Are there any navy nuke graphic novels that really represent life in the Navy?

[Fermi2]

...I try to hit spell checker on my post before critiquing others on their spelling.

If you want to win an argument with me about the nuclear navy, you'll have to do better than referencing books.  While you were busy reading over the years, I was actually in that nuclear navy for two decades.  Keep reading.

If you're looking for me to disagree with you about Rickover, it's unlikely to happen.  The books highlight a history on how the NNPP was built, and I could care less about one man's personality flaws.  His Ego caught up with him one day and his career was sunsetted.

I'm curious for you to compare/contrast the various Rickover books.  I'll see you on your Rickover Thread, if/when you decide to start an intellectual conversation.

Co58

Again I do not acknowledge Naval experience as being real nuclear experience. I did 6 years Nuclear Navy then went to the Major Leagues. As for the Rickover Effect it's cartoonish in my view. The fact a guy who I knew from personal experience to be Rickovers cheerleader happened to be the author pretty much said it all to me.

Now I think Rickover did a great job but after the 50s he was an impediment.


Have you read Polmars book? Oddly I don't like it, I found it to be pure character assassination driven by Rickovers refusal to release classified information to him when he wrote his book on the Thresher.

[Fermi2]

Being able to quit on a whim is one of the biggest BS points that Sailors believe in.

If you're 20 years old still living with mommy and daddy, sure, you can quit a job just because you don't like the 'bs.' But for anyone who rents/owns their own place, likes eating once in a while, and occasionally wants to watch some cable TV, you need to have a job. And the way the economy is right now, finding another job isn't the easiest thing in the world. So before you press the "I quit" button, you need to line something else up...which probably has very similar BS to the job you just quit.

Saying that the Navy has longer hours, less stability in terms of scheduling, time away from family is all true...although most people in civvy world making your salary's equivalent after tax breaks and benefits are accounted for have some or all of the above. However, having to put up with 'bs' at work...that's universal, and once you have responsibilities that require a paycheck you can't just decide to quit your job on a whim.

And your experience in the Civilian world is???

[Fermi2]

LMAO!!!

[Neutron Whisperer]

I would not advise reading the Rickover effect. It's nothing but all out cheerleading for Rickover much of which has been debunked. I knew te Author and if he could have slept with Rickover he would have. The book is worthless propaganda.

Didn't see that one coming.  I mean he only did 6 years in the Navy and managed to qualify EOOW, go from E4 to O7, invent the comma, get a 4.0 on everything...but to have met Rockwell.  I wasn't impressed before, but now I am.

[Fermi2]

Rockwell was on the Nuclear Advisary Board for DTE. The guy was one extremely smart dude. Don't recall ever saying I was an O 7.

[HydroDave63]

I wasn't impressed before, but now I am.

Remember, you are dealing with the The World's Most Interesting Man!

A few short clips of Med cruises past...

[anthonyalsup]

Agreed, there is BS no matter what job you take, however, when and if you have had enough, to make your paycheck not worth it anymore, you CAN quit.  That is something you cannot do in the Navy (without serious reprocussions). 
So you can see my post is based upon my experience, what experience can you base yourself on?

First of all, life is all about choices.  You just have to be willing to accept the consequences.  The only things you have no choice in are to be born and die.

Secondly, my point was not to say that the Navy was better than the civilian world.  Trust me, its not.  My point was that my sacrifice for 6 years in the Navy was well worth it once I got out.

[JsonD13]

First of all, life is all about choices.  You just have to be willing to accept the consequences.  The only things you have no choice in are to be born and die.

Secondly, my point was not to say that the Navy was better than the civilian world.  Trust me, its not.  My point was that my sacrifice for 6 years in the Navy was well worth it once I got out.

Anthony,
    I got your point.  However, the FTN type nukes probably are the ones who would quit prior to their contract coming up if it wasn't a federal crime.  I do understand that there are people that love to bi*** about their job and that you will run into those type of people no mater where you are.  However, you were in the minority if you made the best of it (at least from my experience of 8 years in the Navy).

