How Do I Get A Sea Service Transcript Navy

What is the War machine to Mariner Program?

First, what is a mariner? A mariner -- or merchant mariner -- is an employee of the U.Due south. Merchant Marine (USMM). The USMM is managed by the Section of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) and consists of privately-owned, U.Southward.-registered merchant ships and vessels that provide waterborne transportation for passengers and cargo moving in domestic and international commerce. Information technology supports international trade, disaster relief, armed forces conflict and the general infrastructure of America'south waterways. Mariners are the men and women who run it all -- from our ports and connectors, to vessel managment and shipping effectually the world. The states Military machine Veterans take a broad range of technical, logstical and managerial experience from their time in services, some of it already tailored waterborne operations. The War machine to Mariner program is designed to aid veterans capitalize on their experience and get on a fast-track to a part in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Tin't I just visit a USMM recruiter?
What is the basic application Process?
What will my "championship" exist in the U.S. Merchant Marine?
Will I feel like I am in the military machine?
How much will I exist paid?
Useful documents
Application, Step 1: Understand the procedure and hiring authority
Application, Step two: Gather your military machine record annd sea-service documents
Application, Footstep 3: Obtain your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC)
Awarding, Pace iv: Utilize for your TWIC
Awarding, Stride 5: Complete required training
Application, Step 6: Transport out
Using the Thousand.I. Beak (a Veteran do good)
Other paths to becoming a Mariner

Can't I just visit a USMM recruiter?

Technically, the U.S. Merchant Marine isn't a governmental service, which ways in that location is no fundamental hiring facility or recruiting stations. Still, at that place are identification and credentials issued by the federal government for standards purposes, so there is a process that requires a bit of paperwork and travel to an evaluation facility. Below, nosotros list, step-by-step, how to apply using your Navy or Coast Guard experience. For Ground forces, Air Strength, and Marine Corps guidance, click here.

What is the basic awarding process?

It's unproblematic. You nowadays your military machine credentials and all elements of this application to authorities of the United states of america Coast Guard (USCG), the regulatory bureau responsible for seagoing credentials for U.S. merchant mariners. If accepted, you will receive a United States Coast Guard license or certificate and complete any with additional USCG training as needed. Then you lot will serve every bit a U.South. merchant mariner. Jump to the detailed process

What will my "title" be in the U.S. Merchant Marine?

That depends on your experience, grooming, interests, and goals. Merchant Mariners are more often than not divided into 2 categories that correspond roughly to deputed and enlisted statuses in the military:

merchant mariners with licensed endorsements (an officer with a "rank")
merchant mariners with unlicensed endorsements (a mariner with a "rating")

Licensed mariners fill many of the Merchant Marine'due south leadership and training positions, directing the organization and making cardinal decisions beyond the board. Retrieve of them as professionals with advanced training in their field (significant maritime-related experience and knowledge) that require a special designation (a license) who provide critical functionality to Merchant Marine Operations. Like surgeons to their operating room staff or airline pilots to their flying coiffure.

Unlicensed mariners are the backbone of the Merchant Marine workforce, an regular army of skilled and newly-trained workers with footling or no prior experience adrift. These mariners hold "certifications" rather than licenses, though they can and often do advance into the licensed ranks.

After yous consummate the application process and pay the required fees, the Coast Guard volition evaluate your experience and determine which endorsement (licensed or unlicensed) is advisable for your skillset.

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Volition I experience like I am in the war machine?

Yes. The U.S. Merchant Marine is a disciplined organization similar to the traditional 5 service departments (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Forcefulness and Coast Guard) under the Department of Defense. It has leadership heirarchies, codes of bear, vast back up networks, and legislative backing. The key departure is that you remain a civilian who must follow special laws and regulations designed for merchant mariners and enforced by a military body -- the U.S. Coast Baby-sit. If posted at sea, you will only serve on commercial vessels, which tin share similarities with military vessels, such as position titles and lifestyle. For example, the caput of the applied science department is chosen the Chief Engineer and the vessel primary – who commands the send — is formally addressed as "Helm." Your vessel will besides run more efficiently than a standard commcercial vessel, and all those aboard must exist ready to change course and back up a U.s.a. mission anywhere in the earth.

