The U.S. Navy is recognized around the world for its exacting standards in fields of science - particularly the nuclear field. In almost 50 years of operation, the Navys nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, cruisers and submarines have steamed over 125 million miles on nuclear power with an outstanding safety record. The Nuclear officers who manage and maintain the propulsion plants for approximately 80 U.S. nuclear-powered ships and submarines are recognized as the countrys elite in the nuclear field. Officer candidates for the Navys nuclear program are carefully selected based on a high aptitude for math and science, their ability to handle responsibility and to work well under pressure. If you have what it takes to lead a nuclear team with billions of dollars of equipment at your command, accelerate your life as a Nuclear officer.

What Will You Do?
If selected as an officer in the Navys nuclear field, you will have joined a world-leader in applied sciences. The Navy excels in nuclear engineering and nuclear power-plant operation with the worlds most comprehensive technical training in nuclear energy and nuclear propulsion. You might supervise the nuclear propulsion systems of modern nuclear-powered surface ships or submarines while at shore-based reactor facilities or onboard ship. You may find yourself approving technical designs for new nuclear components, observing propulsion plant performance and crew performance or even assuming watch in the control room of a $1.5 billion warship. As a Nuclear officer, you will oversee state-of-the-art equipment. Some of your responsibilities may include:

• Maintain and operate sophisticated nuclear propulsion plants and modern weapons and sensor systems on ships or submarines
• Direct projects to improve nuclear power plants in ships or submarines
• Assist high-level officials in creating policies for developing and using nuclear technology
• Oversee nuclear engineering operations and navigational duties on ships or submarines
• Assume the role of engineering officer/manager of the watch in charge of an entire nuclear propulsion plant
• Conduct advanced research and development in concepts, materials, design and operation of nuclear propulsion plants
• Develop equipment, procedures and specifications for naval nuclear propulsion plants
• Resolve emergent fleet technical issues
• Monitor reactor safety and radiological controls

Skills and Training
With its advanced courses, state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional instructors, the Navys nuclear program has earned a reputation as one of the finest engineering programs in the world. Training for two different nuclear officer positions is described below:

• Nuclear Trained Naval Officers
  Prior to college graduation, future Nuclear officers can enter the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC). This program offers you a monthly stipend of up to $2,500 while in school, a $10,000 selection bonus and an additional $2,000 bonus upon completing your nuclear propulsion training. Nuclear Officers then begin training at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Charleston, S.C. This six-month course helps students understand the complex nature of nuclear propulsion through a broad background on theory and operations mechanics. Once youve successfully completed NNPTC, youll begin training at a Nuclear Power Training Unit for real-life work on an actual operating reactor. Youll work at all junior watch stations and eventually assume the role of engineering officer of the watch in charge of the entire plant. Submarine nuclear-trained officers attend Submarine Basic Course, a 13-week course that will familiarize you with submarine safety and operations and all of the necessary aspects of submarine life as an officer. Surface ship nuclear-trained officers attend Surface Warfare School (SWOS), a 20-week course that provides you with a general understanding of surface force combat systems, tactical concepts and the responsibilities of a division officer.

• Nuclear Power School Instructors
  If you're pursuing or possess a bachelor's or master's degree in a technical field, consider this career! If you're in college and not quite sure what the future holds, consider a teaching opportunity in one of the most prestigious, up-and-coming fields today. The Navy's Nuclear Power Instructor program offers you up to $2,500 a month to help you complete college and provides a guaranteed position as a Nuclear Power School (NPS) instructor. Collectively, during your junior and senior years in college, you can earn up to $75,000! You'll attend a 6-week course at the Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, Rhode Island. Thereafter, you can teach anything from mathematics and physics to electrical engineering, heat transfer and fluid flow, chemistry, radiological controls and reactor plant engineering at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina.

• Naval Reactors Engineers
  While finishing college as a future Naval Reactor Engineer, you will be paid up to $2,500 per month. Following college graduation, nuclear officer candidates can pursue a position as a Naval Reactors Engineer. Naval Reactors Engineer candidates initially attend a 6-week indoctrination course at the Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI. The Naval Reactors training program offers new Naval Reactors Engineers a post-graduate level education in Nuclear Engineering at the Bettis Reactor Engineering School at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Educational Opportunities
Nuclear officers receive some of the most rigorous and prestigious training the Navy has to offer. The Nuclear Propulsion Officer program has earned a reputation as one of the finest engineering programs in the world. You could obtain a post-graduate level education in nuclear engineering, learn to manage technical projects, hone your problem-solving abilities and interact with senior managers from government contractors. As an officer the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California is also an attractive tour of duty option, which allows you to earn a masters or doctorate degree while being paid full-time as an officer in the Navy.

Career Outlook
Nuclear officers gain valuable life-long experiences, including nuclear training and leadership roles that may even include being in command of one of the worlds most sophisticated submarines or of the entire propulsion plant of the worlds largest aircraft carrier. You may be responsible for designing and maintaining the safe operation of the most advanced reactor plants in the world or ensuring that a ships nuclear systems are running smoothly so that it is mission ready as scheduled. The highly specialized skills you will acquire as a Nuclear officer in the Navy will make you an extremely valuable asset in the elite nuclear community.

Special Pay/Bonuses
Because of its level of specialization, officers in the nuclear field are not only awarded with an excellent salary, they also receive generous bonuses and unique benefits not widely available anywhere else.

Nuclear officer candidates attending college may enter the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) up to 30 months prior to graduation. This program awards students a $10,000 signing bonus and a salary (with all military benefits) of over $2,000 per month while still in college. Students arent required to wear a uniform or attend military training during school. They simply stay in school and complete their course of study while maintaining the required grade point average – then enter the Navys Nuclear Propulsion Officer Training Program after graduation.

If youre a qualified Nuclear Propulsion Officer candidate, the Navy offers a two-day V.I.P. trip to give you a chance to tour various Naval war ships and submarines. The Navy will fly you and other prospective officers to a Naval base so you can interact with naval officers, tour the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, walk through the torpedo room of a Los Angeles class submarine and ask questions about Navy life.

If youd like to find out more about career opportunities with the U.S. Navy, Request More Information.