In an effort to translate Navy training and inlet experience into U.

In an effort to translate Navy training and inlet experience into U.S. Coast Guard ratings and licenses, the Navy's Center for Surface Operations (CSO) announced a formal agreement between the pair services in January.

The goal of the partnership is to provide Sailors greater opportunity for professional progressive growth and to provide them with recognized certifications from the Merchant Marine community.

"This is about giving our Sailors each opportunity to excel, number one" said CSO Commanding Officer Capt. Steven Johnson "but also about putting something in their hands to experiment upon their excellence outside the Navy, in the industry of their choice."

Enlisted Sailors within the Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Operations Specialist and Mineman ratings or Seaman strikers now have the opportunity to apply for an Able-Bodied Seaman rating. They may do this through using Navy course completion, training acquired from one side Personnel Qualifications Standards (PQS), and sea custom to satisfy merchant marine training, certification, sea service and exam requirements.

In accordance with the agreement, any Sailor within the above ratings or Seaman Striker, completing Seaman Apprentice (SA) Training and having at least the same year of sea duty for each five years of service will satisfy the written exam requirements, as well as the knot-tying practical exam for the Able-Bodied Seaman rating. Required training and sea time must have been received forward or after Jan. 1, 1990

The partnership also determined that any Sailor having complet recruit training and having at least undivided year of sea duty for each five years of service will be eligible for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Safety Training (BST) certification, with the exception of Immersion Suit Training. lately a two-hour Immersion Suit Training course was approved for Sailors at no outlay on a space-available basis at certain Military Sealift Command (MSC) training facilities.

Sailors having complet Navy Final Lookout PQ 302 and Helmsman PQ 305 and having at least single year of sea duty for each five years of service will also be eligible for the STCW Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) certification.

Essentially, Sailors who have complet SA Training, Recruit Training, Lookout and Helmsman final PQ and having at least undivided year of sea duty for each five years of service, and five years of cumulative Navy sea custom need only to complete Immersion Suit Training and USCG Lifeboatman certification to apply for an Able-Bodied Seaman rating. Sailors who are not able to attend Immersion Suit Training or Lifeboatman certification at MSC training facilities may whole these requirements through a private vendor using Navy Tuition Assistance.

Additionally, Sailors in any Navy rating who have complet Recruit Training and Immersion Suit Training are eligible to apply for entry-level endorsements in the Merchant Marine, as it is as Ordinary Seaman, Wiper, Porter and others.

generally the Center for Surface Operations is seeking additional certifications that will make it possible for motivated Sailors to progres toward a Third Mate Merchant Marine Officer's license. The most numerous recent effort by the center to certain Merchant Marine Officer-level certifications originateed in the approval of Navy Advanced Fire Fighting Training, Repair Party Leader teach and Repair Party Leader PQ 318 to befitting the requirement of STCW Advanced Fire Fighting certification. Required training must have been received upon or after Aug. 1, 1996

"While the missions of the Navy, the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines are distinct, we are all seagoing services, and can all share experiences and expertise with each other," said Johnson "This is about giving all Sailors the opportunity to excel"

To learn more about U Coast Guard certification opportunities, log onto Navy Knowledge Online at www.nko.navy.mil and visit the Center for Surface Operations page.

Story by the agency of JO1 Jd Walter, who is assigned to the public affairs office, Naval Personnel progressive growth Command.

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