Sailors-to-Merchant Marines

President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) entitled “Supporting the Transition of Active Duty Service Members and Military Veterans into the Merchant Marine” on March 4 that allows experienced service members to get merchant marine credentials. The president indicated that by signing the order it will help veterans land at-sea blue collar jobs that will also strengthen national security. The order is designed to allow Navy, Coast Guard, and Army Watercraft Systems personnel leaving active duty to apply training and experience to land future careers in the maritime industry. “It makes it easier for sea service veterans to get high-paying, high-skilled jobs as mariners by waiving government-issued licensing fees and by crediting military training in the National Maritime Center credentialing system,” said Peter Navarro, director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. The EO makes it easier for enlisted sailors and officers to qualify as “mates and engineers” under the Coast Guard’s civilian mariner licensing rule, he continued. Previously, service members had to start over by enrolling in basic maritime classes, often paying $25,000 to meet requirements. The Trump EO is is designed to allow service members on active duty to simultaneous earn qualifications at sea while also netting equivalent civilian licenses. Those already separated from service could be fast-tracked to getting licensed. Before this becomes real, the Navy first must work with the Coast Guard to get schools, qualifications, and experiences certified for civilian licensing. (Source: Navy Times 03/04/19)