((Advice if you please)) :))

[JazSusana1717]

Hello.
This is the first time i have tried a forum so i am not positive if i am doing this right ) I signed a contract in March with the U.S. Navy with a job in the nuclear power program...I am extremely excited about the challenge. I do not leave until january 19th of 2011 so i am trying get as prepared as possible. I have an associates degree but while i wait i have decided to take a couple courses this semester while i wait. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what courses would be most beneficial for me.
thanks )

[MMM]

Chemistry/Physics, calc based (if you haven't already taken them) if you want to get an Engineering degree.

[IPREGEN]

Rent and watch "Full Metal Jacket" then be glad you did not join the Marines. Just kidding.

[crusemm]

Since you have approx 4 months left, and you obviously have some free time, I personally would concentrate on some other things.
1.  Spend quality time with friends and family, and make some good memories to hold you through the hard times
2.  Pick up a copy of the blue jackets manual (or look on the internet) and memorize the general orders of the sentry, Navy and other service ranks and insignia, and if you still have free time, do some math review.  Quite honestly though, the Navy will teach you all the math you will need for the job you are about to do.**
3.  Go run.  Get yourself in shape, if your not used to (I wasn't) the PT can be brutal.
4.  If possible, as the weather gets colder, try to acclimate yourself.  January at Great Lakes can be harsh.

Hope this helps, and Have a day
-Matt
**Not to disparage the advice others have given about material to study, just my opinion that the time might be better spent concentrating on other aspects that you may not have been exposed to yet.  I assume that with your Associates degree, you have already received some higher level math instruction, and the Navy stuff doesn't get much above entry level calculus.  Most of it is basic algebra, physics math, and conversions.

[haverty]

Learning math the civilian way is a waste of time. You can go in there with 3rd grade math knowledge... as long as you have the aptitude you will be just fine. No point sweating out the program, enjoy your little remaining time with friends and family, lord knows and god willing you become a nuke, you wont have much time for that in the fleet.

[HydroDave63]

Learning math the civilian way is a waste of time. You can go in there with 3rd grade math knowledge...

Completely bad advice. Thanks for playing!   

[haverty]

Completely bad advice. Thanks for playing!   

Interesting... I managed to get a 3.97 in a school and a 3.75 in power school from my background of alg 2 that I hadn't taken in literally 5 years... how did that work???

This guy is better off getting his ducks in a row vs cramming useless knowledge in his head.

[Sun Dog]

apparently the emoticons are not working,...

Some folks cannot look past their cornea unless they are facing a mirror.

[co60slr]

Interesting... I managed to get a 3.97 in a school and a 3.75 in power school from my background of alg 2 that I hadn't taken in literally 5 years... how did that work???

Do all people have the same proficiency in Math....before/during/5 years after any course?

It's hard for ANY of us to give specific advice to an anonymous Internet poster.  However, given ALL of our replies, the OP has something to think about.  Thus, I think our job is successfully done.

However, I know many nukes that aren't satisfied with Algebra II and the lack of technical education.  Hindsight 20/20, I should have taken as many college courses until I started Boot Camp, vice finally having time to do it 10 years later.   Besides, from the handful of phone calls/emails I've received from parents for their young nuke candidates is that they're partying and playing video games...not visiting relatives and aunts, or reading anything.   

Bottom line:  don't waste away in DEP.  Do something.  All above are good ideas.  I assume the recruiters are training/teaching about Navy PRT standards, but that's a good starting point offered by CruiseMM.  I've seen people become an "attrition statistic" because they can't run 1.5 miles in less than 20 minutes.  Hence, all this advice is a waste of their time.

Co60

[JazSusana1717]

Thank you for all the advice. I think i am going to get some books that may pertain to my future and read up. I am pretty physically fit but am working on getting ready for a triathlon in September so I am trying my best to take care of the physical aspect. Thank you for the ideas about the bluejacket manual ((which I will def get and start to look at)) && the general orders and such I have already begun but will focus on more. Thanks for the advice ) this entire site has been a real help ) thank you

[haverty]

Do all people have the same proficiency in Math....before/during/5 years after any course?

It's hard for ANY of us to give specific advice to an anonymous Internet poster.  However, given ALL of our replies, the OP has something to think about.  Thus, I think our job is successfully done.

However, I know many nukes that aren't satisfied with Algebra II and the lack of technical education.  Hindsight 20/20, I should have taken as many college courses until I started Boot Camp, vice finally having time to do it 10 years later.   Besides, from the handful of phone calls/emails I've received from parents for their young nuke candidates is that they're partying and playing video games...not visiting relatives and aunts, or reading anything.   

Bottom line:  don't waste away in DEP.  Do something.  All above are good ideas.  I assume the recruiters are training/teaching about Navy PRT standards, but that's a good starting point offered by CruiseMM.  I've seen people become an "attrition statistic" because they can't run 1.5 miles in less than 20 minutes.  Hence, all this advice is a waste of their time.

