A little background first, I am in Dep right now, shipping to basic on Feb 6, then to Nuke school. I am filling out my packet for NROTC and I am having a few questions. What is the general view of the ROTC officers in the Navy? It seems to me like being fresh from college and having minimal experience in the navy, they would have a hard time; most of the enlisted guys I've talked to have a preaty low opinion of them. Next, I dont really plan on making a career of the navy, Im on a 6 year contract now, and wasnt planning on staying much longer than that. Is it worth it for me to go through all the work of becoming an officer and leaving shortly after? If i get accepted to the NROTC program, I dont think Ill stay with the nuke field, I was really hoping to fly, either jets of choppers. Any input from you guys who have been there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks- Floyd

Floyd

One of the reasons you get such a reaction from enlisted about NROTC officers, is that they look to officers to be either one of two things: a natural leader or just another zero.

You've heard of the old saying 'first impressions are lasting ones'? A few minutes with a new officer are all it takes to size him or her up.

As for getting into the nuke field? If you know you aren't going to stay in this field, why waste all the time and effort in that arena knowing this? If you are saying this now, then when the psych testing process comes along, it will come out and you'll be sent into a different field, and probably not one of your choice.

Remember one thing about nuclear reactors: one can't have too much water in the reactor.

If you fly your contract will not be 6 years more like 12 years. If you are a pilot you will not be in a leadership position per say, so who cares what the enlisted think or the officers for that matter.

rppearso,

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Green's Law of Debate: Anything is possible if you don't know what you're talking about.

Floyd_n--- if you go into the Fleet where you have a lot of contact as a Divison Officer just let your Senior PO's do their job and if you get a job well done let them know it especialy your E-6's and E-5's they are the ones doing the work because if you get on the Shit list with your jr PO's they will sink you .People don't understand your Backbone of a crew in the Navy is your E-5's the Chief gets work done E-6 is your supervisor E-5's E-4's do the work your Strikers do clean up.As far as difference between ROTC in the Officers Corp & Reg.Heck I didn't know the diffrence and did not care a good Officer is a good Officer.Usualy if you have a Warrant under you quiet often in Engeering Dept he will be smart one normaly knows a lot about all Engeering Depts.

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Whats kind of a retirement packages does the Navy offer? I know it will be a lot different in 20 years, but lets say for an O-6, with 20 yrs in service. And what is a striker, is that E-1 through E-3?

Floyd--the answer to Striker is yes E-2 & E-3 Officer's Retirement I don't know just keep your expectations high I am an Oldtimer Dave Barker who post in here are both from the Old Navy maybe Sammy can help you.Best I could tell you is use the Web about the question Enlisted & Officer you won't get the answer on a forum but in real life just don't put yourself above any man if you can't mix with all walks of life you sure got in the wrong bussines.

Floyd: You need to speak with a your personnel officer who will give you current retirement regulations. If you are going to be an officer I suggest you contact NROTC at your college of choice, or go through the Naval Academy, you can apply through the Fleet program. It is tough going up through OCS and even tougher going through the rates. Although we had J.M. "Mike" Boorda go from Seaman Recruit to 1st class and then to OCS and finally Chief of Naval Operations, before his untimely death.
I met him and had dinner with him in Columbus Ohio several years ago. I kidded him about making Chief the hard way! He said "I never thought of it that way, but now I'm a Chief." He sincerely meant that statement.

Enlisted get far fewer amentities, pay, flexability or respect.

Whah? Rppearso, enlisted men get to torture, haze, disrespect, and (in some cases) kill officer candidates. I call that a major benefit, and a whole lot of respect.

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There has been an alarming increase in the number of things you know nothing about.
-Anon

Do the Navy a favor if you go Officer. After you get out of school, and get yer ensign ensignia, you'll mostlikely think you are a god when you get to the fleet.

You'll immediatley be accepted and loved by the kiss asses subordinate to you. A lot of officers enjoyed that kind of relationship. But the ones who were mostly respected, were the ones who could go learn and can do the job they oversee.

