If you did it over what route would you go Academies or SIU/MITAGS-PMI

[gomer]

I have been reading this forum and gleaning information from it, so I decided to go ahead and post a question. Ive decided to join the merchant marine and am wondering what the better route is. Should I go to one of the academies for four yrs and become indebted with student loans or should I go through SIU/MITAGS and start making money sooner. On the one hand I would be an officer and on the other I would start at the bottom. Whats everyones opinion on this topic, if you had to do it over which route would you take. Im in my mid thirties and looking to go into the engine dept.

[DeckApe]

As gross income goes the four year academy will pull ahead of the bottom up method after about eight years from your freshman year. After the eight years the advantage is clearly in the academy route. It also gives you a huge advantage if you decide to work ashore.

You are a little old to start in the academies. Most of them have a military school routine so you need to think if you can stomach the marching and such. If you are former military then you will be accustomed to it.

Finally, starting from the bottom and moving up is getting harder year after year so if you intend on a career then go the academy route.

[gomer]

My age is one reason I am debating what to do, but in the long run it probably is the safer bet. Thanks for the qiuck reply.

[stevefoster]

I have been reading this forum and gleaning information from it, so I decided to go ahead and post a question. Ive decided to join the merchant marine and am wondering what the better route is. Should I go to one of the academies for four yrs and become indebted with student loans or should I go through SIU/MITAGS and start making money sooner. On the one hand I would be an officer and on the other I would start at the bottom. Whats everyones opinion on this topic, if you had to do it over which route would you take. Im in my mid thirties and looking to go into the engine dept.

I would have become a piano player in a whore house..............

[gomer]

Thats actually what im doing for a living now, man it looks like we should have switched careers.

[cappy208]

You have to narrow down your expectations of what and where you want to go. It's not as easy as saying 'I want to join the mm' especially being older, and the expense.
The short list of jobs is: ships, offshore tugs, inland tugs, river tugs, harbor tugs, oil field supply, ferries, yachts. These all require licenses to operate. However the 'amount' of license would be a deciding factor on whether you need to go to a formal academy, or start out from the bottom and earn while you learn.

What is your thoughts on a direction? As deckape said, it is getting more expensive to hawsepipe it, since the USCG is requiring more and more formal classroom time for all licenses.

If you want to work on ships then you would have to go to school. If you want to work on ferries or yachts an academy would be a waste of time (IMHO)

[DeckApe]

Another option said many times on this board is to try the industry out first and see what you're getting into. At this point in the recession that's easier said than done but I always recommend it, if possible, because the retention rate of this industry is not high. People just can't get used to giving up their lives on land.

[seadog6608]

If I was you, I'd go to Great Lakes Maritime Acadamy. Their corps of cadets runs the gamut from snot nosed 17year olds straight off of momma's tit to a 57 year old veteran.
As for myself, given all the overregulating prevalent in our industry, I would have listened to my Mom and married a rich girl.

[gomer]

Hi Cappy, I would want to work on ships going offshore. Im not too concerned with being home everynight as the industryI work in has me living out of hotels or campers for weeks at a time. I agree with you Deckape in trying out the industry first but the economy is definately affecting jobs. I called SIU the otherday and was told the waiting list is well over a year, which is what got me considering the academies. One aspect of my decision is the economy. Are jobs equally diffuclt to come by as an academy grad or through SIU/MITAGS etc? Seadog GLMA is one of the places Im looking at. I havent made up my mind as to which school to attend.

[NAUTICART]

I would have become a piano player in a whore house..............

So he can upgrade to Sr. "PP" operator......

[skycowboy]

Thats actually what im doing for a living now, man it looks like we should have switched careers.

I used to own a bar that had a Whore House upstairs.

I had to sell it because there was to much f$#king overhead

[Capt. Lee]

I have been reading this forum and gleaning information from it, so I decided to go ahead and post a question. Ive decided to join the merchant marine and am wondering what the better route is. Should I go to one of the academies for four yrs and become indebted with student loans or should I go through SIU/MITAGS and start making money sooner. On the one hand I would be an officer and on the other I would start at the bottom. Whats everyones opinion on this topic, if you had to do it over which route would you take. Im in my mid thirties and looking to go into the engine dept.

I know of guys that have went back to school and got their unlimited license. I met one that graduated from Maine Maritime. He was even older than you and he did it, so it can be done.

With that said, I think you have to face reality. You are in your mid thirties. I know there is no way in hell I could start going to school right now and I am your age. It would be impossible. I would have to sell everything. Move into an apartment. Sell my vehicles, put my son in public school. I could not do that to them. Ok, so let's just say you do go back to school and do get your 3rd Asst. Engineer's license. You do stand a better chance coming straight out of school to land something compared to the Deck guys.

I tell you what I would do. I would get a job somewhere as a wiper on a tug or supply vessel. I would then start my accumulation of sea time and I would just test at the Coast guard for my upgrades. Learn and Earn. I think that is the best option for us.

The first step for you right now is TWIC and MMC. You need them both before you can even look at a vessel.

