Nuclear Reactors and Novel Arguments

[speculativejester]

Hello!

My name is Spencer. I'm 21, and I'm currently an active duty service member in the United States Navy. I was recently accepted into a program that will send me to school on the military's dime for 3 years so I can be an officer, so I'm about to find myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I decided I really wanted to get back into writing, and I would like a community to be apart of so I don't feel so secluded with what little work I do generate.

Anywho, a little more about me. I've been trained to operate nuclear reactors on the navy's submarines and aircraft carriers. I've been in school to learn how to do the job for about 2 years and just now finished up qualifying per the Department of Energy. I'll be attending university at the University of Washington (Seattle), pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Political Science. I've been writing since I was 10 years old in mostly fantasy/sci-fi settings.

If there any people here thinking about joining the military, please hit me up and I'll answer every question I can.

 

[Tom]

Hey there! Hope you like it here.

I see you've already started commenting on threads that interest you--you obviously know what you're talking about and want to share your ideas. I'm looking forward to some great discussions with you.

It's also exciting to have more military members; you guys are interesting to talk to. I'm weak in the area of writing battle sequences, tactics, or anything else related to military, so it's always awesome to be advised on those things by someone who knows their stuff.

Your job sounds very cool. My dad is actually an engineer and part of a company that manufactured parts for the navy's nuclear subs and carriers, so I've heard a lot about the science and manufacturing tech that goes into building them. All of it is very impressive and a little dizzying for a non-techie such as myself.

 

[speculativejester]

Well, oddly enough, we're barely told anything about war tactics as enlisted personnel. During my officer training, I might be able to help you out- but honestly, most people in the military have little to no idea about what is actually going on during the big picture of a battle.

 

[Tom]

Hm. I knew that for the average personnel, there isn't much focus on tactics, but I still thought that it was part of the training, however minimal. Apparently another area where Hollywood misleads us.

 

[speculativejester]

Well, the entire military is built on specialization. We're trained to be really familiar with what our particular field is concerned with, and not so much making decisions on how to use the training we've been given.

 

[ArenRax]

Westpoint graduates would know war tactics right?
weird your in the same state as me......stalker jk
welcome to the forum and good luck writing a fantasy book.
and if you ever learn any war tactics id love to hear em im tryin to write a couple of books that have warfare in them.

 

[speculativejester]

Well, yes. In short, military academy graduates would have some idea of battle tactics. Naval Academy, West Point, Air Force Academy, all of that. All of the people who graduate from there are officers, and officers are the people the military who "make decisions."

In truth, you don't make any real decisions until you're at least a department head or executive officer.

 

[Mythopoet]

Welcome and great choice of avatar. I'm also a fan.

 

[Tom]

Welcome and great choice of avatar. I'm also a fan.

Am I missing something? Er...what anime is your avatar from, Jester? (Is it okay if I call you Jester?)

 

[speculativejester]

Spencer, Jester, whatever you would prefer is absolutely fine!

It's from the anime Attack on Titan.

 

[Philster401]

Attack on Titan I think.

 

[Tom]

Spencer, Jester, whatever you would prefer is absolutely fine!

It's from the anime Attack on Titan.

Thanks! Not familiar with Attack on Titan. I'm not that up on anime in general...Doctor Who and Supernatural are more my thing.