r/NavyNukes • u/saltyskeletonEO • Jun 21 '26
Inspired by this post, I thought it may be good to provide some information about the Naval Reactors (NR) route for Nuclear Limited Duty Officer (LDO). Disclaimer, this info isn't all encompassing and follows overall generalization at times in order to serve as a starting point to determine your potential interest in the program or something you can work towards. Although I have experience as an NR LDO, I have not sat the boards for LDO selection or performed interviews at Headquarters. The best way to get information is to reach out to your nearest Field Office: the Engineer (or a Principal Assistant) should have their contact information, but if you run into one of the deckplate, a casual conversation about the subject is definitely appropriate.
Fiscal year (FY) 2028 NAVADMIN provides guidance for applying this year with OPNAVINST 1420.2A containing "normal" LDO eligibility requirements. Most notably, you must be at 8 years service prior to 01OCT27 (common error is people think you must be at your 8 years of service by the deadline - in this case 01OCT26 - but it is actually based off your earliest commission date. Personnel can commission from 01OCT to 01SEP of the next year. The order in commissioning is based off your time in the Navy: the longer you are in, the less you will wait to commission. Here are the FY27 results.
If you think you may in interested in applying this year and meet the requirements, it would be a good idea to talk to some LDOs (both NR and Fleet type). Overall, applying is easy with the "hardest" part is getting a color test from medical.
Upon results being released (recent dates include 24MAR26, 01APR25, and 28MAR24), you will need to perform interviews in Headquarters. This information will be provided by the LDO Detailer with an initial big batch (approximately 30) of interviews scheduled. At this point, reaching out to the nearest Field Office would be a good idea: 1) to ensure you are ready for your technical interviews, and 2) determine if you would actually want to go NR.
From there you will let the LDO Detailer and NR LDO Community Manager of your preferences (Fleet or NR, location preference, etc) and perform technical interviews with a final interview with the Director. Results, to include who will go Fleet/NR, will be briefed to the Director who approves the final list.
NR LDOs that are selected will most likely be detailed while at Headquarters to one of the Shipyards (Portsmouth, Electric Boat, Norfolk, Newport News, Puget Sound, Pearl Harbor) or the Naval Reactors Facility.
Executive Order 12344 gives Naval Reactors cradle-to-grave responsibility for all of Naval Nuclear Propulsion matters, with both civilian and military personnel under the Department of Energy and Department of Defense (Navy). Responsibility includes the research, design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposition of naval nuclear propulsion plants.
As an organization we are not the ones directly doing that, instead utilizing Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) (Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory), Shipyards (and other support facilities/tenders), Vendor (Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc), and Moored Training Ships/Prototypes. But due to holding sole responsibility for the Program, we ensure we have a presence at these sites that provide regulatory oversight. These are the Field Offices.
Each office is headed by the Naval Reactors Representative (NRR), the Director's direct, well, Representative at that location. This is normally a post served Naval Reactors Engineer (NRE) that either went civilian or transferred as an Engineering Duty Officer. They are senior within the NR organization, moving up within Headquarters and normally holding some Field Office experience.
The organization surrounds this NRR with NR LDOs, who normally have five-year office assignments and are a part of the Naval Reactors Representative's Office (NRRO). The NRR's right-hand being their Deputy (think Executive Officer). Normally a senior NR LDO on their third tour. Underneath the NRR/Deputy, are the perspective Leads: Radiological Controls Lead, Quality Assurance Lead, Submarine Testing Lead, Carrier Testing Lead, and Servicing Lead. These Leads are normally second tour NR LDOs.
Under the Submarine Testing, Carrier Testing, and Servicing Leads are the new Assistants. Freshly commissioned (normally) Ensigns that qualify Joint Test Group (JTG) or Joint Refueling Group (JRG). After initial qualifications (approximately a year) they get assigned a project such as a submarine undergoing an Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA), a carrier undergoing an Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA), or an Inactivation Availability.
Within their individual project, Assistants perform oversight by performing deckplate/project walkthroughs, review Nuclear Testing (Code 2340) and Ship's Force testing documents, attend trainings and briefs, and watch evolutions. They attend lots of meetings that go into executing a complex availability. They keep Headquarters informed of any issues or trends, to include staffing them on potential Local Deviations (as authorized by the Manual for the Control of Testing). They keep up conversations with Immediate Superior In Command (ISIC), which is most likely a Squadron.
