Posted: 3/26/2004 3:51:29 PM EDT
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A little info on myself. I am in Nuclear Power School right now, and I need to decide if I am going sub vol or staying surface. The sub vol thing is pretty permanent so I hear, so I am hesitant to sign it, but the deadline is drawing near. Are there any submariners out there that can give me some advice(hate it, loved it, lifestyle, etc). Ive talked to a few submariner instructors, but Im trying to get all the input I possible can before I make up my mind and I know there are some former sub guys here, so any advice is much appreciated. Thanks |
| From what I gather from bubble heads and at least one surface guy (Chief type 1 ea.) They're quite the turd smelling undersea vehicles. Imagine a can with however many souls on board buttoned up for months at a time, it can't smell but so good. I do believe that there are bonuses involved for the bubble heads though (Not 100%) sure. In the end it's up to you and your personal preference. As a glow in the dark squid I'd bet $$$$$$ that most of your time will be spent in or near a 20 year fuel suply with one of those radiogram thingies clipped to your uniform. Anyhow thanks for your service, and GOD bless ya. |
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MDC85, When I originally joined the Navy in 1988 I was in the nuclear power program when the nuke 'A' schools & power school were still located in Orlando, Florida. I made it to the last academic board in power school and got dropped for bad grades in chemistry :( I had volunteered for submarine duty and stuck with subs even after getting dropped from the nuke program. I went on to another 'A' and was number one in my class and therefore got to pick my permanent duty station. I chose the USS Alabama which is based at the Bangor Submarine Base in Washington. I chose subs because I wanted to do something unique that few other people get to do, plus you do get paid extra for it. I got paid submarine duty pay plus sea pay even when we weren't at sea. It was nice to come back from sea and have almost 3 months of pay waiting for you that you were unable to spend while underwater for 2 & 1/2 months. I was single at the time, so there was no wife spending it :) The nukes I know get huge reenlistment bonuses and I think they get some kind of 'nuke duty pay' along with the sea & sub pay. As far as the submarine stinking, totally incorrect! The boat I was on and others that I've been on are far cleaner than most peoples homes. We had field day at least every Saturday while at sea and more often than that prior to big inspections. As far as 'glowing in the dark', more nonsense as you obviouly know from going to nuke school. Being on a submarine is one the safest places to be, especially in the event of a nuclear war. We always said that if nuke war started and we launched our missiles, that we'd head to Austrailia(?) afterwards. The stories are that the women down there love USA guys and the place wouldn't get nuked like our home base would. For the most part, at the time that I was a crew member on the Alabama, I got to where I hated it. I thought it was a total waste of my life to goto to sea for 2.5 months and hide out in the middle of the ocean with our missiles. I felt that I had far more important things to do with my life and I got out of the Navy when my enlistment was up in 1993. Looking back on that time I feel totally different about it. I'm very glad that I did it and wish that I could go back to doing it. Now, ten years later I got back in uniform by joining a Navy Reserve unit based here in St. Louis. Looking back at the time I spent on the submarine, I really miss it bad. It was one of those things that you realize you'll probably never get the chance to do again and it makes civilian life seem VERY, VERY boring. There aren't many things in civilian life that you'll get to do that can top the unique things you can do in the military. The responsibility that 17 or 18 year old's are given in the military is amazing. We had teenagers driving & diving the sub that could carry 24 Trident ICBM's and cost several billion dollars total. Teenage nukes standing watch in maneuvering and so on. All this going on while other teenagers are flipping burgers back home. I can't say from personal experience much about being a surface (or target) nuke. One good thing about is that you'd get to serve with women :) They're now allowed to be nukes aren't they? The whole time I was in the Navy previously, I never worked with women. They were'nt allowed in the nuke program and they weren't & still aren't allowed to serve on subs. Good luck with being a nuke!!! Heat762, When I was stationed at Bangor I really like how you guys were so diligent with security. I can remebmer walking up the ramp from the Explosives Handling Wharf and having an armed Marine tell a group of us to turn and face the fence while a truck towing a missile trailer drove by behind us. I swear that after it went by I heard this Marine clearing his M-16 and then he told us to carry on! I've gone on way too long. Later, ET2/SS Roberts |
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IBU...thanks a ton for the response, as well as ya'll other folks. Pony, I understand it was a joke, Im not one of the sensitive types [:P] And yes, females ARE allowed to be nukes now(surface only of course). I planned on going subs partially because most of the females I am forced to work with are total slouch asses who want everything handed to them, and make excuses for everything. The baffling part is, instructors take all their shit and they can basially get away with anything. One example comes to mind: Theres a girl in my section, total piece of trash, has been caught drinking TWICE now. If you knew how seriously our command takes underage drinking, you would be as shocked as I am. Underage drinking is instant reduction in rate, restriction, and all of the other standard "awards." Others I have to work with are militant lesbians, etc. I frankly HATE working with females, because they constantly bitch about sexism, yet they want to be treated as special cases. To get off my soap box, I plan on going and signing my submarine vol, and grades willing, going to subs as a nuclear qualified Machinist Mate(friggin ET's [;)]). Once again, thanks for the input fellas. |
