I’m aware that a motivated go-getter can obtain QMED, RFPEW, AS-E, RFPNW, AB, and AS-D all without ever taking any courses or going to any schools. I don’t plan on going that method but I encourage other motivated gung ho sailors to do so if they want. I endeavour to obtain them all via classes, with reduced seatime thresholds to boot
Uh, ok. 
You still have to take the AS-D class in order to be eligible for the 360 days. The national AB class only applies to the national AB rating.
If you’re correct then I guess they were wrong on multiple separate topics then, unfortunately
I think you give a lot of good advice and I appreciate you helping identify and clarify what they say that’s correct and what they say that is wrong.
In regards to your sincere advice to find a better maritime school, I’m not trying to be curt, but unfortunately maritime schools don’t grow on trees, and this school has always been very good to me. I don’t have to fly there. And it’s a stones’ throw from my employer. The people who work the counter may have never sailed before, and I suspect they still know more than most of my coworkers, even if they get some facts wrong and are mistaken about some of the new flip-flop policies that the USCG seems to always be wishy-washing on. As I get older, it seems that hoping any group of people or entity to be subject matter experts on anything, is nothing more than a pipe dream. Do you expert Ford-related expertise when you go to the Ford franchisee dealership? I’ve learned to not expect world class support from any manufacturer or dealership or entity; I have learned to not expect expertise from anybody. If you ever want to get some questionable advice and maybe some incorrect facts, call up the NMC’s staffing agency they hire to answer phone queries and questions. Obviously they give correct advice most of the time but they have told me wrong things before. If you ever want to be positive you are getting the correct information, it seems asking to speak with John Fitzwater helps significantly. At least, if they tell you the wrong thing, and god forbid somehow it ends up being illegal, you were given ‘estoppel’ or whatever it’s called, so hopefully you’ll be okay
I’m not that worried about any of this stuff, I appreciate everyones’ help, it really is helpful to get all this feedback. We’re lucky gcaptain forum exists
I am most definitely correct. I have a reply letter from the Coast Guard in response to my recent application. They explicitly said you need 360 days with USCG approved training to serve in lieu of the 540 days + assessment sign off.
May I ask you if you off the top of your head remember is RFPEW-time still required to get AS-E? Perhaps the USCG made the AS-D process simpler and less strict, but maybe they still left the AS-E stipulation in place? Just want to fact check the NMC’s website, which I already referenced.
I think I made another post where I mentioned I think it unlikely I ever become a master mariner, but I am trying to get QMED and AB before I decide what I want to do or even if I want to spend decades sailing
Thank you!
You still have to meet RFPNW to get AS-D. Youdo not have to hold RFPNW, but if you don’t your application for AS-D neeeds to include assessments and service for RFPNW. Wht has chnaged is the previous requirement that your sea time towards AS-D cannot start until you have met all of the requirements for RFPNW (not hold RFPNW). Sea time from before you did all the assessments for RFPNW wouldn’t count. Thta has changed, sea time from before meeting RFPNW can now be used for AS-D. Fact checking? See CG-MMC Policy Letter 04-24. NVICs and policy letters are the source, NMC checklists are, or should be consistent with the underlying policies and regulations.
I was asking about RFPEW and AS-E
When describing AS-D, it’s cumbersome, but my understanding was the requirements for AS-D used to be a total pain in the ass. You had to have RFPNW for such and such length time, and the tonnage you had experience on mattered too. I didn’t want to rehash the whole thing when talking about AS-E but that is my mistake
NMC told me the checklists are wrong sometimes so I was double checking with you about AS-E
Shut up. I told you what to do. You wasted my fucking time.
Hey bozo - MPT corroborated what I said.
I’m unlikely to be going to be giving Oregon or Texas any business anytime soon - too far