[QUOTE=Jnx;172757]I’ve gone through the entire program and am currently sailing with the SIU. Willing to answer any questions you have. Here’s a few things, though.
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When I started in 2012, it was advertised as a 9 month program. All said and done, it stretched out to be about 2 years, and I wasn’t simply slacking. You may get stuck in Piney Point for a couple months doing chores until they can find a place for you on a ship as an apprentice. After you finish your apprentice job, you have to reapply for the school which may take another couple months. Once you’ve done an OS job and are ready to go back to the final phase of the program, you again, have to apply for the upgrade classes.
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You’ll work for about $3/hr during your apprentice job. 8 hours a day at this rate, 90 days straight. This reminds me about point #1. I was forced to stay on the apprentice ship for an extra 30 days which stretched out the time even more. Overtime is about $8/hr. So 8 hours @ $3/hr, 4 hours at $8/hr for 12 hour days.
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Upon completion of the program, you’ll owe $1,000 as an entry fee into the SIU. From there, they take 5% working dues and another $500 something per year for membership dues.
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Along with the $3/hr shipboard pay, a large chunk of the program is working in their campus galley. You’ll go through a phase where you’ll work 14-15 hour days in it, WITHOUT PAY.
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The “uniforms” aren’t free. If memory serves correctly, it was around $500. Also, I’m pretty sure before getting into the program, I remember paying for physicals and drug tests.[/QUOTE]
If you want to go to sea the SIU’s Apprentice program is definitely worth considering. Not everyone is cut out to go to a maritime academy. The reasons could be financial, academic, or simply not what they want to do. In my son’s case he tried college twice. Both times he didn’t finish out the semester. College was simply not for him.
When he was in the program it consisted of 3 phases. After the end of 3rd phase they got you your first job at which time you were on your own. It is now “5” where the 4th phase is your first job, and the 5th phase is where you are expected to upgrade out of an entry level job rating. If you are smart upgrading as fast as possible is what you want to do anyway. There are only so many entry level jobs around anymore.
The initiation fee, working (vacation) dues and membership dues is the same for everyone (in the SIU). That is not very much compared to the officer unions (AMO, MM&P, or MEBA). Just a fact of life in the industry.
They are pretty up front on the requirements to get into the program whether it be uniform cost, physicals, drug test and so on.
People moan and groan about the pseudo-military BS and all the other stuff you have to put up or do while there. The truth of the matter is that if you can’t learn put up with BS there, you may have difficulty with some of the BS in real life, let alone living and working aboard ship.
Just my 2 cents.