If I were 18, no problem, it is a clear choice to go to the university. I wish I had that clarity when I was 18 because I would be further along and my job would be much easier, because I would be better prepared for my daily challenges.

Whatever you decide, my hat's off to you. It takes a lot of courage to start something new at any age. Good Luck to you.

[anchorman]

I wish I had that clarity when I was 18 because I would be further along and my job would be much easier, because I would be better prepared for my daily challenges.

So, now you admit that you're not as prepared as you should be on a daily basis? I never thought you were, but I never wanted to come out and say it; I figured you would get mad and tie your T-shirt in a knot again.

[anchorman]

I know of guys that have went back to school and got their unlimited license. I met one that graduated from Maine Maritime. He was even older than you and he did it, so it can be done.

With that said, I think you have to face reality. You are in your mid thirties. I know there is no way in hell I could start going to school right now and I am your age. It would be impossible. I would have to sell everything. Move into an apartment. Sell my vehicles, put my son in public school. I could not do that to them. Ok, so let's just say you do go back to school and do get your 3rd Asst. Engineer's license. You do stand a better chance coming straight out of school to land something compared to the Deck guys.

I tell you what I would do. I would get a job somewhere as a wiper on a tug or supply vessel. I would then start my accumulation of sea time and I would just test at the Coast guard for my upgrades. Learn and Earn. I think that is the best option for us.

The first step for you right now is TWIC and MMC. You need them both before you can even look at a vessel.

If I were 18, no problem, it is a clear choice to go to the university. I wish I had that clarity when I was 18 because I would be further along and my job would be much easier, because I would be better prepared for my daily challenges.

Whatever you decide, my hat's off to you. It takes a lot of courage to start something new at any age. Good Luck to you.

You did serve in the military! That amounts to more than most will ever do.......even if it was as a bus driver.

[Capt. Lee]

So, now you admit that you're not as prepared as you should be on a daily basis? I never thought you were, but I never wanted to come out and say it; I figured you would get mad and tie your T-shirt in a knot again.

I would say that I am prepared, but I think that one could always be a little better. Always learn a little something. I may not be as good as I could be, but thankfully I am as good or better than most and I will always try to do better. I constantly evaluate myself and the decisions I make on a daily basis. I am always considering a better way to deal with situations and often critique myself on how I dealt with situations in the past. I often make mistakes, but rarely make the same ones again. Not everyone is as perfect as the COMMANDER, but hey...without people like you that set the bar, who would we strive to be more like?

[Capt. Lee]

You did serve in the military! That amounts to more than most will ever do.......even if it was as a bus driver

I definitely got a giggle out of that. That's why I keep you around, to amuse me. In the mideval times they had a name for you...The Court Jester. Nowadays we just call you a Douche Bag!!

[Mr 100-ton]

I definitely got a giggle out of that. That's why I keep you around, to amuse me. In the mideval times they had a name for you...The Court Jester. Nowadays we just call you a Douche Bag!!

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[anchorman]

You aim pretty low if you think I'm setting any bar.....
Now, sitting at the bar, you might have to bring your game face on. I go one on one with Captain Morgan and it ain't pretty.

[Capt. Lee]

You aim pretty low if you think I'm setting any bar.....
Now, sitting at the bar, you might have to bring your game face on. I go one on one with Captain Morgan and it ain't pretty.

See the thing is we have already played this game and even though I won, I didn't feel like a winner the next day. Although I almost drowned on my own vomit. You are the one that crapped his pants and wound up in the emergency room.

[SaltySailor]

Hi Cappy, I would want to work on ships going offshore. Im not too concerned with being home everynight as the industryI work in has me living out of hotels or campers for weeks at a time. I agree with you Deckape in trying out the industry first but the economy is definately affecting jobs. I called SIU the otherday and was told the waiting list is well over a year, which is what got me considering the academies. One aspect of my decision is the economy. Are jobs equally diffuclt to come by as an academy grad or through SIU/MITAGS etc? Seadog GLMA is one of the places Im looking at. I havent made up my mind as to which school to attend.

Who did you call for the UA program??? I know that people are going into the Sept. Class right now, and that sure isn't a year away. I am currently in the UA program at PP with the SIU and I also have prior seatime in the Merchant Marine, so I can give some very good and qualified advice.

This program takes about 18 months from off the street to being an AB, Cook or QMED-FOWT. You earn while you learn and you'll come out with Lifeboatman, STCW-95 BST, & Tankerman Assistant as well as the MSC Govt. Vessel certs. And most important (perhaps) a B-Book in the SIU so you can actually get a job with the SIU.

SIU has many diff jobs and vessels under contract, not all of them are the 120 day gigs at the union hall, there are jobs that are perm rotation, 28/28 on-board ATB's for example.

And about cost, if you go the SIU route you can hawespipe for FREE all the way up to 3rd Mate and save yourself $25,000 while you do so. Might take a number of years, but a dedicated person could possibly do it in 6 years. 7 being more realistic.

Again, you EARN while you LEARN and you can compare that to an academy or to the Workboat Academy program, which is about $25,000 if I'm not mistaken.

PM me for more info about the SIU's UA Program.