On top of providing oversight to their individual project, are also likely providing oversight to some Shipyard Nuclear Production Shop and/or Engineering Code. For example they could follow Shop 51 (Electrical) and Code 2330 (Electrical Engineering). For that, they could be reviewing Task Group Instructions (TGIs), watching work on the deckplate or in-shop, attending trainings, meetings, Team Learning Sessions, etc. They could review recent Problem Notifications, Deficiency Logs/Reports and discuss any trends/significant findings with the Nuclear Director. More specific to Engineering, they can review how Engineers are adjudicating issues when Production shops are performing work, validating NAVSEA requirements are still being met.
On top of that, they have normal in-office collateral duties/responsibilities and may assist other offices in the performance of test programs or evaluations.
And then they also do Monitor Watches, performing walkthroughs and noting any deficiencies.
As you can see, there can be a lot that an Assistant can do to "provide oversight". Assistants perform a lot of preparation for the work that is being conducted by the Ship / Shipyard. An Assistant coming down to the deckplate to watch Primary Relief Valve Testing (PRVT) wasn't just told "hey we are doing this evolution and you are invited to come down".
They have been tracking the evolution for months. Validating the Shipyard's TGIs, the work the Shipyard performed for this evolution (example, fabrication and connection of off-hull connection), the training that was conducted, validating the watchbill. Having a sync up with ISIC. Briefing Headquarters on the readiness for the evolution and the oversight plan. That way when observing the work, they can add value by finding issues vice getting surprised with issues.
You can think about how much work there is to do for an evolution that should go fine. And that's something someone who is thinking about going NR LDO needs to think about: it is a lot of hours of researching and validating for what could be a simple evolution. There can be even more hours when something is vague or in the grey area: it will have to get properly addressed and there could be a lot of work for something that may seem "pointless".
In fact, it can be painful to watch a Team execute an evolution and not do it the best way or the way you would do it. But you are not the one leading watchteams on the deckplate anymore: you are there to ensure requirements are being met. You can attend the post evolution debrief and ensure they capture the lessons learned which could have made the evolution better/faster.
If leading watchteams is still something you want to do, you can still do that as a Fleet LDO, but I have no personal experience in being a Fleet LDO.
After reading all that, you may be thinking, yup that sounds like something I want to do. If so, I would recommend focusing on the following depending on your senior/junior level:
Out of the Pipeline/Not Senior-in-Rate Qualified: Get qualified (obviously) and focus on being "the guy" for whatever collateral/watchstation you have. You may think holding a minor collateral within the division may not matter, but showing your ownership and care for that collateral makes it easy for people to want to "promote" you to a higher collateral. If you suck at a divisional collateral as a junior guy, there's not going to be a switch that goes off that makes you a good collateral guy in the future. Focus on doing your rating's core competency. Develop your in-rate hands on ability so you can lead a team down the road.
Senior-in-Rate Qualified / No Engineering Watch Supervisor: Get qualified (obviously) and focus on leading teams. You do not have to be the Leading Petty Officer (LPO) to lead a team. You can lead a team as the Work Center Supervisor or even as (example for the Electricians) the Battery Petty Officer. Focus less on you doing all the work and figure out how to get y'all to do the work. If you are watching over a team, make sure they are doing it the right way. Hold that standard.
Engineering Watch Supervisor Qualified: Focus on volunteering to leading teams through complex evolutions. Prove to your Chain of Command you are ready for being the enlisted supervisor for taking the plant solid or performing PRVT or some other big evolution. You know you have succeeded when you are your command's go-to-guy for abnormal evolutions. If you are on an operational boat, this may be harder than being on a shipyard boat, but big maintenance evolutions will come up time to time even without in being in avail, make the best of it and take credit for it in your Commanding Officer's endorsement and periodic evaluations.
Per OPNAVINST 7220.15B, you can keep your Submarine Pay until 18 years of service if you complete 6 years of submarine time (4.5 years assigned to a sea command - which you should under the normal Sea/Shore Rotation - with 1.5 years in the pipeline).
Program has established O-3 spot promotes for O-2 Nuke LDOs. See SECNAVINST 1421.3N and NAVADMIN 108/26.
You receive $30K bonus for completing technical interviews when selected for Nuke LDO per NAVADMIN 188/25.
You receive $10K Annual Incentive Pay (AIP).
Keep your Selective Reenlistment Bonus installments until you commission. But you cannot reenlist for a bonus after selection.
