Military Sealift Command

Academy/Maritime School Graduates

You have already made the decision to join the maritime industry by attending one of the maritime academies or colleges; now you have the question of what path will you take upon graduation. Whether that is 3 years or 6 months away, there are surely questions you ask yourself on a daily basis about where you will be 5 years after graduation and how you will get there.

If you make the decision to pursue a seagoing career versus a shore side job, that could lead to a whole new avenue of questions. Some of those may be:

1. What is the recruitment process like?
2. How can you gain the seatime and experience to quickly move up the licensed ranks?
3. Do you need to be associated with a union to advance in your career?
4. What kind of benefits will the ideal employer offer to help plan for your future?

We will do our best to answer these and any other questions you may have. If, after reviewing this page you still have questions about our organization, please talk with your Academy career counselor or call and speak with one of our recruiters directly.

What is the recruitment process like?

Each employer will begin this process at different times, so it is hard to answer that question across the board. However, Military Sealift Command makes every effort to begin to educate the academy students on what it is like to be a CIVMAR as early as they are ready to listen. Here are few examples of how we interface with the academies:

• Cadets can apply to cadet ship with us during their sophomore or junior year sea terms.
• We participate in all of the Academy career fairs and outreach activities.
• We send alumni who are employed with us back to their Alma Mater to give presentations to interested cadets/midshipmen about what life at sea is really like.
• Cadets can contact our CIVMAR Support Center at any time to ask questions and request an application package.
• We host one-on-one interview sessions on campus each spring for those preparing to graduate. Depending on our manning needs we may even make conditional on-the-spot job offers.
• We also maintain regular correspondence with the Career Center and keep them aware of open positions and employment requirements.

How can you gain the seatime and experience to quickly move up the licensed ranks?

When sailing with MSC, you will have the chance to do things that your counterparts in the commercial industry will not. You will be challenged and reap the rewards by advancing quickly up the ranks. Here is an example of a recent academy graduate who has experienced just this.

David Every decided to attend Maine Maritime Academy based on a family friend’s recommendation. While there, he learned about MSC career opportunities from recruiters and fellow cadets who shipped with MSC. Beyond the job security MSC offered, Every was looking for a chance to excel quickly in his field. “While minimum tour lengths are four months, I prefer to stay on a ship from eight to ten months as it allows me to get more sea time. This is not the case when sailing in the commercial industry.” To read more about Mr. Every’s story, please click here.

Do you need to be associated with a union to advance your career with MSC?

Because MSC is a Department of the United States Navy, we do not require any of our CIVMARs be a part of an organized union. If you are, that is fine, if you are not, that will not impact your ability to move ahead. What will help you advance your career will be solely based on the job you do day-in and day-out and the performance reviews you get from your superior officers. Once you have met the position requirements you can apply for the internal job announcements for any position in our fleet and take action to further your career.

What kind of benefits will the ideal employer offer to help plan for your future?

MSC offers our CIVMARs a variety of benefits in addition to the Annual Salary. As you weigh your options, consider the benefits package of all perspective employers. The benefits offered by an employer add up to an additional compensation for the employee. The robust benefits package MSC offers is substantial as compared to private industry.

• 10 Paid Holidays Annually
• Base pay is earned commensurate with the size, level of automation and type of ship you are assigned to. Additional compensation is earned over and above base pay to include overtime, hazardous pay and bonus provision(s).
• Time-off is accrued according to the total years of federal service and is considered Annual Leave. In addition to Annual Leave, CIVMARs earn Shore Leave accrued based on the number of days “at sea” and Sick Leave on a per-pay period basis.
• As a Federal Employee, all CIVMARs qualify for a variety of Insurance plans covering Health, Vision, Dental, Life, Disability, Loss of Wages and Injury. There are also Spending Account Options, Leave Buy Back and a comprehensive Retirement plan. MSC provides up to 75% of the total health insurance premiums and the CIVMAR’s share of the premium is deducted pre-tax, putting more money in your pocket and reducing your taxable income.

Military Sealift Command wants to encourage you to consider a seagoing career and if you do, we know that employment with our organization will not only offer you the opportunity to be part of something that is much bigger than yourself, but it will also provide you a direct route to career advancement.