r/NavyNukes • u/Smooth-Bad-5425 ET2/CVN-72(Plankowner)/LCDR, CEC ( Ret) • 4d ago

Evolution of Nuclear Power Training

This post is mainly for the folks that spent at least a 20 yr active duty career in the nuclear power program over a few years ranges:

1980-2000;

1990-2010;

2000-2020; and

2010-present

What I'm curious about is whether over the time period from 1980 to the present, the nuclear power program changed such as difficulty & entrance requirements.

For data purposes, I was an ET from 1986-1992. Back in 1986, ETs went through Basic Electronics & Electricity for around two months or so where we learned all about the subject and went through circuit board troubleshooting. ET "A" school had antenna theory, transistors & tube, and the SPS-10 radar system (not very nuclear related at all). For the newer folks, ET "A" school for nukes back then was 2200-0600 daily. That was rough. Nuke school was probably similar to current academics and prototype was attended at either Idaho, Ballston Spa, or Windsor CT.

If anyone can chime in and give me program info over the years that would be much appreciated.

In summary, I have a feeling that making it through the training pipeline is more difficult now than what it was 40 yrs ago (that is such a depressing idea!).

Thanks!

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u/ahoboknife 4d ago

Went through in 03. Lecturers wrote everything on chalk boards with a few graphical computer animations. We wrote everything the teacher wrote into our notes, which were preprinted with blank lines for where we needed to fill in.

I was on mando 20s from the start and I think it went down at some point but I stayed anyway.

I believe today’s nukes experience a similar structure, although I hear their notes are even more structured and lectures are all .ppt now. I can’t tell a difference between quality of nukes now and nukes then.

I was told by old timers when I was a young timer that they could tell a drastic difference between nukes of their generation and nukes of the aughts. A lot less bullshit was tolerated back then. Almost any discipline issue was enough to get you kicked out of the program.

Generated a lot more attrition back then. Whether that is good or bad or even necessary is a matter of opinion I suppose.

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u/Smooth-Bad-5425 ET2/CVN-72(Plankowner)/LCDR, CEC ( Ret) 4d ago edited 4d ago

In the 'olden days when I was at NPS, instructors had free rein to launch blackboard erasers at those students who were asleep. Also when caught they'd have to stand up at the back of the room. One guy (E3 - couldn't keep E4 - lost it twice) had a podium at the back of the classroom which was his desk since he couldn't stay awake. Personal insults weren't uncommon either. Edit: also learned the "WTF" & "ATFQ" acronyms.