Career Options outside the nuke field

[WarKrisMagic]

I'm currently in DEP for the nuke field, and have been thinking about possibilities after the Navy.  How possible is it to actually complete a degree within my 6 year contract?  Specifically what I think I want to do is become a teacher as my long term goal.  What is the likelihood that I would be able to complete a teaching degree while still in?  I want to teach either math, physics, or chemistry.  Also, is it usually possible to move from being in the fleet to being an instructor if I decide to re-up after my 6 years?  That way I would even have teaching experience when I got out.  I've seen people on here mention being an instructor at NPS and NFAS.  Is this common for enlisted?

[shayne]

Your first 2 years in the Navy will be in the nuclear training pipeline, so there will be no opportunities to work toward a degree there.  If you go strait to the fleet after Prototype, qualification on the ship or sub will be the number one priority.  This will be approx a year-year and half or so.  So with 3 years left in the Navy and assuming that your fully qualified, you may be able to attend some classes outside of the Navy or do distance learning.  This also depends on the ships schedule.

Instructor duty is possible.  Most enlisted instructors are at the prototypes, then NFAS, the fewest at NPS.  NPS are mostly Direct Input Officers.  During my days, to go to instructor duty, it was required to be in the top 50% of NFAS, NPS, NPTU, qualified Senior-in-Rate, at least second class (E-5 or >), and 5 years of sea time.  For NPTU instructor duty, it was possible to get a waiver to rotate at 3 years of sea time and 4 years sea time for NFAS.  Waivers for sea time, usually were granted if instructor duties are undermanned and your ship is overmanned.

I think your best option is to try to get Staff Pickup at Prototype.  This allows you to get some instructor training and experience, but it also allows you to start working toward a degree while on shore duty.  Staff Pickup is a two year duty, so you will have to re-enlist to cover that time.  Most re-enlist under the STAR Program at their 2 year point.  Under STAR, you will also be advanced to E-5 if you are not at the time of re-enlistment.  STAR is also a 6 year enlistment (discharged and enlisted back into the Navy for 6 years) so you will get a larger SRB (Bonus).

[M1Ark]

  Staff Pickup is a two year duty, so you will have to re-enlist to cover that time. 

Not true.  I didn't have to re-enlist.  I did 2 years in the nuclear pipeline as a student.  2 years as a Staff Pickup Instructor at prototype and the final 2 years at sea for my 6 year enlistment.

[War Eagle]

You have to extend now to be a SPU.

[hamsamich]

I think you were required to extend in the 80s also, but didn't the command sometimes forget to get the extentions for people, then when they finally remembered, a SPU might have 2 years left or so and they wouldn't extend or re-up, so they were just b1tched at alot by the command and then sent to the fleet?  That was what I remember, but it was info from SPUs, I was NOT a SPU.

[War Eagle]

I was a SPU at S3G from 89-91 and did not have to sign an extension.  The policy changed a few years ago to ensure the operators had a full sea tour following SPU.  There were some who thought the boats were getting short-changed because of the 2 year sea tours.   


Edit: By extend I mean reenlist to cover the extra two years.

[Rad Sponge]

I was a SPU 98-00 626-C

I reenlisted almost exactly at my 2 year point to give me almost exactly 8 years of obligated service and 4 years left following my SPU tour.

I was not given the option to extend or anything like that, nor did I raise the question.

Just Sho me the money and I'll sign.

Jason

[shayne]

There was a few I knew that beat the system during my time also.  The SPU that decided not to re-enlist was sent to the fleet.  The command at the time was good about seeing them set a date and get the paperwork done during their staff qualifications.  The best way for most of the command to track a SPU is by Rate.  Most SPU are E-4 until they STAR.  So those who usually beat the system were already adv to E-5, so most assumed they had STAR to fill the SPU Billet.

[visserjr]

Great advice great advice. As for the Teaching thing, there is a program called Troops to Teachers. Google it. It has a website. It is a great programmed designed to aid troops(sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and the damn coasties) in getting teaching certification. Some require certain degrees, others require extensive experience in a technical field. ie. if you spend 20 years as an MR in the navy working a Lathe for nuclear repairs, you are probably suited as a shop teacher. There are also incentives for working in hard to employ areas(like the ghetto or the sticks). Best of luck.

[M1Ark]

I think you were required to extend in the 80s also, but didn't the command sometimes forget to get the extentions for people, then when they finally remembered, a SPU might have 2 years left or so and they wouldn't extend or re-up, so they were just b1tched at alot by the command and then sent to the fleet?  That was what I remember, but it was info from SPUs, I was NOT a SPU.

I had to sign a document that said I would spend a minimum of 24 months on a sea going command.  This might have been an issue for EM's and ET's since their 'A' School was longer.  Again,  I spent 2 years as a student, 2 years as a SPU and 2 years at sea.  This occured late 80's early 90's. 

When I was being interviewed for my NLO job after my six year tour one of the interviewers thought I was lying when I said I did 6 years in the navy, was a SPU and made E-6 in 4 years.  He said that it was impossible for a mechanic to make E-6 in four years and also that all SPU's had to re-enlist.  He thought I was hiding something.  As luck would have it one of the other interviewers that was a SPU at S5G stuck up for me and said that what I said was possible.  Made for an awkward interview when the interviewer was basically calling you a liar during the interview.  I got hired and became good friends later with the interview panel.

