeavyD on Oct 21, 2014, 08:20
Keep in mind that you need to be a sub volunteer in order to be eligible for this. Also, the qualification is for you to be an "emergency welder". That means that your skills would utilized while underway in order to facilitate a repair to help the boat get safely back to somewhere that proper repairs can be made.
Best of luck and thank you for volunteering to serve!
Thanks for the helpful information. I had no idea you needed to be a sub volunteer in order to pick up welding. Does this mean that you will need to be a dive welder? How likely would I be able to pick up this skill? I know you said that there are only 1-2 per class, does that mean not a lot of people go for it? Or that it is really selective?
Quote from: NuclearNicholas on Oct 22, 2014, 01:31
Thanks for the helpful information. I had no idea you needed to be a sub volunteer in order to pick up welding. Does this mean that you will need to be a dive welder? How likely would I be able to pick up this skill? I know you said that there are only 1-2 per class, does that mean not a lot of people go for it? Or that it is really selective?
Each boat is (was?) required to maintain at least two MM's who are qualified emergency welder. As HeavyD stated, this is solely so that the boat has someone to weld some metal in a dire situation. You won't be welding the side of the hull and the chances of you actually welding anything onboard a boat while underway are near 0. You'll weld something like once or twice a year, in a shop at the sub base, to prove that you still know what you are doing.
Realistically, welder will work like most collateral duties: If you show up to your command and the division needs a welder, they might send you to weld school because they're not 'losing' anyone by sending a non-qual. There are a handful of other specialty schools you might get sent to.
Welding for the Navy is mostly done by shipyard workers, who are civilians.
If you want to learn how to weld, become a Hull Technician... Formerly called a ship-fitter, who also did underwater welding.