One of the U.S.’s most academically demanding industries is nuclear power. S. Navy. An enlisted sailor who has completed extensive training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and its Nuclear Power Training Unit is referred to as a Navy nuclear power technician, or “Navy nuke.” Navy nuclear technicians work in a variety of general positions both on land and at sea on nuclear-powered vessels and submarines. Being a nuclear technician in the Navy can occasionally be both challenging and fulfilling at the same time.
Navy Advanced Programs Test, or NAPT, scores of sailors chosen for nuclear power training show they have strong aptitude. Navy nuclear technicians can pursue three distinct career paths, or ratings: machinists mate, electricians mate, and electronics technician, nuclear (ETN). While ETN Navy sailors are on the technical specialties career path, Navy MMs and EMs work in the services engineering and hull career fields.
Despite the impressive aptitude scores of all those admitted, the Navy nuclear power school graduation rate of only 80% is evidence that Navy Nuke training is regarded by the Nuclear Field as being rigorous. Navy nuclear training programs equip sailors to work in maritime-intensive professions.
You’ll receive some of the most cutting-edge training the military has to offer as a Navy nuclear technician. Navy nuclear technicians have access to excellent educational opportunities and can quickly earn college credits in a variety of subjects, including physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Additionally, program participants are swiftly advanced after their training is complete, and career advancement opportunities as a Navy nuclear power technician are excellent. When applicable, the Navy pays nuclear technicians special duty assignment pay in addition to enlistment and reenlistment bonuses.
Navy nuclear technicians are stationed on ships or submarines for a greater portion of their time than they are on land. Before receiving a shore assignment, a Navy nuclear technician frequently serves more than four years at sea. Navy nuclear technicians can put in long hours because nuclear power plants on ships need constant upkeep and attention. Maintaining a family and home life may be challenging for Navy nuclear technicians due to the length of time they spend stationed on ships and during deployments.
According to ACE, enlisted Navy students who complete the Navy’s nuclear power training programs graduate with 77 semester hours of college credit. The Navy also provides nuclear technicians with crucial certifications to improve their employment prospects after leaving the service. Excellent post-career job prospects in a variety of nuclear technology fields are available to trained and certified Navy nuclear technicians.
The Nuclear Energy Institute, or NEI, claims that all of its member businesses and organizations are actively looking to hire Navy nuclear technicians to fill a number of critical job openings. In fact, according to NEI, veterans make up 21% of the nuclear power industry’s workforce. According to the official Navy website, nuclear engineers are in high demand once they have finished serving because of the top-notch training they received while serving.
What does an ETN do?
ETNs are experts in the electronic machinery used in nuclear marine propulsion systems and nuclear power plants. To ensure the safety and functionality of the ship or facility where they are stationed, they handle electrical operation and maintenance. The three major functions theyre concerned with are:
ETNs use computer technology, such as computer-aided design and industrial control software, to perform their duties. They are very knowledgeable about electronic theory and parts. An ETN is equipped to troubleshoot problems, solve them, and reach important decisions. Their key tasks include:
Skills for Navy ETNs
Recommended skills and abilities for aspiring Navy ETNs include:
What is a Navy ETN?
A Navy sailor in the enlisted ranks who specializes in the electronics of nuclear operations is known as an ETN. They maintain, operate, and control the electronic systems that manage nuclear power plants that supply fuel for surface and submarine ships with nuclear propulsion. The equipment and information that ETNs are responsible for necessitate their responsibility and attention. ETN training takes about 18 months.
ETNs agree to serve for a total of six years, which includes almost two years of training from the time they enlist until they are discharged and four years of active duty. After serving their time in the Navy, ETNs can convert their training into college credit. The cost of obtaining their degree is covered by the GI Bills tuition subsidizing program if they enroll as full-time students at a public college or university. Additionally, they are qualified to take a number of certification exams related to their military training, which is beneficial for those looking for employment after leaving the military.
How to become a Navy ETN
Here are the requirements for becoming a qualified Navy ETN:
1. Check eligibility for Navy Nuclear Field service
The fundamental prerequisites for participation in a Navy Nuclear Field (NF) program are as follows:
You can enlist in the U. S. Navy if you’re up to 39 years old, but NF programs end at 25. If you are under 18, you must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission.
