From Great Lakes to Chicago
ON APRIL 22, 2009 I joined the US Navy as a nuke. That's what they call you here, when you're a nuclear technician. They say it very mean-spirited, in much the same way they might call another person "ass wipe" or something like that. But on June 12, I graduated bootcamp, which was in Great Lakes, in Illinois, and set on my way to Naval Nuclear Power School, which is in Charleston, South Carolina. Nuke School is nice, but it's hard. Regular school week is about 65+ hours in Rickover Center (that is the schoolhouse), and anytime after that is PT or inspections, or just roaming around the base trying to find something to do. There isn't really much, though, so you end up going back to your room to read. But not schoolbooks. Oh no. They keep those locked up nice and tight back at Rickover, where you need security access to get in -- you know, like the kind that I've got. They say what we learn is classified, so everything has to be stamped very detailed like, and nothing that goes in can go out...and vis versa.
Well, I have a few minutes before I have to go to bed, so I thought I'd lay out some pictures from Illinois. Chicago really is a beautiful place, I swear it.
That's me in the middle, with some of the pals from basic...McVittie, Polunskny, and Ardie to name a few. I forget the guy to my far rights name.
This is the Chicago skyline from Shedd Aquarium. A father is playing with his baby while the mother records the whole thing.
Like I said -- and even if I didn't -- this is a beautiful place. I am happy to have given my parents the chance to see it all.
Well, I have a few minutes before I have to go to bed, so I thought I'd lay out some pictures from Illinois. Chicago really is a beautiful place, I swear it.
That's me in the middle, with some of the pals from basic...McVittie, Polunskny, and Ardie to name a few. I forget the guy to my far rights name.
This is the Chicago skyline from Shedd Aquarium. A father is playing with his baby while the mother records the whole thing.
Like I said -- and even if I didn't -- this is a beautiful place. I am happy to have given my parents the chance to see it all.
