Coast Guard to Merchant Marine????

[commtuna]

Hello all!

I was wondering if there are any former Coasties here that are now merchant mariners? Im leaving to go into the CG in a few weeks and one of my favored professions after I get out is to work at sea.

I currently have a 50T Master Near Coastal (nothing special, I know). Im hoping my next 4 or 6 years in the Coast Guard as a Seaman and Boatswains Mate will help advance that to possibly a 3rd Mate Unlimited license.

Anyone ever done this? Im aware of what my tonnage sea time will have to be but Im curious if the duties I will have aboard a CG cutter will meet the requirements needed to be granted a 3rd Unlimited license. For example, watchstanding, radar, STCW, fire fighting. I will learn all of that while Im in as part of my standard duties.

Ive been a commercial fisherman and professional captain for 4 years and saltwater runs through my veins.

Great website by the way!

Nick

[Diesel]

Don't know what rates transfer most directly, but my father left the Navy as a Chief Quartermaster (QMC) and was able to test directly for 3rd Mate Unlimited with just a few classes. Someone on this board has likely done this and will be able to tell you exactly what to do. I know some rates do translate easier than others so that is something you will want to research. Quartermaster seems to me the best, because it deals mostly with the navigation and piloting of the vessel. Also if you want an unlimited license you should probably seek out assignments on the larger cutters so that you will meet the tonnage requirements for the license, hope this helps.

[Stargazer]

Good morning Nick,

Yes you will be able to use your seatime that you earn from the US Coast Guard and convert it to a merchant mariner licenses or endorsement. We specialize in this at Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy. According to the Marine Safety Manual Volume III Bosn Mate, Operations Specialist, Gunners Mate, Quartermaster, and radarman are all acceptable rates. When you submit your application to the Coast Guard they will only accept 60% of the sea time. All of your sea time must be over 200 gross tons and 50% of that must be on vessels greater than 1600 gross tons. Your best bet is to get on large USCG Cutters to satisfy this requirement. While you are in the coast guard I strongly recommend that you either take the AB course or schedule to go to the REC and sit for the test. You can advance your endorsements/licenses while on active duty. If you get the chance to get our JOD or OOD do it. These will only help you qualify for 3rd mate.

As far as STCW is concerned there are various requirements per level.

Basic Safety Training can be satisfied with your boot camp training as long as you can show 360 days of sea service every 5 years since boot camp. The only portion you will have to complete is the immersion suit training. All this requires is for to show that you can get into an immersion suit in a specific time and enter the water correctly.

Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW): This is your helmsman and lookout training. You must document your PQS's demonstrating your proficiencies in these areas.

For 3rd mate there are a series of courses that you will need to take, anything from original radar to terrestrial & coast navigation to meteorology. There are 15 courses total. The good news is that your GI bill and TA will be able to cover these classes.

I hope this helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you need further guidance. Good luck and following seas!

[commtuna]

Thanks guys, very big help. Yes my plan is to spend at least 2 years underway on a 378' cutter (over 1600GT) so that should satisfy the requirements.

For the required 3rd mate courses, will I still have to take all 15? Or will I only have to take the ones that I didn't learn while in the CG?

Stargazer, what is the JOD/OOD you are referring to? While Im serving, I plan on getting a M.S. in Marine Transportation Logistics from SUNY Maritime so that should help too.

[Robert]

He is referring to standing watch as a JOOD and OOD underway. However as a BM3 or 2 you will be too junior to stand those watches.

[commtuna]

He is referring to standing watch as a JOOD and OOD underway. However as a BM3 or 2 you will be too junior to stand those watches.

Oh I understand. Yes aboard cutters, the Ensigns usually stands those watches. BM3's and 2's do however stand BMOW, if that counts towards anything.

[Stargazer]

Nick,

I am a SUNY grad so I am familiar with their programs. Yes you will still have to take all 15 courses. You will find the military side of the USCG is quite different from the credentialing side of the USCG. You must produce a USCG approved training certificate for each course to satisfy the STCW requirements. There is also a serious of assessments that are required to be completed NMC Policy letter 01-02 which can be found on the NMC web site www.uscg.mil/nmc

JOD and OOD are Jr. Officer of the Deck and Officer of the Deck qualification. You want to get your watch standing qualifications done when you can. Usually depending on the boat once you achieve 2nd class, 1st class and chief this can be accomplished. On some cutters this can be accomplished at the 2nd class letter.

