Editing Jimmy Carter (section)

== Naval career ==
[[File:Graduation of Jimmy Carter from U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, Rosalynn Carter and Lillian Carter Pinning on Ensign Bars - DPLA - e1b1f2b5b4e38fc82cfe091678fc112a.jpg|thumb|alt=Jimmy Carter smiling towards the camera, while Rosalynn Smith and his mother are fixing his Naval Academy uniform|Carter with [[Rosalynn Smith]] and his mother at his graduation from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]], June 5, 1946]]

From 1946 to 1953, the Carters lived in [[Virginia]], [[Territory of Hawaii|Hawaii]], [[Connecticut]], [[New York (state)|New York]], and [[California]], during his deployments in [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|the Atlantic]] and [[U.S. Pacific Fleet|Pacific fleets]].{{sfn|Zelizer|2010|pp=11–12}} In 1948, he began officer training for submarine duty and served aboard {{USS|Pomfret|SS-391|6}}.{{sfn|Thomas|1978|p=18}} Carter was promoted to [[lieutenant junior grade]] in 1949. His service aboard ''Pomfret'' included a simulated war patrol to the western Pacific and Chinese coast from January to March of that year.{{sfn|Nijnatten|2012|p=77}} In 1951, Carter was assigned to the diesel/electric {{USS|K-1|SSK-1}}, qualified for command, and served in several positions, including executive officer.{{sfn|Jimmy Carter Library and Museum|2004}}

In 1952, Carter began an association with the Navy's fledgling [[nuclear submarine]] program, led by then-Captain [[Hyman G. Rickover]].{{sfn|Hambley|2008|p=202}} Rickover had high standards, and Carter later said that, next to his parents, Rickover had the greatest influence on his life.{{sfn|Bourne|1997|pp=72–77}} Carter was sent to the [[Naval Reactors]] Branch of the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]] in Washington, D.C., for three-month temporary duty, while Rosalynn moved with their children to [[Schenectady, New York]].{{sfn|Bourne|1997|p=74}}

On December 12, 1952, an accident with the experimental [[NRX]] reactor at [[Atomic Energy of Canada]]'s [[Chalk River Laboratories]] caused a partial [[Nuclear meltdown|meltdown]].{{sfn|Frank|1995|p=554}} Carter was ordered to Chalk River to lead a U.S. maintenance crew to assist in the shutdown of the reactor.{{sfn|Martel|2008|p=64}} The painstaking process required each team member to don protective gear and be lowered individually into the reactor for 90 seconds at a time, limiting their exposure to radioactivity while they disassembled the crippled reactor.{{sfn|Marguet|2022|p=262}} During and after his presidency, Carter said that his experience at Chalk River had shaped his views on atomic energy and led him to cease the development of a [[neutron bomb]].{{sfn|Milnes|2009}}

In March 1953, Carter began a six-month nuclear power plant operation course at [[Union College]] in Schenectady.{{sfn|Zelizer|2010|pp=11–12}} His intent was to eventually work aboard {{USS|Seawolf|SSN-575|6}}, which was intended to be the second U.S. nuclear submarine.{{sfn|Naval History and Heritage Command|1997}} His plans changed when his father died of [[pancreatic cancer]] in July, two months before construction of ''Seawolf'' began, and Carter obtained a release from active duty so he could take over the family peanut business.{{sfn|Wead|2005|p=404}}{{sfn|Panton|2022|p=100}} Deciding to leave Schenectady proved difficult, as Rosalynn had grown comfortable with their life there.{{sfn|Wooten|1978|p=270}}{{sfn|Schneider|Schneider|2005|p=310}} She later said that returning to small-town life in Plains seemed "a monumental step backward".{{sfn|Bourne|1997|p=79}} Carter left active duty on October 9, 1953.{{sfn|Bourne|1997|pp=77–81}}{{sfn|Hayward|2009|p=23}} He served in the inactive [[United States Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve]] until 1961 and left with the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]].{{sfn|Eckstein|2015}} Carter's awards include the [[American Campaign Medal]], [[World War II Victory Medal]], [[China Service Medal]], and [[National Defense Service Medal]].{{sfn|Suciu|2020}} As a submarine officer, he also earned the [[Submarine Warfare insignia|"dolphin" badge]].{{sfn|Gherman|2004|p=34}}