b'P ROVING THE P RINCIPLEestablished a system of nuclear training ble of doing this were not available atSome of Admira l schools, and the desert prototype was the time. Cross-training also wasan essential part of it. Rickover super- important. Electricians should knowR i c ko v e rs Fa v o r i t e vised the preparation of textbooks and mechanical systems, for example.ordered that no examinations contain Trainees came to the desert after sixA p h o r i s m s multiple-choice or true-false questions. months of theoretical instruction from aTests required essays, definitions, state- specialty school elsewhere in the sys-ments of fact, or calculations. tem. In Idaho a trainee began by pick-E mployees at the NRF used to Homework was required, and since it ing upor trying toa triple-hernia-hang plaques around the place to often involved classified material, sized crate of operating manuals,remind themselves of the trainees had to do it on the premises, instructions, and schematics. 11Admirals philosophy on Life and not at home. 10Time. Using the books and seeking theThe controlling philosophy was self- instructors he needed, the trainee tracedHeaven is blessed with perfect rest. responsibility. Rickover rejected simu- every system, component by compo-The blessing of earth is toil. lations in favor of real reactors. You nent. Enlisted men, no less than offi-have to train people to react to the real cers, learned and used technicallyEvery hour has sixty golden min - situation at all times. But if they are accurate vocabulary, no nicknames orutes, each studded with sixty dia - trained with a simulator, they tend to shortcuts. Common language tended tomond seconds. expect there will be no consequences, level everyone; it wasnt unusual for ahe said. Rickover didnt want to train petty officer 3rd class to be instructingWhen you waste your time, remem - the wrong instincts by using amachine an officer. Due to the prevailing Idahober even God cannot undo the past. that could not mimic a real nuclear practiceat least in the early yearsofpower plant under real-time conditions, wearing civilian clothes, visiting NavyIn this school, the smartest work as including casualties. Computers capa- brass from the regular Navy were in forhard as those who must struggle topass.The secret of success: late to bed,early to rise, work like hell andyoull be wise.Hal PaigeA1W under construction. Photo, circa 1956, shows S1W spray pond in foreground.Naval Reactor Facilities9 0'