<p>Guess what? I'm insane. It wasn't on the parent's site, it was on the Alumni site and that hasn't been up in a while. Link doesn't work. I'll see what I can't find out though. Anyhow. You don't do ROTC at USMMA. I don't think I understand your statement but will try to explain? You will be sworn in as Naval Reserve/Merchant Marine Reserve on Acceptance Day, usually in September. Upon graduation you can select where you will go. You can compete for the commissioned officer slots or be an officer in reserves. They guy I met, graduated commissioned Naval officer and became a pilot. Other than that, I do not know much about the flyboys there. Someone had said that there were 10 pilot slots for the Navy. Can't address anything towards the Air Force or others. Here's a few links that Jamz sent me recently that might interests you.
<a href="http://www.gdamsea.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.gdamsea.com/</a>
<a href="http://www.crowley.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.crowley.com/</a>
<a href="http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1</a>
and my favorite:
<a href="http://www.luxury-norwegian-princess-ncl-cruises-lines.com/norwegian_cruise_lines.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.luxury-norwegian-princess-ncl-cruises-lines.com/norwegian_cruise_lines.htm</a></p>
<p>heh, im kinda anti-BP. cruise lines sound wonderful :) thanks</p>
<p>and also, i think this is the real site for the cruise line, that one seems like a weird scam ripoff or something? <a href="http://www.ncl.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ncl.com/</a></p>
<p>Bill was correct in much of his statement. Many harbor pilots are experienced masters and mates and have many years of sea going experience. Although it helps, it isn't a necessary requirement to become a pilot. All you really need is an "in" into the Pilot's Association. Once in you are trained for a few years before allowed to do the job on your own, so it's really an on the job training type of deal. These associations are usually big into hiring people the like and know. For example, Charleston SC pilots are almost exclusively Citadel grads. Kings Point graduates are well trained to become harbor pilots and can go straight into a pilot program if they know the right people. Otherwise it may take a few years of deep water sailing beforehand.</p>
<p>As to the airplane kind of pilot. KP has an incredible selection process for navy flight slots. Air Force I don't know much about, but I think it is a little more difficult to get an AF slot. As for the Navy in years past there have been enough pilot/NFO slots for everyone who is physically qualified at KP. I don't know how that number stands today, but I know it is much better than at any ROTC program or the Naval Academy. One reason for this is the small percentage of people who want to go active duty upon graduation. And forget it at Coast Guard. If I remember correctly you must do a regular coast guard tour before even being considered for flight training. (Please feel free to correct if this is no longer true). I highly, highly recommend KP for people who want to go to flight school because 1) it has a high acceptance rate for flight school and 2)if you decide two years into your college life that you don't want to fly anymore you aren't stuck going active duty.</p>
<p>Okay, long enough.</p>
<p>OMGosh - where have you been KP2001? The questions we could have been finding answers to all this time..... Funny thing. With your answer, you sound familiar. Did we perhaps meet at a Alumni function in Charleston? No need answer if you'd like to remain private. Was just wondering... Feel free to PM me if you'd like. I hope beyond hope that you'll post from time to time for all of the applicant's sake. </p>
<p>Taffy - Boycotting BP these days? ;)</p>
<p>BP is just such a whore!</p>
<p>They spend insane amounts of money on advertising and the public just eats it all up.</p>
<p>That little flower logo they have cost them 16 million bucks to design. That was only part of their very expensive makeover to change their public image from British Petroleum to "Beyond Petroleum"... whatever that even means. </p>
<p>They put a lot of effort into looking like the rogue gas company but they really aren't.</p>
<p>They employ the most prestigious marketing firms and get very very impressive results.</p>
<p>whores.</p>
<p>HA! HA! HA! Sorry I'd asked! Wow! Well then. Look at the other companies and forget I said anything about uh... you know....Taffy you're a hoot. If you feel this passionate about getting into an academy as you do about the ***** (I edited that myself Mr. Moderator), I have no doubt that you'll do it.</p>
<p>I'd like to second what kp2001 said. My son is a senior at KP and had wanted to fly Navy for most of his life. He passed the Navy flight test recently and is physically qualified, but has decided NOT to fly even after an internship with a Navy flight squadron. The experiences the mids have at KP open up whole new worlds to them, which is why the Navy flight slots allotted to KP are NEVER filled. </p>
<p>Our son's admissions rep's son (got that??) graduated from KP in the mid-90s and went directly to being a harbor pilot. He had to do something like a 2-yr training/apprenticeship where he didn't get paid much at all, but the rewards were worth it. We did hear that it is a pretty closed society and you need an 'in' to be a harbor pilot in pretty much every port.</p>
<p>Hi everybody, I've been reading for a few weeks but was having trouble posting, finally got that worked out. And, yes, I met Jamzmom on Parents Weekend!</p>
<p>taffy,</p>
<p>sorry, I doubt we've met. The only time I've spent in Charleston was as a cadet during my sea years. I must say Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. Incredible scenery and pretty darn good weather.</p>
<p>i dont live in charleston and i dont think i said we met? huh?</p>
<p>Sorry Taffy, misread the ole screen when typing the response</p>
<p>my response was to jamzmom</p>
<p>KP2001,</p>
