NAVAL NUCLEAR POWER SCHOOL

'Naval Nuclear Power School' is a nuclear engineering school operated by the U.S. Navy to train both enlisted sailors, officers, and KAPL and Bettis civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance on surface ships and submarines in today's nuclear navy. It is regarded as one of the most difficult academic programs in the world.
Enlisted personnel must have already graduated from the class A school pertaining to their rating assignment as a Machinist's Mate (MM), Electrician's Mate (EM), or Electronics Technician (ET) before commencing their training at the Naval Nuclear Power School.
While the rigorous training program, which lasts at least six months, differs for the officers and enlisted ratings, the following coursework is provided to all program attendees:

★ Mathematics

★ Nuclear Physics

★ Electrical theory and equipment

★ Reactor plant technology

★ Thermodynamics aka ''Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow''

★ Chemistry

★ Materials engineering and metallurgy

★ Health physics

★ Reactor principles
The nuclear program is widely acknowledged as having one of the most demanding occupational field academic programs in the U.S. military today. The school operates at a very fast pace and stringent academic standards are required for all subjects. Students frequently study upwards of 85 hours per week as required by the instructors depending on a student's GPA.
Prospective enrollees in the Nuclear Power Program must pass a demanding exam in the sciences and may be disqualified for minor infractions such as unreported speeding tickets on their driving records. The pre-entry requirements for integrity and consistency in the personal and professional life for this vital field is a very large concern to the military.
Wrong answers on tests and even failed tests require an interview with subject department heads to review student notes, teacher's notes to verify the materials were taught and recorded by the student, and the student's study logs. They may then be given remedial homework. Failing scores in the school can result in charges of "dereliction of duty" under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and a review of the student's academic activities by the school commanders must take place to determine whether the student was actually derelict in his duties or is not academically fit for the program.
Women were not allowed into the Naval Nuclear Field until 1980.
Many colleges and universities award several hours of college credit to graduates of Naval Nuclear Power School for the unclassified portions of the curriculum. Up to 97 hours. Because large parts of the demanding curriculum is classified confidential or secret, however, the amount of college credit awarded does not accurately reflect the depth of the coursework. The principal difference between the enlisted course and the officer course is that the officer course requires more extensive post-Calculus mathematical examination of reactor dynamics. Graduates of Nuclear Power School go on to Nuclear Prototype Units for 6 additional months of actual hands on experience and training at operating Nuclear propulsion plants. Many sailors choose to work at civilian nuclear power plants.

Contents

History of locations

External links

History of locations

Originally, the school was located at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. In 1962, the school was then moved to (the now former) Naval Training Center Bainbridge, Maryland and later to (the now former) Naval Training Center Orlando, Florida.
In addition to the school at Bainbridge, there was an identical Nuclear Power School at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA, School started Jan 1959, Ended 1977 (moved to Orlando)
Today, the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) is located on the Naval Weapons Station Charleston in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

External links

★ Naval Nuclear Power Training Command website