The Nuclear Option

by Cynthia Sain

Advisors, what are the opportunities, experiences, and results you want for your students? I bet your list includes some of the following: rewards for good grades, contribution to the greater good, knowledge/skills application, and earning a respected job upon graduation. The Navy Nuclear Officer Program, or NUPOC program, offers all that and more.

I have been a NUPOC fan since the day a Naval Recruiting Jacksonville (JAX) recruiter opened my eyes to the program. I have encouraged and witnessed students apply, be admitted, and work to meet the academic and physical program requirements. I've watched candidates go to officer and nuclear power school, and finally to their choice of aircraft carrier or submarine training.

It was a JAX recruiter who recommended I attend a daylight cruise aboard the USS Hampton this past June. After being treated to the nicest west-coast flight I have ever taken, a hotel room so fine I took a picture, scrumptious food, and the head of the entire program picking me up at my hotel, I was able to speak with the submarine crew and experience sub life first-hand. Now I have a better understanding of a submariner's source of dedication, pride, and enthusiasm. Maybe it is the 100-hour work weeks, maybe it is in the words I will never forget, spoken as I gingerly ascended the three vertical ladders necessary to emerge onto the bridge of the USS Hampton in the beautiful blue waters off the coast of San Diego, CA, "There's no soft landings here, ma'am."

The Navy is a volunteer force...and it shows. Experiencing the life of a submariner helped me understand the type of student best suited for the program. There are no soft landings in the NUPOC program. Applicants need to be smart, physically capable of meeting the demands of military life, willing to work hard, and be a respected expert in their field. As an advisor, I appreciate the transferable skills such as discipline, organization, and commitment exhibited by program participants.

NUPOC is a competitive program, with rewards such as a $3K+ monthly stipend, the very best medical benefits, and a bonus bigger than my first annual salary--and all of this while a student!

As an advisor, you should know that any student is eligible to apply for the NUPOC program. The young woman who was my tour escort had been a political science major. So even your non-science students can qualify for this program. The requirements are one year of college calculus and one year of calculus-based physics. Many of our students enter UF with these requirements, so be aware that they need to have a grade posted in at least one semester of each. Also, at UF, our calculus-based physics requires a pre-requisite of Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1 (MAC 2311, not MAC 2233).

Give me a call if you want to know more about my experience, or stop by my office at 219 CHE so I can share more photos of me as a submariner!