Any tips on making it through all the schooling and training?

[SaltyBash]

I know Nukes are definitely singled out while in Boot Camp, so does anybody have any tips on how to avoid getting the blunt force of that? Also, I've been told that the material covered in A-school/Power School/Prototype is like trying to drink from a fire hose; does anyone have any tips on managing time and covering all the material?

[warehimer33]

Originally Posted by SaltyBash

I know Nukes are definitely singled out while in Boot Camp, so does anybody have any tips on how to avoid getting the blunt force of that? Also, I've been told that the material covered in A-school/Power School/Prototype is like trying to drink from a fire hose; does anyone have any tips on managing time and covering all the material?

Don't quote me on this but I'm working on getting in the field and my dad is an ex-nuke and he told me that all you have to do in A-school, power, and prototype is just stay in and pay attention in class; like don't go out every night. It really shouldn't be that hard. I just think of it like this: The Navy wouldn't qualify somebody they thought wouldn't make it through the training. Take it one day at a time and stay on top of your work(which they literally make sure you do by having you do it in the classroom because it's classified material). He said A-school is a basic review(stuff you've learned in high school) and then "new" material is taught in Power School. It's then all applied to Prototype, where you work with an actual reactor. "Trying to drink from a fire hose", just lol'd at the library. Just stay focused and determined; that'll get you through the training. You need not worry about boot camp. I've heard from countless sources that it's like a cakewalk or daycare.

[sweetmtn]

My son said that nuke school is all on how you approach it...if you are really good in math, physics and such..A school is a breeze. Power school he found much harder as the formulas they had them use were WAY different than what he was taught. Prototype was hard, but my son was one of those that is a perfectionist...so he graduated 2nd in the class from Prototype. Remember, the wash out rate is VERY HIGH! You are basically being taught 3 years of college level math, physics, calculus and other stuff in 18 months of actual schooling time..3 months less if you get MM rating.
I know many people play it down and recruiters will not tell you this..YES..there ARE suicide attempts and actual suicides at nuke school. My sons best friends room mate committed suicide over one weekend while he was gone. It is very stressful as you really need to study a lot and often..BUT do at least take one day off each weekend to decompress! Get into a really good study group while there and make friends. If you can keep that up with all the other crap that goes on, deal with the stress, study, lack of sleep, standing watch duty, inspections and pass your tests the first time around...you should be ok.
The stress does not stop once you get to your ship...FIVE sailors from my sons ship in his nuke department attempted suicide all in one week when they returned from deployment....it truly is one of the hardest and most stressful jobs in the navy...

[LT Guppy]

Originally Posted by sweetmtn

I know many people play it down and recruiters will not tell you this..YES..there ARE suicide attempts and actual suicides at nuke school.

While more common in the Nuke field, this happens in the other schools as well. And continues into the "real" navy.

[LSsquillace]

What could push a person to take their own life while in a school? Did meps not catch the fact that they were suicidal?

[stevebw]

Originally Posted by LSsquillace

What could push a person to take their own life while in a school? Did meps not catch the fact that they were suicidal?

Different people take different amount of stress and it happens in the civilian side as well. The military is no exception as we're "trained" under an intensive amount of stress while striving to work effectively and provide positive results. Those who are not familiar with handling stress may have a harder time coping with it and consequently push the person downwards.