Typical 8 year EM1(SS). I have qualified EWS, Master Training Specialist, served as an instructor at NFAS, completed Thomas Edison's BSAST "useless" degree and am 4 classes away from graduating with a Masters of Science Management degree from TESC. I have the option of obtaining a graduate certificate in Project Management, Homeland Security, Human Resources Management, or Organizational Leadership with those last 4 classes. Do any one of those sound interesting to the civilian side of the Nuclear world or should I just pick one and hit CIVLANT running like any other 8 year Navy nuke and work my way into a job like everyone else?
I'll give it a shot, attitude or no attitude and i'll break it down for you.
Typical 8 year EM1(SS). You have grouped yourself as typical, this being said everyone on this forum will accept you as typical what you should have done is sold us on your not being typical but more qualifed than the rest, and you should have been specific in doing so. A way to do that is to have shown some initiative especially on doing your own research, it will help you and show us that you have the beginings of what it takes to be in our industry.
completed Thomas Edison's BSAST "useless" degree this degree is not useless, although it is becoming more and more common the degree itself does help you Mr. Typcial in transitioning into the Civilian nuclear industry.
Masters of Science Management degree from TESC this degree inturn will also assist in you in your endeavors.
I have the option of obtaining a graduate certificate in Project Management, Homeland Security, Human Resources Management, or Organizational Leadership with those last 4 classes. Do any one of those sound interesting to the civilian side of the Nuclear world or should I just pick one and hit CIVLANT running like any other 8 year Navy nuke and work my way into a job like everyone else? This is the point where as stated below you have to choose by your own research what it is you want to do after your typical 8 yr navy career. This is the point where your initiative will set you apart. You have to remember it is your life and your career and you must choose it. The people of this forum, me included are not going to choose your career path for you, you can choose anyone of the above listed Master degrees. In some form all will help you, depending on what you want to do as a career after the navy. If you desire a management role at a nuclear power company than project management may be the right one, Human Resources and Homeland Security may not be. The point being is YOU MUST DECIDE ON WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO DO, THEN CHOOSE THE RIGHT MASTERS. We will not do that for you.
So from this 20yr retired MMC/SS with an SRO license to you Mr Typical 8yr EM1/ss EWS, I would 1.) choose a career path, 2.) Get your Masters, 3.) shelve the attitude 4.) and show some initiative in making decisions about your own career.
P.S. A lot of the civilian nuclear industry is looking for well qualified individuals with
experience I say this because 8yrs sometimes is not the amount of experience they are looking for. If you read a lot of the job postings from various nuclear companies they are looking for more experience. This being said you may have to like most start you career aspirations a little lower and work your way up, like most (me included) have done before you!!