[QUOTE=gatorzeroone;101730]Sounds like you know the ropes. My big point was just that it is a good way to break into the biz. I agree a lot of the stuff is redundant and could be taught in a matter of weeks, but I dont think that is the point. I feel like they want to see if a trainee can handle stress of being away from family and friends and can take constructive criticism (the union does need cheep labor to also run PP for sure, but thats the game). Most of the people that go thru the program have no idea what they are getting into. I would absolutely hate to see 80% of these guys go directly out and sail as an OS/wiper with no trainingā¦thats why I think its hard for people to find that first ship. The companies just dont want to gamble on weather a guy/girl is going to crack up the first time a ship departs. There are a lot of things I dont like about the union, but the opportunities are great for first timers.
As far as the OP goes, like you said, the op has not even finished the program yet. I dont know why he would stop early. Third phase graduation is not really graduation, its just the last time yiou will be in the PP uniform. He sounds confused.
Chief Bosun, lol. Being a former US Marine has its perks. But I am sure it will be a long time before I will see bosun again. Heck if its anything like the PP Bosun job, I will have to think twiceā¦ Managing people sucks half the timeā¦ To many of cry babies. lol.
I should probably delet my post. I think its funny when trainees show up and dont know shit about PP.[/QUOTE]
Sounds to me you got the right idea in general. PP used to be just 90 days, and in those 90 days you got the lifeboat and tankerman asst. Then they dispatched you to your first real job, this was related to me by the āold timersā. But I heard that the STCW codes changed the game for SIU/PPā¦ Whatever the reason, itās a much longer program now. And I donāt think they are nearly as tough as they should be, some people that make it to PP shouldnāt be there in the first place, let alone on a ship.
Deck Dept. doesnāt have so many upgrades (If you wanna sail AB, that it is), unless you want to become an officer. But, yes, all the schooling is there, for free. Yes, I agree itās a good deal for those new to the industry, but you gotta seperate the propaganda and BS from the real training and get what you can out of it.
Yes, I remember one dude showed up @PP, he actually thought it was a school to become a LONGSHOREMANā¦
Another guy COMPLAINED to Talley that his job washing dishes was TOO HARDā¦
And of course, another dude went MENTAL and had to be restrained by force in the middle of the night by the traineeāsā¦
Anyways, good luck, for real!