Long term, NR LDOs have several spot promote options:
As "disadvantages" please note you do not receive "Nuke pay" (the $10K AIP makes up for that), do not get sea pay, and Basic Allowance for Subsistence is less for officers. I took a pay cut for commissioning, but the changes the program has made (to include $30K for completing interviews and the O-3 spot promote) may make up for the money lost.
My biggest recommendation is to talk to your nearest Field Office or making conversation when you see NRRO on the deckplate. Another option that was not discussed is going the Naval Reactors Training Assistant (NRTA) route at the two different prototype sites. This would involve you starting on the NR path while still enlisted, prior to applying for LDO.
I hope this provided some information, even if it is the realization that NRRO is filled with prior enlisted Nukes that did work just like you do now.
r/NavyNukes • u/Business_Store_5309 • Jun 17 '26
Program can pay $70k / year salary (not scholarship, salary) while you get a degree for no extra work!
Same service commitment as ROTC or Academy, but also opens the door to be a Power School / Prototype Instructor or Naval Reactors Engineer.
Time in school counts as time in service!
Hit me with your questions!
r/NavyNukes • u/Acceptable_Lie_8820 • 18h ago
Hey everyone, I'm an MMN1 (one day LTN) a year out from transferring from my boat. I'm considering prototype in South Carolina as a shore tour due to the AIP. Are there any staff members at SC that care to talk about their experiences? I've heard mixed opinions from the JSIs on my boat so far and really would like to know if the stress is worth the AIP.
r/NavyNukes • u/Ok-Charge-8994 • 1d ago
I went to MEPs in march and got a call today from my recruiter saying I popped positive. She told me not to worry too much and that I’ll have to go back to MEPs and retest, also my clearance should be fine. I freaked out a good bit over this. I stopped all THC usage for about 2 months before I went to MEPs in march and even took two at home tests that came back negative. What’s probably gonna happen from here?
r/NavyNukes • u/General-Quail6796 • 1d ago
I’m currently on the fence about STAR reenlisting, and I was wondering if it was still possible to qualify EWS in the fleet as an E-4 if I decided not to STAR.
r/NavyNukes • u/Exotic-Buyer-2856 • 2d ago
Specifically STAR reenlisting at prototype. We all know the benefits. But I would like to hear if there's another side to the story...
r/NavyNukes • u/Nomaska • 1d ago
Hello everyone,
I have an AA in Cybersecurity/IT and am working on enlisting but I am torn between the Cyber/IT field and nuke.
Just as some quick background for me, I used to be passionate about Cyber but holy fuck its boring and overly complex with seemingly very, very little job prospects for non-cleared professionals. But on the other hand, CWT requires SCI and the people I have spoken to about it all say that Navy Cyber will get you a job at a 3 letter agency, which is something I am not interested in. I'm also burnt out on Cyber, and with AI around the corner, have been considering changing to a trade regardless. I am also considering IT but haven't researched it.
Nuke on the other hand, I love science (all of it) and am kinda thinking I want a change, and to be able to find high paying jobs that don't require TS/SCI, and the ability to just kinda work my way into the electronics industry as a whole.
If I go nuke I am primarily interested in SCADA/PLC but also have a background in shop, mechanical stuff, and ironically I scored higher for nuke than I did for CWT.
I would appreciate thoughts and opinions if you guys have any.
r/NavyNukes • u/rombill • 2d ago
Has anyone here been diagnosed with ADHD while in? I’m fairly certain I’ve got it, but in the spirit of not self diagnosing I’d like a professional to take a look. If you have been diagnosed, what were your options? I’ve been in for 7 years, currently as shore duty and fully intending on separating at the end of this contract. Any info would be appreciated.
r/NavyNukes • u/Illustrious_Sort4386 • 4d ago
Rip Queen
r/NavyNukes • u/Good-Ingenuity1829 • 4d ago
Hey!! I cannot find the nuke wife page so I hope you guys don’t mind answering my questions. My husband just got ruled back. I know he is going to be fine he just needs a little more time on the material. If this were you how would you want to be supported? I do all house work, when he is home i just let him rest and take a break. He is so stressed I don’t want to add more, and I know if I was pursuing something this difficult he would do it for me. But what else can I be doing to help?? What would make your life easier? I will do anything to make this better for him I just don’t know what he needs. Thank you in advance❤️
r/NavyNukes • u/imapoopmonster25 • 4d ago
I’ve accepted an SRO position after I separate from the Navy, and I’m looking for some perspective on serving in the Reserves while going through license class.
