Hey, y’all, bit of a weird ask. I apologize if this comes across as whining, but I’d appreciate whatever guidance you can offer.
I graduated the U.S. Coast Guard Academy back in May with my B.S., 100-ton Near Coastal, and the partial OICNW course completion memo they give graduates. I was given the so-called “golden handshake,” where I graduated without my commission, but thankfully without debt. I know that my classmates who commissioned can earn their 3rd Mate, Unlimited by qualifying as an OOD and taking their license exams per 46 CFR 11.407, but I haven’t been able to figure out a clear path forward without that option. My first thought was research vessels, but NOAA isn’t an option because of my medical record and my understanding is ARF aren’t hiring many deck roles, especially not at my tonnage restriction.
I spent four years of my life going through a bridge officer program, and just a few months ago my plans all revolved around my new assignment as a deck officer on an active cutter. I need way more sea service (a little under 2.5 years) to hawsepipe 3rd Mate, and that might be the safest bet, but I admit I’m but still learning how to be a civilian mariner. My understanding is that graduate license programs like SUNY are long, don’t take much transfer credit, and I’d have to “play navy” as a veteran of the real thing, which isn’t super appealing. I’ve not been able to find much information about how available non-academy training programs are.
I spent one of my operational summers in Alaska as a break-in OOD, and if I had just been there a week longer to finish casualty control drills and allowed to sit for my board, I might have been able to get my 3rd Mate instead of trying to find a 100 ton job that pays more than the local Costco. The Coast Guard was my dream job, and it’s hard for me to look at part time dinner cruise jobs while my classmates are doing the job I wanted so badly.
Thank you for whatever help you can offer <3