Agreed, it definitely is well worth it once you are out.  I too am making way more and have a ton more time off than when I was in the Navy.

I think you might have quoted a different post I made under the same thread, as the one you quoted was in reply to someone else.

Jason

[DLGN25]

....  However, you were in the minority if you made the best of it (at least from my experience of 8 years in the Navy).

Back in the '60's, nukes came from the top 3-5% of the Navy, but then again there was the draft and a war.  Most of the nukes I knew had some college education.  Through power school and prototype, some dropped out, most for psychiatric problems resulting from not being able to cope with the pressure.  Those who otherwise dropped out, got quality assignments to places like Gitmo (not kidding here). 

Once in the fleet, at least on Bainbridge, all qualified within 4-5 months for their senior watch stations and there was no cheating.  We were responsible enough to know that cheating was not only wrong, but hazardous to the plant.

Now there were those, like me, who hated nuclear power, while we were in the minority, we did our jobs.  Most nukes did their six and got out.  One of my buddies got out, got his degree in nuclear engineering and went on to become a startup engineer in Illinois, another got his degree in electrical engineering and also ended up in Illinois, as did three others who went directly into instrumentation.  I became an accountant.  Only one I knew had problems after the Navy, and that was for acute alcoholism.

Now all this said, we were not perfect, things did happen that brought a couple of visits from Rickover, but we were always professional when in the plants.

Just sad to see that with all the bonus money being doled out (which we had none) that things have apparently deteriorated.

Oh, one thing that made life somewhat easier back then was that the Navy, even for nukes, the duty rotation was two years sea duty, two years ashore, then sea duty.  For some, within 6 years, they qualified on prototype sub plants, D2G plants, and the A1W prototype as instructors. 

[co60slr]

Back in the '60's, nukes came from the top 3-5% of the Navy, but then again there was the draft and a war.  Most of the nukes I knew had some college education.  Through power school and prototype, some dropped out, most for psychiatric problems resulting from not being able to cope with the pressure.  Those who otherwise dropped out, got quality assignments to places like Gitmo (not kidding here). 

Once in the fleet, at least on Bainbridge, all qualified within 4-5 months for their senior watch stations and there was no cheating.  We were responsible enough to know that cheating was not only wrong, but hazardous to the plant.

Now there were those, like me, who hated nuclear power, while we were in the minority, we did our jobs.  Most nukes did their six and got out.  One of my buddies got out, got his degree in nuclear engineering and went on to become a startup engineer in Illinois, another got his degree in electrical engineering and also ended up in Illinois, as did three others who went directly into instrumentation.  I became an accountant.  Only one I knew had problems after the Navy, and that was for acute alcoholism.

Now all this said, we were not perfect, things did happen that brought a couple of visits from Rickover, but we were always professional when in the plants.

Just sad to see that with all the bonus money being doled out (which we had none) that things have apparently deteriorated.

Oh, one thing that made life somewhat easier back then was that the Navy, even for nukes, the duty rotation was two years sea duty, two years ashore, then sea duty.  For some, within 6 years, they qualified on prototype sub plants, D2G plants, and the A1W prototype as instructors. 

D1G Main Engine Watch startup.  Good times, my friend!

I wonder if I could still find all those steam traps.  :-)

On a serious note, I believe they had problems back then, and new problems now.  Better or worse?   Perhaps irrelevant, but being a Nuke is still hard work!

Co60

[spekkio]

And your experience in the Civilian world is???

Does it matter? If you have an issue with something I said, then say it. I'm not going to post my resume on nukeworker.com just to prove something to a stranger.

[Fermi2]

Does it matter? If you have an issue with something I said, then say it. I'm not going to post my resume on nukeworker.com just to prove something to a stranger.

Yes it matters, if you have none your comments have the same validity as Mickey Mouse telling NASA how to fly a space shuttle.