I’ll be separating as an O-3, and I’m trying to figure out whether serving in a reserve capacity will be worth the time and money, particularly whether the workload is manageable while going through license class.
I like the benefits of the Navy, just not enough to stay in for another sea tour. At the same time, I don’t want to “major in the minors” if the benefits (e.g. drill pay, Tricare, retirement) aren’t really worth the additional time commitment compared to my civilian career.
I’m also planning to reach out separately to my company to find out their specific policies regarding absences for military duty, but I’d like to hear from anyone who has gone through license class while serving in the Reserves.
Was it worth it? How manageable was the workload? And did you feel the benefits justified the time commitment?
r/NavyNukes • u/RomanBeast14 • 4d ago
Unsure if anyone would be alright hitting a few at once (I can DM if that's easier!) but I'm in the very initial stage of the application process.
r/NavyNukes • u/swaggypeppa69 • 4d ago
Hello,
I am a college student who is currently processing for NUPOC, and has previously been processed and accepted for Nukes (2 years ago, so MEPs expired). I was hospitalized for mental health over 10 years ago now, but they are unfortunately now asking for a letter of clearance from a psychiatrist or therapist. I have gone to my old therapist and requested a note, but to no avail. I also tried to go through my college to get a note, but was told that they aren’t willing to write one.
Does anyone have similar experience and advice to give? Or would anyone know where to go to acquire such a note?
Thanks in advance
r/NavyNukes • u/Longjumping-Tie-3845 • 4d ago
Volunteered for sub and swearing in next week... Am I cooked? I know nothing about this? What did I sign up for?
r/NavyNukes • u/CodeTheTitan • 5d ago
qualified, got in an hour long call with a nuke informing me of everything and i told him straight out that i avoid anything heavily math or chemistry involved, this is not the job for me. he then went on saying that it’s not that heavily involved and as long as you can keep up and apply yourself, you will pass. also a 2% failure rate apparently? much lower than expected
r/NavyNukes • u/Mister_Dinq • 5d ago
I really don't want to go to a carrier. I joined the navy wanting to be a submariner. Is there a way to change this or am I cooked. 8 thought the navy was hurting so bad for subvols they weren't signing carrier nukes?
I'd pay a quarter of my bonus back if it meant not going to a carrier. Please someone tell me there is hope.
r/NavyNukes • u/orgurf3 • 5d ago
Long time lurker first time poster, I have read much concerning the difficulty and high burn out but I am considering enlisting in the military mostly because of this career.
I have a 3.0 GPA, not great because I flunked 2 classes freshman year, but sophomore and senior years I locked in and got a 3.8. I got some college in with one year of chemical engineering and actually really liked it, but flunked again due to circumstances and just bad life choices then dropped out. Spent the last years working dead end blue collar jobs and since I cant go back to school here I am. Im also in great shape if the physical test scores matter anything in this field. Im also not a felon.
I suspect though the navy looks at this and thinks why waste time on a candidate who showed past inaptitude when there's fresh 17 18 years applying to be nukes every day, as far as I'm seeing 90+ asvab scores are a dime a dozen. How much of a factor is my age really and what can I do right now to improve my chances of getting in? For people who made it, what is the best thing to know going into this field? If you could go back to day one what's one thing you would have done right away?
All this considered does this career seem like the right path for me or should I be considering something different? Does anyone have any experience with other careers within the navy or military similar to navy nukes? One more question, are there any navy nuke mustangs? I also have the dream of going back to school and finishing my degree. It seems impossible to do it while serving so if anybody has had luck with this let me know
Thank you stay frosty yall
r/NavyNukes • u/Awkward_Engineer481 • 5d ago
So I went to MEPS yesterday but unfortunately I had to leave. Since I am not at MEPS anymore I'm taking the time to go over some concerning information.
The Good.
I scored a 97 on my ASVAB and was looking at the nuclear program. I gave all my paperwork and transcripts to my recruiter about a week or two ago. I was told everything was looking ok and I'd more than likely qualify.
The Bad.
I smoked weed pretty consistently for the past year. I was told by my recruiter that it wasn't a big deal. Now I recieved other information that leads me to doubt my recruiters information.
I went to MEPS to confirm my PiCAT score, which I did, before I was taken to do a test for the Nuclear Program specifically. It was only there that I was made aware about a missing algebra course.
