Feel free to PM me if you want more specifics, I have a pay grade sheet as well. Like I said, base pay is crap but OT is about 2.4x that so it generally works out if you’re working a 12 hr day, and there’s penalty pay added on for dirty work (cleaning heads, bilges, oil).
So they used to have an “AB to mate” program, but got rid of that. There’s still a few civilian officers, but the rest are NOAA Corps, which is a selected program, no hawsepiping necessary. I believe there may currently be a 3rd mate civilian position available, but those are few and far between because Corps fills those spots.
As for Covid stuff, things are changing… we were doing “bubbles” and isolating in hotel rooms prior to sailing but now that everyone is required to be vaxxed they are likely going to be back to normal or mostly normal for next year.