Age: At least 19 and less than 29 years of age at the time of commissioning. Waivers may be considered on a case basis for those who would not exceed 31 at commissioning.
Education: Completed or working on a baccalaureate degree and within two and a half years of graduation, with a minimum of one year of calculus and one year of calculus-based physics. Calculus must be through differential and integral calculus of one real variable. Physics must cover the classic fundamentals of mechanics, magnetism, and electricity. Applicants who have completed a baccalaureate degree and are enrolled in a master's degree program, must be within one year of completion of the master's degree.
Marital status: No restrictions.
Physical: In accordance with restricted line standards listed in the Manual of Medicine Department, Chapter 15.
Training. Upon graduation from college, all future nuclear officers attend Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL, where they receive a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Following OCS, those officers designated for submarines report to Naval Nuclear Power School (NNPS) in Goose Creek, SC (a suburb of Charleston) to complete a 24-week, graduate level course of study in science and technology designed to provide theoretical knowledge of nuclear power. Subjects covered at NNPS include:
· Mathematics (39 hours) - Ordinary and partial differential equations, integral calculus and probability and distribution functions.
· Physics (71 hours) - Atomic and nuclear physics, special relativity, reactor physics and neutron diffusion theory.
· Chemistry (50 hours) - Basic chemistry, reaction kinetics, boiler chemistry, radiation induced reactions, gases, oxidation-reduction.
· Thermodynamics (87 hours) - Heat transfer, fluid dynamics, steam thermodynamics, properties of water, Rankine cycle, conduction and convection.
· Electrical Engineering (basic and advanced - 138 hours) - Circuit analysis, inductance and capacitance, solid state amplifiers, AC and DC motors and generators, digital and analog integrated circuits, reactor plant instrumentation, safety circuits and reactor control equipment design.
· Materials (28 hours) - Strength of materials and complete development of the Nil Ductility Phenomenon. Fuel and clad alloy composition, pressure vessel design, development of neutron embrittlement and other material radiation effects as well as corrosion and structure of materials.
· Reactor Dynamics and Core Characteristics (86 hours) - Complete core design satisfying all requirements for power, temperature, control and radiation levels. Essentially, it is a course in nuclear engineering.
· Reactor Plant Systems (13 hours) - Design of steam system and reactor plant parameters.
· Shielding and Radiological Fundamentals (46 hours) - Study of materials, attenuation factors and geometry in shielding calculations.
· Aspects of Reactor Plant Operations (115 hours) - Study of reactor plant operations integrating knowledge from all of the above courses.
After completion of NNPS, they report to one of the Navy's Nuclear Power Training Units (Prototype), in Balston Spa, NY (just north of Albany, NY) or Goose Creek, SC. Here they will receive hands-on training at an operational nuclear power plant, for an additional 24 weeks, where they will apply the concepts learned at NNPS to ultimately qualify as Engineering Officer of the Watch.
Following prototype they go to Groton, CT for 13 weeks of Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC). Here they learn about the other systems onboard a submarine before reporting for their first assignment.
Those officers designated for surface duty report to Newport News, RI for 20 weeks of Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) immediately following OCS. After completing SWOS, they report to a conventional surface warship for 18 months, where they learn to drive the ship and earn their surface warfare qualification. After this 18-month tour, they then go through NNPS and Prototype with a follow-on tour onboard a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
Obligation. The obligation is 5 years as a commissioned officer upon satisfactory completion of OCS.
Entitlements.
· Signing bonus ($10,000 at time of enlistment and an additional $2,000 after completing Prototype)
· Finishing college: While on active duty, you will be paid as an E-6
(up to $2,500 per month).
· Opportunity for advancement to E-7 for referral resulting in a new accession into the NUPOC or NPI/NR Engineer program (additional $250 per month)
· Commissioned as ENSIGN after completing OCS.
Candidates entering the program may receive up to $85,000 while completing college.
