I was a former NUPOC recruiter, so my take is obviously biased. That said, it’s an incredible opportunity to financially support yourself through school and build a resume that will get you in the door at almost any desired employer afterward. NUPOC is probably the only way I would enter the nuclear program if I had it to do again.

Those are some major pros, but the fact is that the job is HARD. And it’s hard for pretty much the entire time (after college, of course). The school is hard. Initial qualifying on the boat is hard. Normal duties after qualifying are hard.

I think most people come out of the nuclear program better off, even if they’re a little more salty, but it’s a ton of work for a substantial amount of time before you really reap those benefits.