I don’t know about that, he could take an AB to Mate program and be done in three months, and not have to bust rust on a cadet ship. And then use his GI Bill to get a master’s degree wherever he wanted in whatever discipline he wanted.
And navy folks get angry because the USCG doesn’t automatically give them an unlimited ticket…
Don’t forget about navy “chief engineers”.
Agreed. Maritime Academy programs take a while because the schools have to get Cadets from 0 to 360 sea days while also dragging out simple STCW classes into full semester, 3-credit courses and tacking on calculus & english in order to give kids a B.S. degree.
If someone already has a degree and a healthy amount of sea time, they’re better off calling a school like Star Center or MITAGS and pretty much saying “take my credit card and sign me up for everything I need.”
With their manning woes, MSC would be wise to stand up a SWO to 3/M program. They are not ready for a license the day they get out, but send them through some classes to close the knowledge gap and get them licensed. Plenty of them don’t want the Navy BS anymore but would still like to go to sea.
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Grain-of-Salt
Response to your questions.
I agree with the posting regarding developing a plan for this endeavor.
- (1) Gather all of your military records from everyone including developing a point of contact list.
- (2) Refer to the NMC Website especially the Military to Mariner portal listed under the NMC Home Page. Follow the guidance provided.
- (3) Spend some time looking at the Deck Checklist for both deck licensing and qualified ratings also reading 46 CFR Chapter B Parts 10, 11, 12 regarding credentialing.
As a Naval Academy Grad and your OOD letter, you have part of the qualifications for the National 3rd Mate. You may have additional qualification, review your training history. Surface Warfare Officer School Training currently has USCG Approved courses meeting National and STCW requirements. You need to determine if that approved training applies to you. i.e., Bridge Resource Management (SWOSCO 750) or (SWOSCO 89) courses. Basic Firefighting SWOSCO 53 Course, Combined Basic & Advance Fire Fighting (SWOSCO 125).
Next by regulation you are not eligible for 2nd Mate. You have not met the while holding a 3rd Mate endorsement requirement. 46 CFR 11.406.
As to the STCW OICNW 500 gt or more Operation Level, 46 CFR 11.309, has a requirement for you to provide evidence of having performed, during the required seagoing service, bridge watch keeping duties, under the supervision of an officer holding the STCW endorsement as master, chief mate, second mate, or OICNW, for a period of not less than 180 days.
However, there is the possibility that your Master (Commanding Officer or a fellow Naval officer could have a Merchant Marine License with STCW endorsements with signature authorizations for the shipboard STCW assessments, however there are still the USCG Approved STCW school house training requirements that need to be met. See the STCW Checklist for OICNW 500 GT or More, 46 CFR 11.309 and NVIC 12-14.
Use the NMC checklist and the cited CFR references to verify my statements.
Mr. Cavo, I am reaching out to you regarding a statement by MARAD M2M guidance “NOTE for Navy and Coast Guard service members and Veterans. The NMC has determined that your recruit training meets most of the requirements for U.S. Merchant Marine Basic Safety.”
Is this statement currently valid? If so, do you know, where can one find this in written USCG or NMC policy, letter, message or etc. Thank you in advance.