[Fermi2]

Same deal here. I didn't have to extend to take SPU Duty. I made 2nd class on the first test I took. If I recall corectly you had to have something like 26 months left after SPU duty or you had to extend. I might have that number off. I did reenlist for other reasons, but didn't need to do so for staff duty. I made E6 on my first exam 4 years into my Navy career. I got out at 6 years and 1 month, but spent my last 3 months working for Detroit Edison while awaiting a disability discharge.

One thing, I had no leave between A School and Pre Nuke School. Our Pre Nuke school lasted exactly 8 days, we started on Monday , went to school 7 straight days and took our exam the morning of the 8th Day. We then took 10 days leave and started nuke school.

I never did Smurf duty. My Prototype Class never got extended due to plant problems. I then did a SPU tour and then ELT school.

Total time active duty was 5 years 11 months.

Mike

[deltarho]

It's easier to get into NFAS than NPS if you weren't tops in your class at NPS or NPTU while a student.  Still, you must stand out in the fleet to get either.  Once an instructor, do all you can do to become a Master Training Specialist.  When I was in NFAS Orlando, that title was recognized by UCF and they waived your internship for a teaching certificate.  It may carry weight elsewhere, too.

Troops for teachers has many stipulations--that change year to year.

Me, I now work for another industry that has comparable risk factors.  Check my avitar and you will get a clue.

[Rad Sponge]

One of the stipulations that stands out the most about Troops to Teachers is that you are basically enlisting, meaning that they "own" you for something like 3 years to teach in "critical" schools.

You are eligible to get $$ for completing degree requirements and testing, but once you accept monies, you obligate yourself.

Before doing this, I suggest a stint as a substitute teacher sampling as many grades as possible to see if you have the right temperment.

I found out the hard way, that I do better teaching adults.

"Listen you little piece of shit, you aren't worth the freedom I have been providing you for all the years of your little useless life..."

Yep, that'll do it.

[WarKrisMagic]

I'm almost certain I want to teach, I've had experience with it before.  I'm pretty sure I want to teach high school, because I want to be somewhere that, and I know it may sound snobby, I can really make a difference.  The fact is if it weren't for a few teachers in my life I never would have considered looking into calculus, physics, chem, or any of the sciences for that matter.  Thanks to some of my high school teachers I'm now in AP Physics, AP Calculus,  AP Computer Science(C++) and AP Chemistry, and considering a major in physics, or calc.  I want to be somewhere where I can really help kids learn about themselves like that.  I love calculus, and I'd have never done it without my 9th grade geometry teacher, or my 7th grade algebra teacher.

[hamsamich]

i wouldn't say snobby, maybe biased, "miscommunicative", skewed, opinionated, or possibly just plain wrong?  I agree with you in some ways, but many a psychologist would argue that more impact could be made in K thru 3 or so (assuming decent nutrition, parents, clothing, etc.).  People's memories just may not allow them to remember how much impact his/her 1st grade teacher had on them.  My mother raved about how awesome and impactful my 1st grade teacher was but all of I have is fuzzy memories about how nice a lady she was.  My 10th grade geometry techer was awesome and I feel she was very important, but I could never say which one had more impact. 

Allthough I do suspect a high school teacher may actually help less people in number (quality, not quantity) don't feel as though I am knocking HS teachers.  To make a huge impact on someone's life in HS, a student may need special attention that only special types of teachers may be able to provide.  Younger children are more mallable and plastic, while older kids are more set in their ways and many may be unreachable, and possibly could have been reached at an earlier date.  Hopefully teachers like you will be able to get thru to the ones that are reachable, while many students who are already "there" need only guidance and support, an introduction to new ideas and possibilities?  I guess what I am saying is at a earlier age, you may get more bang for your buck?

You can "really" make a difference at either grade, but maybe you can influence more people at younger ages, while you can really "turn someone around" at a later date, but not as many people for your effort.

[visserjr]

I believe(al be it humbly) that an impact either positive or negative can be made on or by people or events at any age. Laying the foundation at a young age is crucial. But, from personal experience at 28 years old, life is a constant lesson, and the people you meet are the teachers, whether or not you realize it, but you as well are a teacher, mentor, or motivator to someone old or young. Sorry, just my 2 cents.

[hamsamich]

I agree, just stating more impact could be made at younger age.

[RCLCPO]

The career choices following Navy Nuke training and experience are not limited.  The brochure the recruiters hand out has a quote from a guy from Orion International, a recruiting firm, that Nukes can do just about anything from power to high tech.

He's right, too.  Whatever it is you want to do that's the least bit technical or engineering related can be pursued (including teaching the stuff).

In my case, I went conventional, and now supervise the operation of 5 different cogeneration power plants scattered around the state of California.  In a big picture sort of way, a power plant is a power plant, whether it gets its heat from a reactor or from burning chicken shit or natural gas, it's still a power plant.

And when I go looking for new personnel to run these plants, I look first for Navy Nukes.

[Roll Tide]

Get some experience teaching adults before you cast teaching kids as your final goal. Don't worry, you will have opportunities to instruct your own division by the time you have been around a couple of years in the fleet.