As a guy who barely touched trig in highschool. The navy got me thru calc , thermodynamics, newtonian and einstienian physics, reactor fundimentals, reactor core construction, motor and generator theory and metallurgy and a few courses I havent mentioned such as basic electricity and electronics and the steam cycle. And boiler water chemistry... all by rote memorizations.
Had a military bred teacher for hydraulics. Amazing teacher who created experiments to go along with his verbal lessons. Can still picture the experiments....25 years later.
#4 One thing to remember is never stand in front of the reactor when the door is open....