Huge red flag.
I was very hesitant going into MEPS because of the recency of using marajuana. Nearly everyone online and that I know was saying not to. I was trusting my recruiter more than them as I had no reason to doubt them.
The Ugly.
I left MEPS. It was before swearing in but I did sign in to the hotel where we'd stay the night before. I had other stuff happening that made me leave but I am using it as an oppurtunity to relook at things.
There was some sort of, either deliberate or unintentional, misinformation happening between me and my recruiter. Something so integral being missed or ignored gives me reason to question the veracity of all the information I've recieved.
-----------------------------------------------------
Currently I am a few weeks sober from marajuana and plan to take a pharmacy drug test. If that comes out possitive then I'll tell my recruiter about wanting to hold off.
Many Algebra courses I've seen online are about 4-8 weeks long. Which happens to be the same time you need to guarantee a clean THC test.
It seems to me that the best option is to take the Algebra course while staying sober.
How should I breach this to my recruiter as I seem to be falling for their tactics.
Are there any accredited Algebra 1 courses that you'd reccomend?
How bad is leaving MEPS going to affect my future in the Nuclear Program and even Navy?
r/NavyNukes • u/Flimsy_Cellist2876 • 6d ago
Scored 99 on the asvab, walked out of MEPS KC with my nuke contract, currently set to ship late jan 27. Only thing in the way of nuke right now is my clearance. I did end up subvol-ing for the 10k enlistment bonus. (65k total)
Update to this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/NavyNukes/comments/1vl3e70/18m_considering_nuke/
r/NavyNukes • u/NoEggos • 7d ago
I recently graduated highschool with a 1.71 gpa, but I scored a 92 on my asvab. I ship out on December 8th and I have my doubts on whether I’ll be able to keep up with everyone else. I made nuke and that’s what I signed for but I wanted to ask for advice on how to keep myself afloat so I can succeed.
r/NavyNukes • u/CameramanDavid • 7d ago
I went Boot in 1984-1985; MM, Power School in 1985, finished Prototype in early 1986…
Did 6 and out in 1990.
What is “Alpha Nuke”… I’m just seeing this term recently…?
Also, back then, the pipeline was more of a “filter” (any excuse to toss you, even saw one guy at prototype get de-nuked on graduation day with bonus check in hand…) than what I am hearing about current day, that it’s more a “pump”… is that the case now?
r/NavyNukes • u/salar2175 • 7d ago
I'm a high school senior and alpha qualified for Nuke. It's been my primary plan for a while, and I'm still heavily leaning toward it.
Recently I've started thinking more seriously about college as an alternative. I have a 3.95 high school GPA as of the end of junior year and a reasonable SAT score that I could probably improve with another attempt, so getting into an engineering program I'm interested in is a realistic option.
Academically, I'm currently taking Precalculus, and I'm planning to take Calculus I through dual enrollment later this school year. One thing that made me think more about the education side of Nuke is that the college-credit information I was given only seemed to show precalculus for math, rather than the calculus sequence I'd eventually need for a conventional engineering degree.
My plan with Nuke would be to complete the pipeline and my service, get the training and experience, and then eventually get a bachelor's degree in engineering using the education benefits available to me. I'm interested in nuclear, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
I understand that going Nuke would probably mean getting my engineering degree later than if I went directly to college. On the other hand, those extra years wouldn't just be lost time—I would have the nuclear training, years of actual experience, pay/benefits, and GI Bill before finishing my degree.
I'm also looking more into scholarships and financial aid now, since I don't want to take on student debt.
For current/former nukes who had college as a realistic option, would you still choose Nuke? Why or why not?
I'm especially interested in people who got out and earned a conventional engineering degree afterward. How much did your Nuke training actually transfer toward a Nuclear, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering B.S.? How much school did you still have left?
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same decision at 18?
r/NavyNukes • u/Diligent-Permit7343 • 7d ago
Hey guys, I'm a 16 year old who just graduated hs but had pretty crappy grades (2.9/3.0). Ive always wanted to go to the academy or just be a navy officer in general but due to my grades and not having played varsity sports there's no way I could get into the academy or rotc. I talked to a recruiter and he recommended becoming a nuke and said I can potentially get admitted to one of those right out of nuke training. I was just wondering how likely that is or if it's just the best of the best that can qualify.
Idk if this is useful but I got a 30 on my act (33 stem) and a 95 on my asvab