Co60

Fair enough. I was in dep for 13 months, and I wasted it getting drunk off my ass all the time. I should have been getting my ducks in a row. However, you can't say last minute cramming is going to help... He wont even scratch the surface and will just be wasting his time. Ultimately his choice. Studying general orders in your spare time is probably not a bad idea though

I was actually using my cell phone which didnt display emoticons O.o sorry if I missed a joke somewhere.

[Jimmykroffa]

you did, but that's alright,...it's just an internet forum you know ;-)

Nice!

[Donovan1687]

I also have an A.A. and thought about taking more classes before leaving for boot camp. I'll give you my experience and maybe you'll be able to use it. 

I spent time with my family and friends. Once I made it to boot camp I realized how happy I was that I spent every waking hour (when not at work)  with my daughter and wife, not in a classroom. Everything I've faced so far (granted, I'm only a third of the way through the pipeline.) has been about personal motivation. I have pride in my work, self discipline, and my family. I worked hard to build upon those things, and I feel it has helped me tremendously.

Those that have failed out here, so far, have been the ones lacking in motivation. My advice would be to find what motivates you most and work to strengthen it, because if you lack in natural ability it will almost certainly be made up for by hard work. If you make up your mind to take classes, which I do feel is a great idea, simply take the things that will help you advance toward the degree you want to achieve in the future. If you take a bunch of high level math and physics thinking it will get you ahead, you'll be disappointed when you get to A school. It's not complicated stuff, its simply thrown at you quickly. I'm no bright star (and I was a psychology major in college to boot) and I made a 3.7 in the math portion of A school. Its not difficult if you put the time in.

Good luck in making your decision. 

[Styrofoam]

I also have an A.A. and thought about taking more classes before leaving for boot camp. I'll give you my experience and maybe you'll be able to use it. 

I spent time with my family and friends. Once I made it to boot camp I realized how happy I was that I spent every waking hour (when not at work)  with my daughter and wife, not in a classroom. Everything I've faced so far (granted, I'm only a third of the way through the pipeline.) has been about personal motivation. I have pride in my work, self discipline, and my family. I worked hard to build upon those things, and I feel it has helped me tremendously.

Those that have failed out here, so far, have been the ones lacking in motivation. My advice would be to find what motivates you most and work to strengthen it, because if you lack in natural ability it will almost certainly be made up for by hard work. If you make up your mind to take classes, which I do feel is a great idea, simply take the things that will help you advance toward the degree you want to achieve in the future. If you take a bunch of high level math and physics thinking it will get you ahead, you'll be disappointed when you get to A school. It's not complicated stuff, its simply thrown at you quickly. I'm no bright star (and I was a psychology major in college to boot) and I made a 3.7 in the math portion of A school. Its not difficult if you put the time in.

Good luck in making your decision. 

Any opposition to this?

[HydroDave63]

Any opposition to this?

3rd paragraph worth its weight in gold!

[haverty]

I also have an A.A. and thought about taking more classes before leaving for boot camp. I'll give you my experience and maybe you'll be able to use it. 

I spent time with my family and friends. Once I made it to boot camp I realized how happy I was that I spent every waking hour (when not at work)  with my daughter and wife, not in a classroom. Everything I've faced so far (granted, I'm only a third of the way through the pipeline.) has been about personal motivation. I have pride in my work, self discipline, and my family. I worked hard to build upon those things, and I feel it has helped me tremendously.

Those that have failed out here, so far, have been the ones lacking in motivation. My advice would be to find what motivates you most and work to strengthen it, because if you lack in natural ability it will almost certainly be made up for by hard work. If you make up your mind to take classes, which I do feel is a great idea, simply take the things that will help you advance toward the degree you want to achieve in the future. If you take a bunch of high level math and physics thinking it will get you ahead, you'll be disappointed when you get to A school. It's not complicated stuff, its simply thrown at you quickly. I'm no bright star (and I was a psychology major in college to boot) and I made a 3.7 in the math portion of A school. Its not difficult if you put the time in.

Good luck in making your decision. 

beautiful

[Styrofoam]

3rd paragraph worth its weight in gold!

I agree; I just want to here an alternate view, if there is one. 

[co60slr]

I agree; I just want to here an alternate view, if there is one. 

"I put in the time yhat was needed, and I succeeded".

In engineering/operations, it's hard to argue with cold/hard facts.

[DDMurray]

Those that have failed out here, so far, have been the ones lacking in motivation. My advice would be to find what motivates you most and work to strengthen it, because if you lack in natural ability it will almost certainly be made up for by hard work. If you make up your mind to take classes, which I do feel is a great idea, simply take the things that will help you advance toward the degree you want to achieve in the future.
Good luck in making your decision. 

INCOMPETENCE
"When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do."     (From despair.com)
Sorry couldn't help it.

[haverty]

INCOMPETENCE
"When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do."     (From despair.com)
Sorry couldn't help it.

haha that's pretty funny