I truly believe you are right. Of the 17 prior enlisted nukes in my NSI (STA-21) 40 person division this past winter, none of the sea-returnee nuke-officer eligible candidates actually applied for nuke-officer. Three of them could have done it. All 10 of the nuke-officer option selectees applied as students or SPU's. The other seven of us (with sea service) nukes wanted nothing to do with it ever again.
-Rob
I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you folks, but most Unrestricted Line JO jobs (aside from pilot) are hard with long hours. As a Surface Warfare Officer, you'll probably work 12+ hours a day....just because. I hated every second of my time on my conventional ship. If you think common sense doesn't apply in the nuke world....well, you'll see if you go SWO. The Department heads on my ship worked 16 + hours a day.....and that was with a CO that was great.
Most of you know firsthand what JO life is like on a sub, so I'll spare you my observations from my time as a sub JO.
Good buddy of mine is a P-3 pilot who absolutely loves his job....so, if you're going that route then you'll probably enjoy life.
My best advice to any nuke seeking a commission....this from a guy who did JO tours on subs and then surface ships....
Go SWO(N)
Why?
1. Money....eligible after MSR for both the $50,000 SWO bonus plus kicker as well as the $30K/year nuke bonus.
2. You only have to put up with the SWO games 1/2 the time and the nuke games 1/2 the time.....every other sea tour you switch platforms (i.e. first 18 months on a conventional ship, then 24 months on CVN after NNPTC)
3. Family contact even underway......I called my wife and kids every night underway while on the cruiser....from the phone that was located on my desk. Now, being separated still sucks...but it sucks less when you can at least talk often.