# Help for a new fish?

**URL:** <https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862>\
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\
**Created:** [April 15, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862 "2010-04-15T02:29:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Saleiri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Saleiri](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Saleiri)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862/1 "2010-04-15T02:29:48Z")

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Hi guys, I just got done doing 4 years in the coast guard(former BM3) and now I’m going to school on my GI Bill. Only problem is, I’m starting to really kinda miss going to sea. I don’t have any civilian qualifications, but I have a ton of practical experience and military qualifications obviously. I was thinking maybe I could get work in the summers just to get my fix, but how do I do this? Do I just go down to the pier with my seabag and start asking for work? Do I need to pick up some basic qualifications if I want to do this? Any help is greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862/2 "2010-04-15T05:43:08Z")

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might consider to start by taking the effort to “search and browse” this forum…there is a wealth of information on here regarding just that subject!!  
best luck in your quest!!

\*\*sugested tags: TWIC, MMC, BST, OS, AB, QMED

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**Author:** ![SailorDaniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@SailorDaniel](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SailorDaniel)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862/3 "2010-04-15T06:23:20Z")

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Or just start at the Coast Guard National Maritime Center website

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**Author:** ![Jeffrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@Jeffrox](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Jeffrox)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862/4 "2010-04-15T06:25:25Z")

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Talk to your friendly neighborhood USCG REC about getting a MMC and an STCW Cercificate endorsed for Able Seaman and RFPNW, and the TSA folks about getting a TWIC card. Make liberal use of Google on these initials for fuller explainations; and ditto what Seadog wrote.

Check 'em out:  
[http://www.thenewhawsepipe.com/index.html](http://www.thenewhawsepipe.com/index.html)  
[http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/)

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**Author:** ![10talents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9f8e36/32.png) [@10talents](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/10talents)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/help-for-a-new-fish/3862/5 "2010-04-15T06:51:30Z")

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[QUOTE=Saleiri;30824]Hi guys, I just got done doing 4 years in the coast guard(former BM3) and now I’m going to school on my GI Bill. Only problem is, I’m starting to really kinda miss going to sea. I don’t have any civilian qualifications, but I have a ton of practical experience and military qualifications obviously. I was thinking maybe I could get work in the summers just to get my fix, but how do I do this? Do I just go down to the pier with my seabag and start asking for work? Do I need to pick up some basic qualifications if I want to do this? Any help is greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]  
Summer fixes can be got at seasonal jobs with cruise companies (Cruise West, ACL, etc.) They pay is not top but you are probably use to that. BTY, Thank you for your service.