NUCLEAR FIELD APPRENTICE (NF)

OVERVIEW

Nuclear Field Apprentice (NF) is the U.S. Navy's accession rating identifier for Sailors enlisted into the Nuclear Field Program before designation into Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) — MMN, Electrician's Mate (Nuclear) — EMN, or Electronics Technician (Nuclear) — ETN. NF is used in PRIDE during the Nuclear Field A-school phase at NPTC Charleston.

The nuclear community is the most technically demanding enlisted pipeline in the U.S. military. Sailors complete Nuclear Field A-school, Naval Nuclear Power School (NNPS) in Charleston, SC, and a prototype reactor tour before reporting to their first nuclear-powered submarine or aircraft carrier. Nuclear-trained Sailors operate every reactor plant in the U.S. fleet.

A-school for the rating runs ~6 weeks NF A-school + 24 months full nuclear pipeline at Nuclear Field A-school (NF A) — Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Charleston SC (pre-NPS phase) before designation into MMN/EMN/ETN., where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score AR+MK+EI+GS=252 (Nuke) and an enlistment obligation of 6–6 years. NFs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior NFs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.

Across the active force, NF Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.

WHAT NFs DO

Nuclear Field apprentices complete Nuclear Field A-school (a 6-week core curriculum), then receive MMN/EMN/ETN sub-rating designation based on aptitude and Navy need before continuing into Naval Nuclear Power School (NPS) and prototype training.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Nuclear Field apprentices complete Nuclear Field A-school (a 6-week core curriculum), then receive MMN/EMN/ETN sub-rating designation based on aptitude and Navy need before continuing into Naval Nuclear Power School (NPS) and prototype training.
• Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior NFs as required by the chain of command.
• Lead the NF work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
• Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.

HISTORY

The Nuclear Field Program was established by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover in 1955 as the most rigorously selected and trained enlisted accession program in the U.S. military. The NF apprentice identifier provides a single accession label before sub-rating designation.

The nuclear-trained enlisted community was established under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover with the commissioning of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) in 1954, the world's first nuclear-powered vessel. The training pipeline and qualification standards Rickover established remain essentially unchanged and are widely recognized as the most rigorous enlisted technical training in the U.S. military.

Today the Nuclear Field Apprentice (NF) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern NFs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.

The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring NFs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
   Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
   Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors.
2. 2. Nuclear Field Apprentice Pipeline~6 weeks NF A-school + 24 months full nuclear pipeline
   Nuclear Field A-school (NF A) — Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Charleston SC (pre-NPS phase) before designation into MMN/EMN/ETN.
   Apprentice/striker training in the nuclear accession pipeline before sub-rating designation.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. E-1/E-3
   Nuclear Field Apprentice
   Entry tier; nuclear field apprentice accession track in the nuclear community.
2. E-4
   Designated Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Designation into a target rating with full A-/C-school qualification.
3. E-7+
   Chief Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Senior enlisted leader of the designated rating in the command.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

• Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Charleston SC
• Nuclear Power Training Units (Charleston SC; Ballston Spa NY)

EXAMPLE NECs

• No NECs assigned at NF apprentice tier; NECs accrue after MMN/EMN/ETN designation and prototype completion

RELATED RATINGS

• MMN · Nuclear Power
  Machinist's Mate (Nuclear)
• EMN · Nuclear Power
  Electrician's Mate (Nuclear)
• ETN · Nuclear Power
  Electronics Technician (Nuclear)

RELATED BASES

• Navy Base · VA
  Naval Station Norfolk

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• Navy Nuclear Field Apprentice (navy.com)
• My Navy HR — Enlisted Community Management
• Navy COOL — Rating Detail