OVERVIEW:
Age: - At least 19 and less than 29 at time of commission. Waivers may be considered for those who would not exceed age 35 at commission.
Education:
- BA/BS/MS in preferred majors: Math, Physics, Engineering, and Chemistry.
- Within 2 ½ years of graduation (1yr - MS), with a minimum of:
-1 yr Calculus
-1 yr 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.)
- "B" or better in all technical courses.
- Competitive 3.3+ GPA
Training:
- OIS (5 wks)
- DNR OJT (4-5 months)
- Land-based prototype (2 wks)
- Reactor Design Study at Bettis Reactor Engineer School (6 months)
Vision/Med: N/A
Professional:
ADDOCS
- NUC Interview
Service Obligation:
5 yrs from OIS graduation.
- Total of 8 yrs Active & Inactive.
Special Info:
- No accession bonus.
- Paid as E-6 (up to $2600/mo) while finishing school. Advanced to E-7 (add'l $250/mo) for referral resulting in NUC accession.
- Commissioned as ENS prior to reporting to OIS.
Disciplines involved: reactor design, materials development, testing and quality control, component design, instrumentation and control, shielding, reactor physics, fluid systems design, & chemistry and radiological controls.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Program Overview.
Naval Reactors (NR) is located at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, and is a joint Department of Energy and Department of the Navy activity. NR has a "cradle to grave" responsibility for all shipboard nuclear power plants, shore-based prototypes, and nuclear propulsion support facilities for the U.S. Navy. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover founded NR in 1948. NR's significant achievements include the development of the propulsion plant in the first nuclear powered submarine, USS NAUTILUS; the first commercial nuclear power station, Shippingport Atomic Power Station; and the propulsion plants for over 100 nuclear powered ships, including six classes of submarines, two classes of cruisers, and two classes of carriers. NR Headquarters consists of about 250 engineers, who technically manage the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program under the direction of the current director, Admiral Frank Bowman. About 100 of these engineers are junior naval officers with engineering or technical degrees. This Headquarters group is responsible for all aspects of the Nuclear Propulsion Program including:
· Advanced research and development in concepts, materials, design, and operation of nuclear propulsion plants
· Training and qualification of nuclear propulsion plant operators
· Reactor safety and radiological controls
· Development of equipment, procedures, and specifications for naval nuclear propulsion plants
· Overseeing the acquisition, construction, testing, and operation of propulsion plants
· Developing and implementing the operating, maintenance, and refueling procedures for these plants
· Resolving emergent fleet technical issues
· Decommissioning the nuclear propulsion plants when removed from service
Graduate level education. By virtue of the Naval Reactors training program, a junior engineer gains familiarity with shipyard and prototype operations and obtains post graduate level education in Nuclear Engineering through the Bettis Reactor Engineering School at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This background gives the individual a wide breadth of understanding of all aspects of nuclear propulsion and the flexibility to move into other technical areas involved in nuclear propulsion work. Under a supervisor, junior engineers assume responsibility for various portions of technical work in their assigned areas. This includes directing technical work at one of two Department of Energy laboratories, six shipyards, two nuclear prototype/training sites, over 100 nuclear-powered ships, and over 1000 firms that support the Naval Reactors Program. All of these organizations are subject to the technical direction of the engineers at Naval Reactors.
Wide array of technical areas involved in work at Naval Reactors. Disciplines involved in naval nuclear propulsion include the following:
· Reactor design
· Materials development
· Testing and quality control
· Component design such as steam generators, pumps, and valves
· Instrumentation and control of reactor, steam, and electric plants
· Shielding
· Reactor physics
· Fluid systems design
· Chemistry and radiological controls
