Free Maritime Vocational school in Astoria, Oregon

If you dont have thousands of dollars to spend in a maritime academy then i highly suggest “Tongue Point Seamaship Job corps” You have to sign up and it takes 6 months to 2 years to get in. They have 2 tugs and an ex coast guard buoy tender (700 plus tons 1500HP) Also the director of the program used to be a captain for Foss Maritime and the instructors are pretty knowledgeable.

Also on Tongue Point is MERTS, an extension of Clatsop Community College that has a maritime science department. In my opinion its a little known gem in the in the maritime training world. The classes are waaay cheaper ant the entire staff will bend over backwards to help.

[QUOTE=Bloodyshitcakes;91548]Also on Tongue Point is MERTS, an extension of Clatsop Community College that has a maritime science department. In my opinion its a little known gem in the in the maritime training world. The classes are waaay cheaper ant the entire staff will bend over backwards to help.

http://www.clatsopcc.edu/about-ccc/campuses/merts[/QUOTE]

That is right, and if you are enrolled through the Seamanship Program, Job Corps will pay for Firefighting and First Aid/Cpr at MERTS. If im not mistaken they have a million dollar state of the art training facility. Once you complete the program you will have your AB limited, QMED, Lifeboatman, STCW 95, RFPEW, RFPNW, Food Handlers card and 24 hour HAZWOPER. Pretty good deal if you ask me and its all for free. All you have to do is sign up and not get kick out.