Embarking to CMA this fall recent veteran with questions?

Hello, My name is Justin im 28 years old I leave for Vallejo in the fall to attend CMA. I will be attempting to get a third mates license, so I will be in the maritime transportation program. Prior to attending the academy I was in the Navy at special boat team 12 as a swcc (special warfare combatant craft crewmen). I wore many hats during my time engineer, coxan, navigator, gunner, and a few others. I have a some questions regarding my sea time. I was mainly on 11 meter ribs, with some <img src=“file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/user/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg” alt="] limited time on the MKV’s. Is there any benefit trying to get my Navy sea time verified while at Cal Maritime? I have over 360 days at sea with the 11 meter ribs and about 80 on the 80 foot MKV’s. These hours have been signed off by commanding officer and was done less than a year ago. My other question is whether or not the maritime industry considers what I did in the Navy as viable experience? Here is a link to what did in the Navy http://www.seal.navy.mil/swcc/. One more thing if there are any suggestion as to paths a person in my situation might take it would be much appreciated. <br><br> Thanks in advance, <br> Justin

You need to pose the question to the USCG, they are the folks that give you seatime credit. Apply to have them validate your seatime. I do believe your seatime is “worth” credit but it’s the USCG that you have to convince. Show them your sea-time leters and give copies of you performance evals and a discription of the SB rating so they have more info as they evaluate. RHIBs and MK Vs are the size of vessel the Coasties specialize in so they should be sympathetic. Give them comparisons of the vessels you worked on compared to similar sized USCG vessels. Anyways, If you do a 4 year stint at CMA you’ll get all the seatime you need for 3rd mate while you’re there so no worries.

Just a thought: If a college degree is not high on your priority list, there are other ways to get a license and be working the industry in half the time, and you won’t have to put up with any crap from the guys ahead of you at CMA.

I am set on going to the academy, I want to use my gibill. I also keep reading stories about the difficulties obtaining licenses other ways. As far as crap from guys ahead of me, lets just say I had that x20 in the Navy. My skin is very thick and some “cadet” fresh from high school will have a hard time getting to me. Respect is earned not bought, the same is true for my future college tuition and gibill.

JWB,<br><br>Accumulate all your paperwork, and seatime, and send it in for evaluation. Most likely, the CG will give you some, if not all of it credited as it was all small boat time, but it still counts for overall sea time to a point…which is where tonnage comes in. If you’ve not started any paperwork yet, it might be worth your while to do so, even though you’re still 4 years from graduation. In the interim, you may be qualified for a limited tonnage license. The evaluation fee to find out would be drop n the bucket in the scheme of things, and if there are any issues, you’ll have plenty of time to get them ironed out. At best, you have your Z-Card before you even get to school.<br><br>I’m not sure where you live, but looking up the closest REC is pretty easy, as well, you may be able to shoot J.D. Cavo, our resident CG expert, a quick email for some better guidance. Here’s his information:<br><br>James D. Cavo<br>Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division<br>USCG National Maritime Center<br>[<font color="#3354aa]James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font>](mailto:James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil)<br><br>I’m sure if he doesn’t know, he’ll find you the right answer.<br><br>All the best, and thanks again for your service. Go get’em!!!

I appreciate all the help so far, to be honest I had no idea of the processes involved in getting an mmd card.

In all likelihood your Navy time canbnot be used. There are two ways to qualify for a Third Mate license and STCW OICNW certification: completion of an approved program that includes one year of shipboard training, or the “hawse-pipe” with three years of sea service (and post-STCW, a series of couyrses and a PQS like series of assessments).<br><br>In the first option, it is a comprehensive program that includes shipboard traiing, either on a training ship or as a cadet on a commercial ship. It’s not just one year of time. Obviously time acquired before you entered a program orr even thought about it cannot be considered to be part of that program.<br><br>So your only possibility is if you have three years of <span style="text-decoration: underline;]creditable</span> sea service from the Navy, in which case the training and assessment at CMA can be credited along with your exisiting sea service. Note that the Coast Guard only accepts time in certain Navy billets and will reduce the time by approx. 60% as Navy ships are usually underway less than a commercial ship.<br><br>Finally, to anticipate some other questions, the academies don’t provide 365 calendar days of sea service. The Coast Guard credits toime on a traiing ship at 1.5 to 1, allows a 30-day “equivalency” for simulator traiing, and counts watch-keeping and maintenance on the training ships and other school vessels while they are in port.<br><br>James D. Cavo<br>Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division<br>USCG National Maritime Center<br><A href="mailto:James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil]<font color=#3354aa>James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font></A>

JD,<br><br>Thanks for jumping! Can Justin use any of his sea time to qualify for a limited tonnage license, and/or an AB Special in the interim if he so chooses? With all the maritime activity in Vallejo, a part-time/summer job on the water while he’s in school is a far cry better than the standard available fare, and most employers would jump at 28 year old veteran with small boat handling skills.<br><br>What do you think? 100/200 ton NC?

He can use the time to qualify for OUPV and possibly Master 25 Tons. I’m not familiar with the specifics of what billets are acceptable and what documentation is needed, but he can probably use the time for these licenses. Master 200 Tons requires time over 100 tons, so that seems out. <br><br>James D. Cavo<br>Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division<br>USCG National Maritime Center<br><A href="mailto:James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil]<font color=#3354aa>James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font></A>

Wow, some very useful info. I met a fellow sailor at my welding school (taking it just to pass time while I wait to start CMA) anyway he’s been a big help along with this site. I am glad to have found it. He is with MSC, nice guy hope to meet more people like him in my future endeavors. I used to work on sport fishing yachts at pipewelders in Ft. Lauderdale Florida and loved that industry. Does anyone have experience with both the yacht and the merchant marine industry? Just wondering how the two are similar and different from another point of view? I personally thought the sport fishing yacht industry was very laid back but work was taken seriously and things got done. Does this parallel that or is it way off. I am guessing every crew and company has its own personality some good some bad.

Yacht captains can make lots of money ($1000.00/foot/year), wear a fancy uniform, travel the world all the while serving drinks to guests, grabbing towels for them, and cleaning their toilets and enjoying little to no job security. Oh, and they get to pay for all their own training too.<br><br>