I remember a Lt. Hancock when I first walked down in my engine room. He was walking around tracing systems on the lower level. He introduced himself when he saw me, and then continued on doing what he was doing. When there was a problem, he was not in main control sucking up to the Cheif Engineer, he was not standing around being flattered by the kiss asses. He was right down with his sleeves up at the crux of the problem. he knew what the problem was before most qualified enlisted did.

This is where you'd seperate yourself from being a young officer who trys, like everyone does to find a balance of respect and authority recognition from your subordintates, to getting it ten fold natuarally... I can't tell you how it is looked at when a young officer trys to be a big shot when he does not know sqwat about the job.

quote:

Originally posted by sit-rep:
I remember a Lt. Hancock when I first walked down in my engine room. He was walking around tracing systems on the lower level. He introduced himself when he saw me, and then continued on doing what he was doing. When there was a problem, he was not in main control sucking up to the Cheif Engineer, he was not standing around being flattered by the kiss asses. He was right down with his sleeves up at the crux of the problem. he knew what the problem was before most qualified enlisted did.

An' you're never too old to do this either. I've had Lt. Commanders follow me on watch to see how the equipment works. I had some really good working relationships with those ones.

Now to the original poster: STA-21. Getting into the Nuke Program is great for this. This past pick up for the program picked up about 12 students from the prototype in NY. That is only half from the prototypes, not counting Staff that made it or fleet guys that made it. Just keep submitting a package for it every time. DO NOT SKIP. If they see that you skipped a package application they will think you don't want it, and you will not get selected. An' you have your choice when you enter the program more or less of which area you want to get into. Talk to your career counseler when you get to South Carolina for A-school. The CHOP that I work with is an ex MM3 nuke. Good guy, I actually knew him when he was still enlisted.

To: nukemech1

Agreed...

Ya know, back in 80, I was 17 and in the 11th grade...gettin in trouble etc. You may know the story...

I try'd to join the Marine Corps... Nay without a highschool diploma. Army...Same Same. I went to the Navy Recruiter, and he said, "Let's see how you do on the entry test..."

I scored a 98.6 on the ASVAB...dunno if they still call it that or not. By the time I got home, a half hour after I left the testing facility, all three other branches had messages waiting for me. I decided to stay with the Navy because they were the ones who gave me the chance.

My recruiter told me because of my score, I could enter the Nuke Program. But, like an idiot I turned it down and went conventional fleet Machinists Mate. No regrets per se, but listen to this...

4 months after I got out(early 85), the FermyII Nuclear Power Plant was online for only a year or two here near the Motor(city). I seen an add in the paper for power plant operator. I called...and for some odd reason, I got right into main control for the plant....maybe it just worked that way there, I don't know. I told the guy I was interested in a operators position and I just got out of the Navy and was fully qualified MM, and he jumped!! He said, "GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!! Don't worry about a resume and all that, I'll know what you know 30 seconds after I see you face to face and your DD-214!". He then said, "you're Nuke Qualified right?"... I said "ummmmmmmm No, Im conventional steam"...thinking I'd get in anyway as an oiler or somethin...

Well, he said, "damn...I'm sorry pal, I need Nuke Qualifications..."

So, you guys got the world by the ass....take advantage of it...you deserve it!

MM3 out...

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Hey, I had a kinship with most of my conventional mechanics. They were usually a hell of a lot better guys than half the nukes. One of them just messaged me the other day he's makin 29 an hour at a boiler plant in CA. Another is making 120+ a year in Miami. Screw nuke plants, I want that job. I could live very happy on 120+ a year. However, I've already decided I'm in for 20. 12 more to go. Now if I can just get off this shore duty...
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Shoot, just thought of this. Stupid me. You probably have a myspace account, if not, then you can just get one in a few minutes. At any rate there is a navy group at http://groups.myspace.com/USNAVY. There are 2 members at least, that I know, that are doing the officer program (as in they are in) that can help you out. They are both previous enlisted nukes.

here's one: http://www.myspace.com/Bjd392 My bad, this one has his butter bars already.

here's the other: http://www.myspace.com/sonicapostle

These two have been quite helpful in the past and should be able to help with your questions. Good Luck!

