Sub or Surface Ship?

Question

Im joining the nuclear field and was wondering which vessel would be better to be on. The Submarine or a Surface Ship

Answer 1

I agree with what everyone has told you so far. It is a choice you will need to make yourself, but you need to look at what you find important in your daily life now. If you have to have contact with the outside world all the time with your cell phone, IM, e-mail, telephone or whatever a sub would kill you. If you are a clothes whore dude a sub isn't the place for you either. If you are joining the Navy and really want to get the most out of it and share a way of life with a few select Sailors than go subs. My husband was a submariner for many years as a nuke and didn't mind it, but if you have any family issues you are going to be screwed because you will never know what is going on when you are underway. He is a carrier guy now as am I and he still doesn't quite get the surface Navy. The subs guys take care of business and help each other out as well. Surface nukes look out for one another, but it isn't the same kind of relationship. Nukes will always get nuke pro-pay, but only sub guys get the nuke pro-pay PLUS the sub pay. If money is driving you go subs. See easy answers for you! Think long and hard before you volunteer for subs, because once you go you can't go back. You will always be on subs. If you want 20+ years in the Navy and you don't want to be submerged most of the time consider the other choice. Subs are hella cool, but so are carriers. Talk to your nuke recruiter and ask if you can talk to some sub guys before you make your final decision. Lots of talk here, but I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Well as far as surface ships you only have 1 choice. Aircraft Carriers! There are no more Nuclear Cruisers. All I know is Carrier life is pretty good.The sub guys I know are split 50/50. They either really gung ho about boats(subs) or they hate it with a passion ands would do anything to get a CVN. One advantage to subs is they are usually a very tight crew since there are only 100 guys in the crew. If you are joining and want to gain college credits while at sea, the carrier is the way to go. Just more room for classes and internet etc.
Good Luck hope this helped some!

Answer 3

A friend of mine served on a submarine and he loved it. I was stationed on a surface ship and I think surface ships are better.

Subs are more cramped, but you don't have to live onboard when in port.

You can volunteer for sub duty (all submariners are volunteers), then withdraw it before you finish prototype training.

Answer 4

it takes a very special person to be a Bubblehead. The stressors of being Nuke and couple with the stressors of being a Submariner. the medical standards for Subs are higher than for Surface, so it may very well be a moot point..you may be NPQd for something as simple as migraines or inner ear imbalances.

Answer 5

that question you can only answer yourself really. Some people love subs and wouldn't want to be on a 'normal' ship whereas others may actually get claustrophobic in an undersea vessel (though they aren't that small really). in the end it depends on your set of mind.

Answer 6

Depends on what's more important to you: money or comfort. You get special pays on a sub, but there's more comfort on a surface ship. I personally wouldn't want to be on a sub, because I would probably get claustrophobic.

Answer 7

Subs have a mystique. You go out, disappear for a long time and no one knows where you are or where you went. If you do go for a surface ship, go for an aircraft carrier. They also have some mystique....

Answer 8

Submarines don't go to many good liberty ports. Tin cans go just about anywhere.