Wow, I believe alot of people have came here bashing a kid for making a decision he doesnt feel he can live with. Just because all of you "sucked" it up and dealt with it, doesnt mean he has to. Im still in the navy, and i love being a nuke, but i understand its not for everyone. I saw several people at NNPTC get out of nuke field most lost a chevron or stripe for it though. I am not at NPTU in NY, and i can say here, if you dont want in, all it takes is a talk to the masterchief. They will encourage you to talk to the MC if your not feeling up to the job/challenge, they dont want incapable operators, not matter what the cause.
The navy is a volunteer service guys, and for you to scold someone because they signed a piece of paper at 18 yrs old directly out of high school, and tell them to just "live" with it. He still wishes to serve his country, but he feels he would be more useful as something other than a nuke.
I believe the "grow up" statements may directed towards the wrong person.
And my 2 cents on the what is harder/easier, old nuke pipeline vs. new nuke pipeline. Well, before bowman the drop rate at NNPTC and NPS were significantly higher, but this makes me curious about something. Supposedly, the navy REALLY needs operators, and i dont think we have commisioned that many ships in the last 15 yrs. If back in the 'old' days, everyone was booted out, and classes only graduated 30%, which now is about 100 ppl/NPS class, how did the navy man their ships? We are on a shortage right now, putting 300 ppl out every 2 months, and 15 yrs ago you only put out 100? so the nuclear navy has over tripled in size? Im sorry, i dont mean to be that 1.5 yr in nub that fits the profile so nicely provided previously, but if you could explain it to me, would be appreciated, because in the back of my mind i still think its the same as my father walking to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways kinda story.