[commtuna]

Nick,

I am a SUNY grad so I am familiar with their programs. Yes you will still have to take all 15 courses. You will find the military side of the USCG is quite different from the credentialing side of the USCG. You must produce a USCG approved training certificate for each course to satisfy the STCW requirements. There is also a serious of assessments that are required to be completed NMC Policy letter 01-02 which can be found on the NMC web site www.uscg.mil/nmc
[/FONT]

Soooooooo what your saying is that really the only requirement I will fulfill is the sea time aspect? Bummer. Guess the only thing I'll have going for me is maybe the CG paying for me to take all those courses, but taking all of them will probably take a year...

[BMCSRetired]

Soooooooo what your saying is that really the only requirement I will fulfill is the sea time aspect? Bummer. Guess the only thing I'll have going for me is maybe the CG paying for me to take all those courses, but taking all of them will probably take a year...

If you think they are going to pay for these schools, DREAM ON. You may get the unit you are at to pay for them OR you may pay for it as part of the Montgomery GI Bill but it MUST be part of degree program.

Policy Letter 01-02 is important but there is another one that has to be reckoned with too relating to radar. I do not have the reference to that Circular with me unfortunately but I will get that to you when I can. There is a new Policy Letter coming out soon allowing Commanding Officers of cutters to sign of Practical Assessments. However, you will still need to go to the schools. Make sure you start working on your OOD package as soon as you complete your JOOD qualifications. Above all, document, document, document and be persistent. Former blue-suiters are not treated very well when applying for a license and the door is closing quickly for hawsepipers if you do not go to school.

Good luck at boot camp! I did 22 years in the Guard, 17 afloat. There are plenty of ex-CG and ex-NAVY on this site, all are helpful and knowledgeable. Take care and work hard.

Semper Paratus!

[commtuna]

Thanks for the heads up BMCSRetired. Im really shocked to hear that former-coasties are not treated well (by the USCG) when applying for licenses. That makes no sense at all...

Thanks, I ship out in 2 weeks. Cant wait!!!

[jdcavo]

Work on getting your merchant mariner credentials while you are in the Coast Guard, don't wait until after you're out. This could potentially avoid a lot of problems that could arise if you wait..

[cappy208]

Im really shocked to hear that former-coasties are not treated well (by the USCG) when applying for licenses. That makes no sense at all...

Don't take it personally. The USCG is an equal opportunity offender! They don't make it easy or practical for any of us! Nor do they even make sense most of the time. If you want to see what a clusterf(L)uck looks like, look no further than taking a governmental organization (USCG) and use it to oversee and manage a civilian industry. Barrrrfffff!

Does the army regulate the trucking industry? does the airforce regulate the airline industry? does the navy regulate the boating industry? Why does the USCG regulate the merchant marine? Yes, I see a need to have standardized regulations. But why should a government entity have the ultimate say (with no oversight of them!) over a civilian owned, operated and private industry? Talk about out of hand! Sounds like a reason to justify a larger chunk of our tax dollar pie to me!!!

[BMCSRetired]

Cappy, now I know what I sound like when I am foaming at the mouth and in this case I agree with most of your points.

However, let's give this kid the support he deserves from us without veering off the road into the weeds. I want it to be easier for him than it was for me.

My 2 cents.

[commtuna]

Well I certainly appreciate all the info you guys can lend so that I know what Im in store for. I know when I went for my 50T Master it proved to be not an easy task, ESPECIALLY for a 19 year old kid. I didn't even go to my local REC to file my paperwork, I traveled 300 miles to a different one because I was advised they were "easier to deal with".

[BMCSRetired]

I didn't even go to my local REC to file my paperwork, I traveled 300 miles to a different one because I was advised they were "easier to deal with".

...and that is why they centralized to NMC because people were "shopping around" for the best REC.

[commtuna]

...and that is why they centralized to NMC because people were "shopping around" for the best REC.

Well if all the REC's were equally easy to deal with, shopping around wouldn't have been necessary. The people that handled my paperwork were polite, thorough, and quick. Well worth the overnight trip north!

[BMCSRetired]

Well if all the REC's were equally easy to deal with, shopping around wouldn't have been necessary. The people that handled my paperwork were polite, thorough, and quick. Well worth the overnight trip north!

It was not ease dealing with, it was how they interpreted the requirements. Some were more lax on some things and harder on others. There was also and "old boy" network.

Anyway, have fun at boot camp! I was 25 when I went through.

[commtuna]

Thanks. Very excited but not looking forward to the extreme cold burrrrr

[BMCSRetired]

Thanks. Very excited but not looking forward to the extreme cold burrrrr

it's boot camp. Cold is the least of your worries.

[commtuna]

it's boot camp. Cold is the least of your worries.

Your right...Im worrying about when they gotta pull all my wisdom teeth out LOL...