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How much volition I be paid?

The Merchant Marineis non a government agency or a military service, so there is no primal hiring bureau. This means in that location is not a common pay calibration that applies beyond the agency or manufacture roles within it. Each vessel possessor or operator sets a unique pay scale, especially in the deep-sea manufacture, and pay is often linked to trade or labor matrimony agreements. The Department of Labor tracks wages in over 400 industries, including those used in the merchant marine. This DOT page lists the typical wages for waterborne transportation.

Useful documents

Beneath are some documents and resources to help you with your conclusion.

"Information Concerning Employment and Training in the U.S. Merchant Marine" (A MARAD pubication with useful summaries of paths for condign a U.S. merchant marine)
Coast Guard's Marine Prophylactic Manual, Volume Three (CIM 16000.8B) (A USCG publication with expansive details about Marine Industry Personnel)
National Maritime Center (NMC) website
Credentialing data

Application, Step 1: Sympathize the process and hiring dominance

A few things to remember before getting started:

The National Maritime Centre (NMC) is the U.S. Coast Guard command responsible for credentialling Merchant Mariners. They will review your application and approve if you encounter the stated requirements.
NMC oversees 17 Regional Test Centers (RECs) and Monitoring Units, located at diverse places effectually the state. You will deliver your completed application materials to any i of these locations. Exercise NOT send your materials direct to NMC. Your local REC should be your showtime step to obtaining your document, certification, or license.
NMC, RECs and public admission to all USCG functions are bachelor through the Coast Guard'due south webportal Homeport.
As you are preparing for and completing the items below, don't hesitate to contact the National Maritime Eye'due south Client Service Center by email (IASKNMC@uscg.mil) or by telephone at i-888-427-5662 (ane-888-IASKNMC) with questions.
Before you begin, become the NMC website and and then the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) page.

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Application, Stride two: Gather your military record and sea-service documents

Step 2a. Visit the NMC Forms folio and download:

a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Awarding checklist
all documents for your awarding type, sometimes referred to every bit a parcel. For details on which forms are needed for each application type, visit the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) page.

Step 2b. Collect copies of your:

Transcript of Sea Service (TOSS)
History of Assignments (HOA). This includes discharges or other documentary testify of service that indicate the proper name/tonnage/propulsion power of the vessels, dates of service, chapters in which the applicant served and on what waters.
DD-214, Report of Separation (if you lot've been discharged)
Records of any maritime-related courses you lot've taken that arenon listed on the DD-214, Report of Separation.
A summary of your military tape, including training. Practise this past executing a Request Pertaining to Military Records(SF-180). You can asking a newspaper copy of the form by contacting the closest VA Vet Center. Vet Centers are also listed in the phone book in the federal government pages. If you have whatsoever kind of afloat experience through your military service, write "Body of water Service Transcript" in Section Ii, subsection 2 "OTHER Information AND/OR wp-content/uploads/pdf REQUESTED", of your SF-180.
A list of whatsoever other sea-service-related experience, which the NMC will evaluate on a case-by-case ground.

NOTE for Navy and Coast Baby-sit service members and Veterans. The NMC has adamant that your recruit training meets most of the requirements for U.Due south. Merchant Marine Bones Safety Grooming. Some Navy and Coast Guard ratings will exist evaluted further and potential constitute a higher level of preparation and sea time for merchant marine service. The list of approved ratings is the USCG's Marine Safety Transmission, Volume III.

Application, Step 3: Obtain your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC)

Step 3a. Decide the USCG Regional Examination Heart (REC) closest to you.A listing of the 17 RECs is here. Call back, RECs perform evaluations, administer examinations, issue U.S. Merchant Mariner credentials and conduct oversight of approved courses. They will stand for first and near important contact with the USCG and NMC. You can also call the NMC (ane-888-427-5662) and ask for the accost and telephone number of the closest REC.

