It looks like c.captain is not a happy camper. I don’t know how I got labeled kap1te1n. I suspect it is an old password assigned by the computer of this forum. g.Captain offers an excellent newsletter and I hate to see its reputation soiled by various infantile comments. Perhaps people should post under their own name. Remember the old Chinese saying: “When you keep quiet, people may suspect you’re a dim-wit, till you open your mouth and remove all doubt!” Don Dykstra
1 Like
As some others have stated, I would have gone the academy route.
Breaking in when I did in the very early 80’s, I did not realize the industry was changing drastically and mariners like me that desired to be pilots, were going to fall in between the cracks.
I mean, I’ve done ok out here, learned my trade on tugs and became a skilled boat handler at a very young age. I also had the opportunity to sail deep sea and gained more than enough sea time to get that unlimited tonnage license. But, I never had the desire to join that rat race competing for offshore work with the MM&P though.
But, the ultimate goal, that dream of becoming a Chesapeake Bay pilot never materialized for me.
I’m 51 now, with some 35 years afloat, a chequered past and staring down many years until retirement.
Would attending an academy have made a difference? Possibly. Then again, I have always been somewhat of a fuck up, so, I have my doubts.
4 Likes
He does need Jesus!
Military full time or NOAA. Merchant marines is a twisted world for twisted people
1 Like
Ahhh, but we are just the slightly LESS dysfunctional family than the one we leave ashore!
1 Like
It’s amazing that I’m still alive after all of the stupid shit I’ve done in my 39 year career. I retired 8 years ago at 56. But after working out my last financial plan, I would have broken even retiring at 55 instead of 56.
1 Like
While there are a whole host of things I wish I would of done differently all that is in the past. As any change of the past would change the future and I would not be the same person I am today.
Sorry to say that but in all my years as member of this special congregation we never had a drink before lunch. We had a nap afterwards and a good coffee at 3 pm brewed by the 2nd mate but the first beer went in not before 5 pm. Anyhow, one might consider the time zone ??
God bless the good old times.
Yep, sounds exactly how things go at the 90% male Maritime Academies.
1 Like
Idgaf I’ll roll both ways.
I don’t know what I would do different. I guess that’s why i am where I am right now.
Maybe i could suggest to the younger crowd not to join the military mid carreer and have to start over again a few years later.
I would have gone into prostitution, would have been paid far more to fix broken shit and listen to a lot of whining. The fucking part is easy. The broken shit is fixed with a blue pill, some alcohol and a compliment or two which fixes the whining. Just one caveat: I don’t perform; I am the mama-san who supervises. I’m drunk, so don’t take this with anything more than a grain of salt. Aloha
13 Likes
Mahalo!
I laughed hard.
1 Like
I got in this game later than most, if my 41 year old self could go back and do it over again I would’ve definitely went the academy route. That’s if i could go back with my current mindset. If the 18 year old self tried to do it with my 18 year old mindset I probably would’ve just flunked out or I would’ve been kicked out from partying too much. I would’ve at least started in this industry straight out of High School if I didn’t go the academy route.