<p>Do you know of any members of your class who went active duty and are now trying to sail? If so, do you know if it is difficult to find a job after going active duty with what upperclassmen refer to as a "good company."</p>
<p>Hi KPMom! Love that name and glad you've made it in here! These kids are getting super comlex with some of their questions and I can't help beyond the application process! Between kp2001, you and the others, it is sure to be better reading these days. Ya seein' this Boss? I've got all kinds of USMMA people now! Come on over if it gets too quiet in Coastie land! ;) I haven't teased you in four whole days. Boy! That felt great!</p>
<p>If ya ever make it back down Charleston way KP2001 (you too Boss), I'll hook you up with some great places to eat. Attended an Alumni Assoc. meeting there for Plebe Parent kicks and I was so surprised at how many of your ilk were there. From WWII veterans to brand new grads. Around 60 people. They are forming a new Low Country Chapter. Had several business cards thrown our way to give to Jamz. All so willing to speak with us about the job opportunities. Met a 23 year old 2nd mate as well. Is it unusual to become one of those at such a young age? It seemed to me to be so. Doing an internship with the Coast Guard in Charleston was brought up. How good are your chances at getting an internship where you'd like? Anyone feel free to respond please.</p>
<p>Ohhhh Taffy buddy? Hows DODMERB treating you these days? Ready to set a match to some of that paper work yet? Hang tough! Just go one step at a time and don't freak over it too badly.</p>
<p>Nuts! P.S. Great question Leadin'. Will look forward to the answer if KP would be so kind. Hope all goes well for you with midterms. I bet you will be sooo glad when things settle down. Good luck.</p>
<p>Glad I can be of some sort of help around here. I'll try to be as honest w/ my answers as possible giving both the good and bad.</p>
<p>Leadin..</p>
<p>I have not heard of any of my classmates going from active duty to sailing. I have heard of people going from shoreside jobs back to sea. Those people have had no problems. Coming from active duty I don't think would be a problem either. Many of the "good companies" for sailing are affiliated with one of the major unions (MEBA, MM&P, AMO). With those it's all a matter of seniority, but you can get some good jobs as a new applicant, with great pay. I was a member of AMO for two years (it has it's problems, which is a whole 'nother discussion) but it did provide me with a great job for the years I was a member. The only thing you would need to do is make sure you keep your license up while on active duty. Not a problem since you're required to for at least six years after graduation. </p>
<p>As to a 23y/o 2nd mate. It's not that unusual, especially for those graduates who work for Military Sealift Command upon graduation. All it takes nowadays to get your 2/m license is to have 365 days of sea time on your 3/m license. So if they graduate at 21 or 22 and get the one year in they can definately be a 2/m at 23. Actually working as a 2/m is a little different, but there are still pleny of opportunities for someone that age to work as a 2/m. As an aside MSC is an excellent way to upgrade your license very quickly. There are several of my classmates that already have their Chief Mates license.</p>
<p>I'm done with dodmerb. </p>
<p>I took the eye exam yesterday and the medical today... and didnt have to drop my pants!</p>
<p>now i just have to wait for everybody else to do their part and submit/process everything. My eye exam has already been recieved by the DoD and im guessing my med will be there tomorrow. </p>
<p>for some reason i have to drive 30 minutes to the eye/med places in san francisco... they had some nice sunglasses/glasses at the optician I went to, which made me worry less about possibly getting glasses :) SF has the fashion scene taken care of. </p>
<p>On the drive there we passed a few merchant mariner ships (black with red bottoms?) and one HUGE Norwegian Cruise Lines ship... How hard is it to get a job on one of those things right out of KP? or do i have to go onto a stinky tanker first? Seems like once you've put in your work time, you wouldn't be very bored on a cruise ship!</p>
<p>"stinky tanker & big box boat guys" - Taffy, you make me smile with just about every post you type here. Glad you didn't have to drop your pants. I just want to warn you that you won't have a nano second of boredom if you find yourself at this academy darlin'! Do me a wee small favor too. Read up on sea year will ya and DO NOT show up at INDOC wearing any sort of Frisco sunglasses? You'll be killed. ;)</p>
<p>ok ok now do me a favor: dont call it Frisco :)</p>
<p>i kinda had to stop and think a second to make sure the "having to drop your pants" sentence and "you wont find yourself bored at this academy" sentence weren't related.</p>
<p>im havin a hard time finding more out about sea year. i read the whole thing on the usmma website, the packet they send out, and saw the picture galleries in the colorado parents website.</p>
<p>Taffy......I fell right into that one didn't I. Shouldn't have never ever responded in order to what you had written. I get myself into so much trouble sometimes. I have to go re-think stuff. I have forgotten the way a 17 year old mind works! HA! Taffy -1, Jamzmom -0. I give you this one. I can't even begin to think of a good enough come-back.....not sure I want to... LOL</p>
<p>i just finished writing my usmma essay after like 2 or 3 hours... 300 words exactly.</p>
<p>they say minimum 200, maximum 300. its easy to get from starting to having 200 words, but its hard to go from having a 900 word essay to a butchered 300 word essay.</p>
<p>Just remember that you still have plenty of time to submit all of your stuff. The essay should be about YOUR desire to come here. Don't include a life story with the application. Also, go to your english teacher and have her/him revise it. Have your parents read it. That essay is the only piece of your attitude and personality the admissions dept. will be able to see. I am sure you already know that but I just would like to put that out there.</p>