Evolution of Nuclear Power Training

[u/Smooth-Bad-5425]

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!

[u/soljouner]

I went through the program in the late 70's. "A: school was in great lakes and it was the same for everyone. After "A" school I was sent to a surface ship in Norfolk for several months while waiting for my class to form up in Orlando. I arrived in Orlando on the weekend, and I was in pre-school for several weeks on Monday. After pre-school we were put into sections with about 42 people in each section at the start. Only 12 of us in my section would make it through to Prototype, which for me was S1W in Idaho. After Idaho I asked and got subs and was sent to Hawaii to join my boat.

Attrition was very bad, especially early on. If I recall correctly, the whole first month was mostly math, and chemistry you had to maintain a minimum grade point average and you could not fail a class. Early on doing poorly in math or chemistry would put you out of the program, there were no rollbacks or do overs. Just about everyone I knew was on hours and I and most of my section were on mandatory 40's. They didn't care when you put them in, just that you did. While in school we didn't do duty or PT, so that was good.

Reading the comments here leads me to believe that the Navy is much kinder and gentler than back in the day. We received our orders on a individual basis and you were expected to show up and be where your were supposed to be at the time you were expected. This was pre internet so there wasn't a lot of public information or help available. We attended classes in school and took notes. I don't remember a lot of rote regurgitation. Tests were problems solving, no multiple choice. I believe that maybe the biggest difference between then and now is that the Navy has refined the learning process to force feed the information the way that they want you to learn it.

After leaving the Navy I went to college and got a degree in mechanical engineering. For the record, while Nuke school was difficult, it is not engineering and little of what I learned applied to my degree. The only college credits that my Navy service gave ne was two semesters of physical education. I became a utility engineer, and that is where my Navy training and operating experience was very valuable.

[u/Smooth-Bad-5425 → u/soljouner]

I also went to S1W. Very applicable to an A4W plant.
I went from ET A school directly into NPS pre-school for a few weeks and then started NPS. I honestly don't recall any ET in the class that did not make it through. I also never heard of the classroom attrition rate either.

In 1987 it was the same, just put your hrs in, didn't matter when. I learned that ~100 hrs/week in the school bldg (including class time) did not help my grades. Living on Ramen and potted meat does not a balanced diet make 😃. After my EAOS, I tried an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the Univ. of Tennessee but my B.S. differential equations background was junk so i settled on a B.S. & M.S. in Civil/Environmental engineering which the only thing NPS helped on was that I learned how to study in the Navy which made regular engineering classes easy compared to NPS.