Hey,
I am going to help you a little. First I will start off by saying welcome next i will tell you that people on this forum hate people like you that wants all kinds of information but does not even take the time to search. They HATE questions like these.
Now that is out of the way onto the help
I don’t know what job you had or what your skills are. So I am going to just go off of what i think will help you.
The main web site
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/forms/
scroll to the bottom and fill out the first 2 forums.
NMC phone Number -1-888-427-5662 extension 6 then 4 to talk to a real person that will answer questions
Hold off on SIU and MSC. with nothing and not even a book i feel like you are spinning wheels.
Once you have your MMD book. Getting a job as a OS might be hard. I have heard really good things about this lady
Claudette L. Pitre
A Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast
3158 Hwy 308
Raceland, LA
(985)537-6773
I found this when i did a search for you as well
I would say to really sell yourself you will want a few things that are above the bar minimum
At first you will apply for wiper/food handler/OS
You Need Basic Training/Security Awareness/PSC and VSO or if you are trying to save $250 just take the VPDSD class.
What you want to work up to is
Basic Training
Medical Care provider
PSC
Fast Rescue boats
Advanced fire fighting (easy and all class room time if you take it at
https://www.dcc.edu/workforce-development/maritime/training-schedules.aspx
https://www.dcc.edu/workforce-development/maritime/courses.aspx
Lifeboatman (you get both endorsements If you take the PSC class at MSTC
https://mstc.louisiana.edu/
Call them to ask for the class dates.
RFPNW is a big one when you get some sea time.
Another Nice school
You will want to sign up for and start studying for your 100T master and or 200T mate at MPT as soon as you can so that your sea time gives you credit for days towards your 500T Master.
OS to AB osv is 180/360/540/1024 each time your sea time days double it is AB osv AB special AB limited and then AB unlimited
I would also try weeks marine as you do not need a MMD book to be a deck hand on the dredge but you get sea time and that is a good thing for you and you will need to dump some money to be more marketable