Boot camp for a nuke

I'm in boot camp now what have I done?

The transition into military life can be challenging for anyone. Boot camp is the place where through the physical and mental training you are transitioned from being a civilian into the member of the world finest Navy. The process can be especially challenging for someone recruited into the Navy to go nuke.

Numerous reasons exist including many nukes are not popular with their non nuke counterparts. Another reason was many nuke pre boot camp experience, gave them no heads up on the rigors of military life.

I recalled my time in basic training in Orlando from March to May 1994. Some companies who were loaded with recruits who had chosen to go nuke. Many of the company commanders, who for whatever reason had some bad experiences with nukes and seemed determined to pay these recruits, pay the price.

During my 8 weeks at Naval Training Center there were five major takeaways which I took away long after the completion of my time as a nuke. My first and most important one, involved learning of the E1 – E7 relationship. As E1 you didn’t speak advice or suggest, you followed instructions. Thanks goodness for advancement. The second thing emphasized the importance of finishing the job. I remember my getting a discipline in ranks (DIR) for a bunk inspection before I moved after trying to nudge my book back into its pocket before time was called. Of course, since my bunk was perfect the cycling which came later felt that much worse. The other insight I took away, after looking back, is the mental aspect to everything. I would have stressed a lot less had I been less afraid of everything in boot-camp. The process consisted of a game to get to the start of the rest of your Navy career. I guess its water under the bridge now. The final takeaway is even though I had designated going nuke why did I need to learn about putting out fires and tying knots? The answer seemed simple, I was in the Navy now like all of the other poor bastards who volunteered themselves.

Now with my lessons in hand all good things come, including boot camp, come to an end. And for us nukes the fun would be just beginning. The time for A school had arrived, at least now you get off base, albeit, on rare occasions.

Photo courtesy of  http://thepowerof3.typepad.com/deborah/2010/06/index.html

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A Smaller Nuke Plant

Any nuke that has completed a sea tour will be able to tell you a smaller sized nuclear power plant can supply more than enough power in a method which is clean in comparison to fossil fuel.
It seems the civilian community seems to be beginning to figure this out. The debate on whether increasing the 20% of our nation power needs nuclear power have been argued as an alternative from conventional source of power generation. To cause a significant impact this option would be MW sized power plant used to supply to regional power requirements. A typical reactor used in a commercial plant is typically rated for 1700 MW.

What is not as well known is the effect smaller size nuclear plants, like the one we operated, might provide. These smaller reactors range in between 30 to 300 Megawatts of output.
The main attraction for both electrical utilities and reactor builders is the potential cost savings: Producing electricity may possibly be 10–20% cheaper per kilowatt-hour than with a standard reactor.

In spite of this all is not clear to see a growth of small scale nukes. Unlike the navy in the civilian world there will still be regulatory, technical, and licensing hurdles. So to those of you who are thinking of dumping all of the knowledge assembled in two years of nuclear training and four years of standing watch in your boat.

Keep your eyes out for these three companies which manufacture and market modular nuclear reactors namely Westinghouse, NuScale Power, and Babcock and Wilcox Co. If you are getting ready to get out and are spooked at about continuing your nuclear career and hit these companies up for jobs. With your training and ability they would love to hear from you.

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