I work with more than a few prior Navy that are making the transition over to a commercial mariner. In particular QMs, BMs, MNs, SNs & SAs going for their ABLE SEAMAN rating.

The Center for Surface Operations has an agreement with the CG that accepts the deck PQS qualifications as helmsman and lookout to meet the training standards for an AB (rating forming part of a navigation watch). An important qual if going on deepsea ships.

So the, typicall, how long, sea days and watches, does it take an average SA/SN to complete the qualification. The Coast Guard Maritime Center states that a civilian mariner must have 180 sea days, standing 4 on & 8 off to meet this qualification.

You are lucky, the CG accepts the USN PQS qual. The Coast Guardsmen are screwed, NONE of their time counts.

Any replies appreciated.

Initial qual at helmsman/lookout should take no longer than two weeks, if that long. To be truly competent might take 2-3 months. I qualified battle stations and maneuvering watch helmsman in about three months. It probably took me another 2-3 months to qualify as battle stations planesman (sub only watchstation) however part of that had to do with spending less time submerged.

On my second boat, we signed off initial helmsman/planesman quals in about seven days and they were all quite competent by the end of a two-month patrol (all of that time being at sea standing 6/12 watches).

I'm getting similar time frames over with the Coast Guard site also. I'm beginning to have some doubts as to the sea going competance of those that set regulatory qualification standards, if they have never been to sea.

Thanx for the info.

quote:

The Coast Guardsmen are screwed, NONE of their time counts.

If they took advantage of the below program would their OJT then be counted as it may be related to a MM qualification?

USMAP Provides Sailors Free Certification

quote:

All active-duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel with a high school diploma or general education degree are eligible to register for USMAP.

BoatsBM1

quote:

Originally posted by BoatsBM1:

quote:

The Coast Guardsmen are screwed, NONE of their time counts.

If they took advantage of the below program would their OJT then be counted as it may be related to a MM qualification?

USMAP Provides Sailors Free Certification

quote:

All active-duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel with a high school diploma or general education degree are eligible to register for USMAP.

BoatsBM1

Is that program specifically for 'trade-related' ratings; as in, I'm going in as an AC, but prior to enlisting in the Navy, I worked in the electrical field for about 6 months, and if given the opportunity, I'd use this program to future my knowledge within that field, as I found it to be quite interesting, to say the least. Plus it could be used as a backup as well.