Stride 3b. Get a drug screen. All Merchant Mariner applicants who are required to undergo a concrete exam must likewise pass a drug screen for prohibited substances. Methods to satisfy this requirement are found here.

Pace 3c. Obtain your MMC. Most employment in the U.S. Merchant Marine requires an Merchant Mariner Credential, or "MMC" (often referred to every bit a "Z-card"), is issued past the U.S. Declension Guard (USCG). Information near obtaining an MMC is available here, or by downloading the parcel of forms here. The USCG isrequired past law to charge a fee for the MMC, 100% of which is paid to the U. S. Treasury. The fee schedule is here.

Step 3d. Deliver your complete application package to your selected Regional Exam Center. After the NMC officially accepts your awarding package, which must include any required fees, the NMC'southward Mariner Evaluation Division will evaluate it and contact you with their decision.

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Application, Step 4: Apply for your TWIC

The Declension Guard volition result merchant mariner credentialsonly to applicants who have applied for a Transportation Worker's Identity Credential, or TWIC, which is issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA is requiredby law to charge a fee for the TWIC, 100% of which is paid to the U. South. Treasury. Visit the TSATWIC page to apply.

Application, Step 5: Consummate required training

The United States is a political party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), which sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel aboard seagoing merchant ships. Virtually mariners aboard U.S.-flag vessels will require some level of STCW training, even Veterans with fiddling or no prior/formal water-based experience. The National Maritime Centre certifies and/or accepts most maritime-related preparation conducted in the Us, and there are hundreds of courses options, from the bones classes that take someone with little or no maritime background through an apprenticeship, to advanced classes that prepares you for specialized ranks and ratings.

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Application, Step 6: Ship Out

Where will I serve? The U.Southward. merchant marine has over x,000 ships and vessels. Deciding on which vessel to sail/serve is an of import decision. Click here for guidance.

What type of piece of work should I practice? Near commercial vessels have three departments: Deck, Engine and Steward. Most mariners will spend their careers in only ane of these departments. Common task descriptions are here.

Using the G.I. Pecker (a Veteran benefit)

As a Armed forces Veteran, you might have admission to education-preparation funds under the G.I. Bill, a set of education assistance programs administered by the Section of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA maintains a website to answer questions nigh the GI Bill, and many USCG-approved training institutions accept GI Beak benefits. These include, but aren't limited to:

Land and regional academies
The Paul Hall Center
Star Center, Dania, FL
Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies and the Pacific Maritime Found
Calhoon MEBA Engineering School

Review this consummate listing of Coast Guard approved courses, which includes contact/e-mail information for institutions in your area accepting GI Bill funds.

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Other Paths to Merchant Marine Service

Attend and graduate from one of the six state maritime academies or the United States Merchant Marine University (USMMA). This is the traditional path to become a licensed United States Merchant Marine Officer. Whatsoever one of these USMM-canonical U.South.-based institutions volition provide you with the following set of credentials:

an accredited Bachelor's caste,
a Transportation Worker Identification Menu (TWIC), and
a position in the United states of america Merchant Marine as a licensed Merchant Marine Officer (holds a United States Coast Guard license).

Join the Merchant Marine every bit an unlicensed merchant mariner. Like near jobs, unlicensed members of a merchant vessel's crew are either skilled orentry-level (unskilled) orskilled. Entry-level mariners do not have adrift skills. As a Veteran with armed services experience that likely equates to at least some afloat skills, you lot can pursue and most probable achieve the skilled unlicensed mariner nomenclature. However, to be deemed skilled, yous must accept a certain amount of bounding main-time and frequently some formal grooming.

Questions?

For questions about whatever aspect of our Military to Mariner program, contact the Part of Public Diplomacy.