2. Obtain a high school diploma or GED equivalent
A high school diploma or GED is another prerequisite for joining the military, but completing a year of algebra will also qualify you for ETN training. Graduating from high school makes it simpler to meet this requirement because Algebra I and II are typically covered in the math curriculum. If you have a diploma rather than a GED, the AVSVAB test’s minimum passing score is also lower.
3. Obtain a satisfactory score on the AVSVAB
The AVSVAB, also known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, is a requirement to join any of the three branches of the American armed forces. The AVSVAB test assesses your readiness for military service by asking both multiple choice and short answer questions on a range of topics.
Although each section of the test is given a unique score, the overall test results are graded according to how candidates performed the year before. The maximum overall score is 99, which would mean you performed better than 99% of last years candidates If you have a high school diploma, the Navy requires a minimum score of 35; if you have a GED, the minimum score is 52.
You must perform well on at least four of the following AVSVAB sections in order to be accepted into the ETN training program:
4. Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam
The MEPS medical examination is a common physical examination to assess your biological fitness for duty. There is a MEPS facility in every state. Once the exam is finished, which usually takes two days, you are typically sent to basic training. They enquire as well to make sure they can give you security clearance. This might entail inquiries regarding things like a criminal history or unpaid debts.
5. Finish Navy recruitment training
It takes seven to nine weeks to complete recruitment training, also known as basic training or boot camp. You must fulfill the Physical Readiness Test requirements, which change depending on your age and gender, before starting training. The Great Lakes Naval Training Center, located north of Chicago, Illinois, provides recruits with both outdoor physical training and academic instruction. You officially become a sailor once completing training.
6. Complete specialized ETN training course at “A” School
Sailors can apply for one of three ratings, including ETN, at the NF program in Charleston, South Carolina after completing basic training. Successful performance in the classroom portion of boot camp and competitive scores on pertinent AVSVAB sections are requirements for acceptance. The six-month ETN course gives students a fundamental understanding of technical math and practical experience with electricity.
You will learn about electronics like: through classroom instruction, computer-assisted lessons, and laboratory practical applications
You should also learn how to understand schematics and employ appropriate testing tools in order to identify and fix electronic system flaws.
7. Complete NNPS (Naval Nuclear Power School) and NPTU (Nuclear Power Training Unit) programs
Following ETN training, there are two six-month courses available: one at the NNPS facility in Charleston, followed by one at one of the two NPTU facilities there or a third location in Ballston Spa, New York.
A college-level curriculum called NNPS employs written exams and computer-based learning. Your instructors give you a thorough understanding of the theoretical and practical applications of nuclear physics and reactor engineering as they instruct you on the fundamentals of a pressurized-water Naval nuclear power plant. Concepts include:
Your second course involves independent study, individualized testing, and computer-assisted learning to provide prototype training in your areas of expertise as an ETN. You will learn the fundamentals of running a Naval nuclear power plant as well as the connections between its mechanical, electrical, and reactor subsystems during the NPTU program. Topics include:
Following NPTU training, you start a 20-week practical training program at a running nuclear power plant. You join a group that makes the fission process possible, which produces steam for nuclear propulsion. You can anticipate getting your official ETN service assignment once you’ve finished all the required training.
Average salary
Due to the risks associated with working with nuclear energy, additional Special Duty Assignment Pay is paid for all NF jobs. Additionally, there are financial benefits to working on a submarine as opposed to a surface ship. There are built-in promotions within the U. S. even though there are typically more opportunities for advancement on assignments where there are fewer service members on board the ship
Work environment
A Navy nuclear vessel’s workplace can be mentally challenging, exciting, and fast-paced. You will have the chance to collaborate with a variety of individuals and complete some self-directed work. ETNs spend a lot of time at sea because nuclear-propelled ships can go for a long time without refueling. They alternate between shore and sea excursions, but sea excursions can last for three to five years.
Navy Electronics Technician Nuclear – ETN
FAQ
How many ETN are in the Navy?
ETs will attend advanced training at “C” school after “A” school and in between duty assignments. The ET receives advanced training in these “C” schools for the particular systems they will be expected to maintain and repair during their next duty assignment. There are 62 ET-related NECs.
What is etc in the Navy?
You can work as a Navy Electronics Technician at sea or on land, maintaining and repairing the machinery on Navy surface ships and landing craft at bases and ports of call. You could also take part in humanitarian missions like disaster relief
What rank is etc?
ETC Price Live Data The current CoinMarketCap ranking is #29, with a live market cap of $2,150,869,723 USD. It has a maximum of 135 million ETC coins in circulation.