Wow, I've been referred.

Well, here I am.

quote:

Originally posted by Floyd_n:
A little background first: I am in Dep right now, shipping to basic boot on Feb 6, then to Nuke school. I am filling out my packet for NROTC and I am having have a few questions. (1) What is the general view of the ROTC officers in the Navy? It seems to me like being fresh from college and having minimal experience in the navy, they would have a hard time; most of the enlisted guys I've talked to have a pretty low opinion of them. (2) Next, I dont really plan on making a career out of the navy. I'm on a 6 year contract now, and wasn't planning on staying much longer than that. (3) Is it worth it for me to go through all the work of becoming an officer and leaving shortly after? (4) If i get accepted to the NROTC program, I dont think I'll stay with the nuke field; I was really hoping to fly either jets or choppers. Any input from you guys who have been there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks- Floyd

Hello Floyd. First of all, the general view for anyone in the Navy is how one presents himself. Sure, the all-encompassing cliche will have "nasty blueshirts," "Academy pricks," "fat chiefs," and the like. It's very easy to stereotype the brand rather than analyze the person.
(1) Each person handles their job differently. I have seen my share of Academy grads go on and be great, and I've seen some go down the tubes within a few months. The same goes for ROTC grads. Some adapt very well to the military. Some become harder hard-asses than Academy pricks. Some are just too mellow to give a damn about the military and just want the education. The question really is, no matter what rank, college or training you've received, are you able to do what's demanded of you?

(2) Enlisted nuke starts out at 4 years, no matter what the contract says. You tack on a year if you take the automatic E4 promotion after A school. Then you go on to prototype. After training, you are mandated to tack on another year based on the rigorous schooling they put you through in Power School and Prototype. Then you're in for 6 as an enlisted E4.
When you apply for an officer program, whether it's OCS/STA21/USNA, you are adding 3-4 years of college to your time. USNA does not grant you time in service for the 4 years you go there, whereas STA/ROTC does. Once you graduate college and get a commission, you are now obligated to serve for at least 5 years as an officer, or risk paying back the Navy sums of $120,000+ for the "free" tuition they gave you.

(3) If you only want to stay in for 6 years, picture this: by the time you get done with college, most likely your original 6 year contract would have been up. Now add 5 more. If you're in doing something you don't really want to do, you should do yourself and the navy a favor and NOT put in a package. But if you're willing to broaden horizons, get new training and expose yourself to great resume building opportunities, I'd say challenge yourself. You may like it. Decide what you want to do after that obligation. The training and the service can't hurt you (unless you get into disciplinary problems).

(4) A lot of officer packages come from the nuke community. Honestly, when I enlisted, I asked, "What's the fastest way to go officer?" My reasoning is I had 2.5 years of college already. Unfortunately, the only source of information I had was an enlisted recruiting office, and we all know they're in for the quota, not for the benefit of the Navy. (Sorry to all you honest recruiters.) Remember, enlisting first to go for an officer package is NEVER a guarantee. But if you're going to apply, it's always about hard work, grades and good FITREPS from your khaki that get you to the door. You can't stick your foot in the door without effort.
Back to the answer to (4). Most nukes don't stay nuke once they go officer. A good percentage of them put in flight packages. I, on the other hand, enjoyed a few cruises on subs, and shockingly enjoyed the nuke field, hence I went back. (The pay's pretty good too.)
Also remember, as it was mentioned, that flight school is a couple years long, and you're obligated to at least eight years of service when you get your wings. I'm not sure if it's eight after getting a commission, or eight after getting pinned.

Finally, when you put on the khaki, the goal isn't to be the stereotype. Despite what enlisted think, the junior officer isn't in his job for him, he's in it for them. The JO is one of those limbo roles that take crap from both the top AND the bottom, and still has to find the time to sort it all out and get qualified. But the challenge is definitely worth it, and the learning curve is steep.