<P>Hello I am new to this site I am prior navy 4 years as a MM on submarines. I just recently got set up for my uscg credentials I was approved to test for qmed ratings and I received my STCW 95. I am new to the industry and live in norfolk, va I was considering going down to the siu hall once I pass my test for general and oiler I figured I just take the oiler and see where I can go from there. My real question is does anyone sail with NOAA now or have in the past? Reason I ask is because I got an offer from them and wanted some feedback on them. Thanks for any help.</P>
Hope no one gets upset… Darren if your a member of <A href="http://navy.togetherweserved.com]http://navy.togetherweserved.com</A> then go to search then click on employment details, then ( By Employer) just put in NOAA click search. Tonight I counted 17 members. <br><br>what are you thinking about doing? Ocean, coastal or what? <br>from my research which does not go beyound my laptop I don’t think NOAA is the best paying jobs.
leymas,<br><br>Thanks for the info I wanted to go ocean but then again i just want to get out there and get started I wanted to go with msc but right now they do not have anything in the engine dept that i qualify for like i said i live in norfolk va so maybe its betterfor me to just go down to the union hall. I know NOAA is a fed job so the benefits arent bad but really i need to chase the money.
NOAA has the same pay scale as MSC which is based on your rating and the size of the ship. Since NOAA’s ships are smaller than most MSC’s ships the pay is less on average. The base pay scale can be found on the NOAA MOC website link to the employment section. Remember the pay shown is based on a 40 hour week so your overtime will make your actual pay about 60% higher. I was working 12 hour days, 7 days a week at times.<br>I worked for NOAA many years ago and the problem with them is as it is with MSC, time off. One day shore leave for every 10 days at sea when I was there plus annual leave and sick leave all of which is paid time off. The bridge is run by NOAA Corps officers who are a “uniformed service” not to be confused with military service. They are unlicensed captains, mates etc., with minimal ship handling experience compared to the civilian sector, they can be scary at times. The engineers are all civilian and come under MEBA while unlicensed come under SIU [dues paying is not required], the engine room is the place to be on a NOAA ship.<br>The ports they call on are interesting if you get on the right vessel and you have some freedom in port to see the sights. <br>TEngineer
<P>Have you looked on usajobs.com ? I have notice couple of times they list different jobs then what is on msc website. <br><br>Good Luck. </P>
<P>thanks for the info. yeah i know that i only want to work in the engine room thats why i went and got my qmed. do you think i would be better just going to union hall though. with NOAA even though I am represented by SIU i dont have to pay dues is that correct.</P>
The SIU hall may have better opportunities with more time off, NOAA will always have openings.<br>TEngineer
[quote=darren;1637]Hello I am new to this site I am prior navy 4 years as a MM on submarines. I just recently got set up for my uscg credentials I was approved to test for qmed ratings and I received my STCW 95. I am new to the industry and live in norfolk, va I was considering going down to the siu hall once I pass my test for general and oiler I figured I just take the oiler and see where I can go from there. My real question is does anyone sail with NOAA now or have in the past? Reason I ask is because I got an offer from them and wanted some feedback on them. Thanks for any help.
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Darren,
I spent $350 to join SIU (mandatory physical, drug screen, etc.) What a waste. As a new applicant you get a “C” card. C cards can’t even throw in for a job until the job has been called 8 times (aprox.).
So there I was in the hall (Wilmington) surrounded by a ton of guys (mostly speaking Tagalog) all clamoring for the 1-3 jobs they had in any given day and a C book has to wait until they call that job about 8 times. Meaning if nobody throws in for the job after they call it 8 hours in a row then finally you can approach the desk and put in for the job. It didn’t take long to figure out I wasn’t going to get hired. All this was at the best time of year to get hired (the end of the year) because many of the “A book members” take vacation then. Well that didn’t help me a bit.
I realize you’re an engineer and that is better but everything I said still applies. There were less engineers in the hall but less of those jobs as well. I’d hang out out the hall for at least a few days. Meet as many people as you can to find out the real story before cutting that check to them.
Living in Norfolk is perfect for MSC plus all your Navy time counts towards your seniority (same thing with NOAA) so right off the bat you get way more leave and maybe more money (not sure on that one) than a non Military person.
Good luck.