This is true especially in MMP no one is treating it as a career anymore both young and old. More like a side gig because the wages haven’t matched inflation with the contracts and land jobs are much more competitive. Plus and minus to it but definitely effects the caliber of people you get if they aren’t dedicated to the job.
@Saltlesssailor I might get some flack for this but honestly my recommendation to a junior officer wanting to make this a career or have some stability in their life is to not join MMP. If you have a second income and want to just sail once a year as a junior officer then yes. But you would be way better off getting in terms of the money, seatime, and time off not worrying by finding a permanent 3m job elsewhere. With 3M in MMP you are limited in the jobs you can take and with 2M you are competing with the greyhead A books that never moved up. I recommend getting your chief mate as fast as possibly then join. There’s always been people clogging up the latter at 2M and a gap at chief mate. And if you are a young CM and don’t have many bills you have the flexibility to take a third mate job when needed and take the chief mate scraps. You can get on the company preferred or call list and soon enough land a permanent gig (even as a C book because the companies have the right of selection for senior officers )