does anyone pERSONALLY know how to get involved in Abel Bodied Seaman Training?

First step, go to this CG site on Merchant Mariner Information. Check through it and you will find damned near everything you need. Then check with your district/area Coast Guard Regional Exam Center. Depending on the mood they are in, you might be given the names of local training schools that provide :
http://www.uscg.mil/NMC/

LIFEBOATMAN/PROFICIENCY in SURVIVAL CRAFT training. That is a CG requirement to take that class in order to get the lifeboat assesments checked off.

BASIC SAFETY TRAINING - a requirement for all hands going into sea going vessels.

RATING FORMING PART OF A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH. another requirement on sea going vessels. It is basically your lookout/helmsman PQS type check off list, but your regulators have no idea what that entails , so you will need 6 months sea-duty as an Ordinary Seaman to get that rating.

Those will be the MINIMUM training/certs to think about going as an ABLE SEAMAN (correct term)on a seagoing vessel.

a_lopez1980, I see you are prior-service USN; that will help you with getting credit for (at the very least) STCW Basic Safety Training...

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11795

...as as it also mentions, if you were rated as a BM, QM, OS or MN, you can apply directly for Able Bodied Seaman as well.

Good luck!

http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/training/stcw-all.pdf

"Active duty personnel and veterans having successfully completed U.S. Navy Basic Military
Training (Recruit Training) have been determined to have met all STCW requirements for basic safety training WITH THE EXCEPTION OF donning and using an immersion suit. Personnel
that have completed Navy Basic Training and show documentation on any of the following: Navy
DD-214 "Page 4", "Smart" transcript, Enlisted Summary Record (ESR), or Performance Summary Record (PSR) have met the STCW standard for BST except for donning an immersion suit and entering the water while in the suit. if an applicant completes immersion suit training from a USCG approved training institution. Mariners must also present evidence of at
least one year of seagoing service for every five years since completing recruit training,
mariners who cannot do so must complete USCG approved original or refresher BST."

To get your merchant mariners document or Z-card there is not much involved.
All you need to do is fill out the required forms get the correct photos and bring your required identification documents and your recent drug test from a CG approved test facility. If you just want to work in US waters you do not need a physical if you will be working internationally you will need the physical form from a doctor.
I was suprised at how little was actually needed to get a Z-Card now.
This is just entry level and you have to test for the higher ratings.
No military service is required, no sea service is required, no letter of commitment is required.
Just call one of the card issueing centers and they will tell you what you need. I had to go to Baltimore to get mine.

likewise. i went to the paul hall training center at piney point, maryland, and got my zcard during training to work on an american flagged cruise ship in hawaii. this was long before i ever even thought about joining the coast guard. it was easy money to get that zcard.

i was going to work for SIU, and was trying to get in with MSC, but im really happy to be a new nonrate with the coast guard.