This summer Junior Mitch Irmer was one of 18 accepted into the U.S. Navy’s NUPOC program, where he will be training to work with nuclear reactors on military ships.
Irmer never predicted he would be a physics major so coming into college, that job wasn’t even on his radar. The Nebraskan high-schooler who came to Hillsdale in 2011 had struggled with math and physics in the past and had decided to pursue a degree in the humanities.
Irmer was drawn to the challenge technical subjects provided as well as the insight they give into everything he sees.
“Physics, and all the nuances and subtleties of the physical world, is a really cool way to marvel at the beauty of creation,” Irmer said.
Irmer kept taking physics and math classes at Hillsdale, and his persistence eventually led him into a physics major, a spot as president of the Society of Physics Students, and a newly enlisted member of NUPOC, the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program.
The call to serve in the military also has deep meaning for Irmer. His father spent 25 years as a chaplain in the Air National Guard, and the desire to emulate his father played a big part in his decision to look into the program.
“He said that this country has given a lot of freedoms and it’s a responsibility to give something back if you’re able,” Irmer said. “I feel that I’m able, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“My dad has some really great ability to be compassionate that he’s been able to really refine in his time as a chaplain in the Air National Guard,” Irmer said. “I want to use my ability in the sciences to serve my country in the same way.”
The U.S. Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines needs experienced engineers to operate its 70 nuclear submarines and 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. All of these vessels are powered by at least one nuclear reactor, allowing them to spend months at sea without refueling. This also makes people like Irmer a valuable resource.
The NUPOC program assists gifted engineering and physics students during college with a salary and military benefits and upon graduation trains them to work with the reactors.
Irmer found out about the program from Assistant Dean of Men Jeffery Rogers, who has helped students with careers in the Navy in the past.
“He’s a pretty awesome kid, after the first interview and chat with him I knew he was right for [the program],” Rogers said.
Irmer started the application process in September 2012, and over the next several months he went through a series of interviews. The first interviews were over the phone, but Irmer then traveled to Washington, DC, where he was asked questions about calculus and physics to test his competency. He finally sat for an interview with a four-star admiral, after which he was sworn in July 16th.
“It was kind of funny, during this high-stakes interview the admiral asked me what I thought of the film adaptation of ‘The Great Gatsby.’” Irmer said. “Those were 3 very intimidating minutes.”
Of a very large pool of applicants, only 18 were finally accepted into the program this summer.
“A lot of people drop out voluntarily, it’s a really big commitment,” Irmer said.
Until graduation the program members are enlisted officers, completing their studies and preparing for the mandatory 6 years of service after graduation. Irmer will attend 12 weeks of Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI before working as a Surface Warfare Officer on a conventionally (non-nuclear) powered ship for two years to learn management skills and become acquainted with the workings of a naval vessel.
He will then spend 6 months at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, SC, and 6 months in hands-on reactor training with nuclear reactors.
Assistant Professor of Physics Paul Hosmer is a former instructor at the Nuclear Power School, as well as one of Irmer’s professors at Hillsdale.
“It’s exciting to see that he’s decided to serve his country,” Hosmer said. “It’s a difficult job he’s signed up to do.”
After his training is completed, Irmer will spend a 28-month career on an aircraft carrier in the engine room working with the reactor as the military counterpart to a civilian plant manager.
