Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer Program

Are you looking for an internship as an upcoming sophomore, junior, or senior? Look no further than the United States Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer Program (NUPOC). This program is unlike most internships; instead of working a job for the summer to gain experience to build your resume for future employment, the Navy will pay you prior to graduation, with a guaranteed nuclear engineering job after graduation. This will allow you to focus on school and enjoy your summers in whatever way you like, all while being paid a salary that may exceed your friend’s salaries after they graduate. 
 

Here’s how it works: the Navy wants to incentivize young engineering, physics, chemistry, math (any STEM) students like you to join the Navy after they graduate. In order to compete with companies like Tesla or Google, the Navy will pay you to be a college student for up to 42 months prior to graduation (depending on position accepted), as well as a signing bonus when you get accepted into the program. The pay as a Utah college student is approximately $5,000 a month, which includes a base pay and a food and housing allowance. The signing bonus is $30,000, so if you were to join this program at the full 42 months before graduating, you will receive approximately $240,000 before you graduate. 
 

During this time, you will be considered part of the Navy. However, no uniforms will be required, no grooming standards, or any weekly physical training. You will be required to join a monthly zoom call, submit a recertification form monthly, and keep your recruiter updated. You will need to complete a yearly physical fitness test, so physical fitness throughout the year is encouraged. Lastly, you will participate in random urinalysis. And that’s it! You can work hard during the school year to keep up your grades,  and enjoy your summers while traveling, all while being paid by the Navy. However, if this is too much free time, you can still work a part time job or summer internship, and be paid your Navy salary, as well as any other pay from any other non-federal job you want. You will also receive benefits of being active military, which includes insurance of every kind for you and your dependents, military discounts, priority boarding on flights, and home loan advantages.
 

In order to receive these amazing benefits, you need to begin your application process. You first need to select a job to apply for, as the NUPOC program has 5 nuclear engineering positions to choose from. This will determine what you will do for the Navy for 5 years after you graduate. There are 2 fleet positions, Surface Warfare Officer and Submarine Officer, where you will be deployed as a nuclear officer in the Navy. There are 2 teaching positions, Power School Instructor and Prototype Instructor, where as an officer of the Navy you will teach sailors and other officers what they need to know about nuclear reactors aboard the aircraft carriers and submarines. The last position is an engineer position, Naval Reactors Engineer, where you will oversee aspects of the Navy’s nuclear fleet. All of these positions result in real leadership experience, state of the art training, and real engineering experience that can provide you a career or help boost the start of your engineering or other STEM careers. More details about these positions can be found here: https://www.navy.com/careers-benefits/education/nupoc

In order to be eligible for the NUPOC program, you must meet the following criteria:

• US Citizen.
• No disqualifying medical conditions and are in good physical health.
• have a BS/BA or are on track to get one within 3.5 years (Undergraduate) or 1 year (Graduate)
• 1 year of calculus
• 1 year of calculus based physics
• Between the ages of 19 and 40.
• Have a minimum GPA of around: Surface Warfare Officer/Submarine Officer (fleet positions): 3.0 GPA and have a C or better in all technical/math/science classes, Nuclear Instructor (teaching positions): 3.4 GPA and have a B or better in all technical/math/science classes, Naval Reactors Engineer: 3.7 GPA and have a B or better in all technical/math/science classes
   

As you are going throughout the application process you will be eligible to go on a Navy-funded VIP tour. Typically based on the job you are most interested in, you can travel to San Diego, CA, to see a submarine (fleet positions) or Charleston, SC, to see the Navy nuclear schools (teaching positions). These tours will let you see aspects of the Navy and interact with people who have the jobs you are applying for to see if they are right for you. 
 

The NUPOC program is a great way to be paid now and receive your resume-boosting experiences later after you graduate. Companies such as the Space Dynamics Lab, Idaho National Laboratory, and other national labs around the country frequently hire people who have gone through the NUPOC program. Or, if you enjoy your 5 years with the Navy, you can continue your military career and work towards an early retirement.