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I am a 21 year sub vet who just retired in 11/02. Go subs only if you want to be the best with a select group of people who already are the best. No navy worldwide can touch us (including our own surface one) I say this based on 13 years of sea time to include the cold war, ops above and below the equator and artic circle, all ocean's on the globe. You will work harder and longer than your surface brothers, enjoy less time off, see much less of the world. What's not to like? |
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Quoted: I am a 21 year sub vet who just retired in 11/02. Go subs only if you want to be the best with a select group of people who already are the best. No navy worldwide can touch us (including our own surface one) I say this based on 13 years of sea time to include the cold war, ops above and below the equator and artic circle, all ocean's on the globe. You will work harder and longer than your surface brothers, enjoy less time off, see much less of the world. What's not to like? Senior, If I can work with the best folks, I think its worth working my ass off for. I've heard many stories about 40 hour days on subs, and while in port having duty every third day....stuff like that. Im ready and willing to do it But if I may ask, were there many people who were dragging ass, and if so what was done about it? It seems even in nuke school, people can get away pretty easily with being shitheads, skipping out on work and the like. Thanks |
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Having caught the Los Angeles in a third CZ one time with an SQS-26b and the Marianas Ghost a few times, don't believe everything they tell you about being unreachable. That said, you need to decide whether or not you want the deployments. You're in the tube for months at a time, almost imcommunicado. The separations can be hell on family life and you don't get the "travel" the surface types get. Hey at least we could watch the sunrises and sunsets even if going for a wlk to get away had most of the same limitations. |
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Having caught the Los Angeles in a third CZ one time with an SQS-26b and the Marianas Ghost a few times, don't believe everything they tell you about being unreachable. That said, you need to decide whether or not you want the deployments. You're in the tube for months at a time, almost imcommunicado. The separations can be hell on family life and you don't get the "travel" the surface types get. Hey at least we could watch the sunrises and sunsets even if going for a walk to get away had most of the same limitations. |
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As a nuke you will be qualifying for roughly 2 years depending on rate and motivation. People who don't pull thier weight drag down all and tend to go away. Those who do not qualify do not make it, engineering is by far the most qualification intensive department on the boat. Because divisions tend to lack personnel it is imperative that every member qualify, someone not qualified a watchstation is just a rider. Trust me, I spent the past 15 months working on surface ships as a civilian contractor, I thank the Lord I spent no time there while active duty. There is no comparison to personnel quality and work ethic. The more you know the more respected you are, knowledge is truly power in the submarine world. If one of our submarines is found, it is because we want to be. |
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I would not worry about slackers. they are treated "special". I helped chase one off the boat. He lasted three days. Destroyed his career, his future, everything in just three short weeks he was in the submarine community. You don't tell lies and escape cheap or easy. The crew sent the captain in his dress whites and boomer pin up to comsublant in VA to call his bluff. In subs you have to pull your weight, so I would not place bets on seeing anyone you think of as not cutting it. Non-Qual Dinq Pukes are moved out not up or in. If you're having trouble people will help you to to limits of their knowledge and abilities to get qualified if you demonstrate you are trying. If the crew is too busy to help they will cut you slack if you are running with the pack, and carrying your load. You have nothing fear. cream floats to the top every time. Good luck, and smooth sailing! :^D |
Ohh god, and here I'd managed to almost forget about that piece of shit. he |
| Though I've been in the Marines for more than 10 years, the closest I've ever been inside a submarine was the ride at Disneyland. I thought Crimson Tide was entertaining at least and Captain Ramsey and Commander Hunter brought out the naval leadership ethos-though not together! The terminology seemed accurate and the dialogue seemed convincing. I know there were inaccuracies but for Hollywood I don't think it was bad. If you look at the credits the technical advisers were the former captains of SSBN-731 USS Alabama blue and gold teams. |
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I have never been on anything but subs. Actually I've pretty much been limited to SSBN's as an MT (Old FTB now forced to be an MT). I love the sub life. Of the three boats that I've been on the nukes are just about all the same. Lots of joking and harrassing between the "Coners" and "Nukes". btw I just got back from my 13th patrol and in all this time I never once saw an externally initiated reactor scram. 
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Funny, I have that same thought about people who intentionally jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But with $375 sub pay and $325 sea pay it makes it easier to forget about it. That and keeping the number of dives equal to the number of surfaces.
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