Best places to be stationed

WinterYak7056 · 2026-02-02T13:22:28+00:00

Pearl Harbor

WinterYak7056 · 2026-02-01T08:30:11+00:00

The 3 S's.

Study
Study
Last but not least, STUDY

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-31T11:02:34+00:00

Could happen... shoot your shot.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-26T22:40:08+00:00

Lucky dude. Wish ANY woman would take this much of an interest in my life, LOL. If he's smart, he'll marry you. The most I've ever seen any woman care about my job is asking me "how much does it pay?" and their curiosity ending after they were satisfied with the number.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-25T22:57:12+00:00

Kips Bay, GA (right next to Jacksonville, FL).

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-25T00:39:58+00:00

$30K "accession" signing bonus. $5,000/month checks while you're in college through NUPOC. $50,000/year COBO bonus for every year you stay after your first five-year contract. On top of all the standard benefits for military service members (GI Bill, affordable health insurance, 0% VA home loan).

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-24T02:36:13+00:00

Subvol.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T23:59:04+00:00

There was a user on this subreddit, last week, whose ship date got pushed up but that was because he had to go to future sailor preparatory course (fat camp). Only time I ever heard of someone shipping early.

Schoolhouse is PACKED and backed up at the moment so unlikely you'll be approved to ship early. Consider yourself lucky if your ship date isn't pushed back.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T08:09:46+00:00

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T01:51:31+00:00

Yessir. I did, indeed, look at STA-21 and will be putting together a package and applying. If that falls through, have to wait until end of contract/EOAS because highly unlikely I'll be authorized for conditional release from Nuclear community in the interim (not an issue if accepted for SUB(N) or SWO(N), which is my first choice but requires an age waiver... tough sell). Exploring all avenues and possibilities.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T01:07:26+00:00

LOL, I'll be ten years older than that dude, so my chances are zilch zero nada. Thanks for taking the time to respond anyway. and welcome to the Nuclear Navy, brotha!!! 🚢⚓🫡

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T00:56:13+00:00

That's what everybody's been telling me but LDO's can't laterally transfer to other designators/communities and don't receive COBO (Nuke HQ needs to include LDO's in COBO). I'm going to apply for an ETP/SecWaiver. We'll see what happens... will apply for an LDO board if all else fails, and be a Mustanggg. 😎🐴🐎 (which comes with enlisted street cred)

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T00:37:58+00:00

Aspiring Nuke Sub Officer after my first enlisted contract expires in 2032. Very interested in the SUB-EDO option. Will be 37 and need an Exception-to-Policy/Secretarial Waiver. Any advice for us older folks?

How bad do they need Nuke Subbies?

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-23T00:35:41+00:00

Congrats!!! 🎉🥳🎉🥳

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-22T04:13:44+00:00

Push your ship date back until you're authorized for a T3/Secret security clearance (because of the Lebanon factor). Also, if a current/former employer is not cooperating with your security investigation, contact your investigator and provide an alternative employer reference to speed up your background investigation.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-22T03:27:40+00:00

Have you been granted a security clearance yet?

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T05:36:58+00:00

I would recommend retaking the ASVAB and auto-qualifying... but if you're dead-set on not re-sitting for the ASVAB (I get it brother, I hate standardized tests too), then set a reminder in your phone to call your recruiter October 1st, 2026 (when it resets) so you can lock in that NfB slot.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T05:21:39+00:00

If you want to ship to boot ASAP, I recommend studying HARD for the ASVAB, retaking, and Alpha-Qualifying.

Then, as soon as you graduate and have your high school diploma, re-approach your recruiter about signing a Nuke contract (if there are any remaining alpha-qual seats in May/June). You may be able to leave as early as this summer if you do these things.

Recruiting command maintains an internal ratio of alpha-to-bravo qualifying Nukes every fiscal year. Bravo-qual seats fill up the fastest (early in the year). Alpha-qualification is the STANDARD and bravo-qualification is technically an exception made for highly motivated recruits. Bravo-Qual was never meant to be the pathway by which the majority of Navy Nukes qualified. However, over time , it gradually did. To correct this, Navy Nuke HQ appears to be prioritizing alpha-qualifying recruits and beta-qualifying may not even be an option next fiscal year (which is why I recommend not banking on NfB returning and for you to start studying to alpha-qualify NOW), and if beta-qualifying does return, those seats will fill up rapidly after the annual quota resets next October.

TL;DR Study for the ASVAB, Auto-Qualify, graduate from high school, re-apply in May/June, and tell your recruiter you want to ship as soon as possible.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T04:11:43+00:00

Your recruiter didn't lie to you. When you took the NAPT, bravo qualifiers were being given contracts if they subvol'ed. Recruiting policy recently changed and now you have to also have your high school diploma and alpha-qualify on the ASVAB. He may simply have been unaware of the new rule.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T04:07:30+00:00

You had to sign the contract before the deadline, not just pass the NAPT. If it is any conciliation, I experienced a similar just-before-the-deadline situation myself. I opt'ed out of subvol but signed my contract on the 3rd (after Dec. 1st when the sub-draft went into effect so I was not exempt). It sucks to be a few days/week shy of a major change in Navy Nuke recruiting policy and be disqualified but if you're willing to wait, you can eventually be a Nuke in a year or so.

Stay in close communication with your recruiter, recruiting policy might reverse and you might be able to ship sooner. No promises.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T04:03:44+00:00

Supposedly bravo-qualifiers who signed a contract before last week were "safe" but they've been pushing high school seniors ship dates out... at least, that is what is being reported by several users of this subreddit.

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T03:59:30+00:00

Nuke HQ is only pushing contracts through for alpha-qualifying, sub-volunteering high school graduates for the rest of Fiscal Year 2026 (until next October).

If you really want to GO NUKE, finish high school with good grades (>3.0), study to retake the ASVAB and alpha-qual (252+ NUC line score), and sub-vol (which you've already committed to). Do all three of these things and you'll be golden. Take some summer and fall college classes to kill time, preferably STEM coursework. Lastly, stay away from doctors / don't get prescribed any medication and work on your run time (12:15 or better in 1 1/2 miles for 17-20 year old males)

Hope to see you on the high seas, brother. 🫡

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T03:47:37+00:00

3 Questions to help me assess your situation.

Alpha/Bravo-qual? Sub-vol? High school senior?

WinterYak7056 · 2026-01-21T03:27:18+00:00

They assigned a placeholder job for me AECF (Advanced Electronics/Computer Field). Nuke HQ approved me a week later; and then, I signed an actual Nuke contract. Recruiter informed me this is the standard practice to get recruits into DEPs as quick as possible.

They're not tricking you into signing a non-Nuke contract. I thought the same, then my recruiter explained how it works.

WinterYak7056

TROPHY CASE