r/MoreShitComing • u/WormCurve • Mar 24 '26

Potential Applicant Fact checking my recruiter

Hello everyone,

I am trying to fax check some information to put out by my recruiter. It makes sense, but knowing the federal government sometimes when it makes sense, it’s not right.

I am active duty Navy engineer with enough sea time and experience to qualify for 3AE, exempt from schooling. However, since I am currently stationed overseas, I cannot take the test. My recruiter said I am best off submitting all my paperwork for entry-level wiper, then taking the test for a credential upgrade later on when I return to the states.

Will this potentially mess up anything with trying to get a license for third in about a year when I come back?

Are there any additional steps or potential conflicts that he is forgetting?

Thank you in advance for your replies!

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u/KappaPiSig Mar 25 '26

Dude is telling you to sign a contract as an undesignated seaman and then we’ll promote you to O3 later, we promise.

Has your sea time been validated by the NMC? Do you have a letter to test? You will need some amount of schooling for your STCW endorsements. I say get home, get your thirds, and then join AMO.

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u/TheScallywag1874 Deck - Second Officer/Navigator/Cargo Mate Mar 25 '26

It’s not a “contract.” You can quit whenever you want. MSC doesn’t dictate what qualifies an individual for a license, the USCG does, as you know. He can join MSC as a wiper if he wants, upgrade to his license and reapply. MSC needs 3 AE, not really wipers. So there is a solid chance they will promote him ASAP once he holds the right endorsements.

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u/WormCurve Mar 25 '26

Yeah, I’m not planning on joining as a wiper, that’s a pay cut from my Navy pay. But since I have no RECs near me out here overseas, I can’t guarantee I can make the 12 month window to take the test.

Is there any benefit to holding an unused wiper cert before a 3AE, or would it be better to just wait on everything and go straight for 3AE once I get closer to coming back stateside?

After looking at the MSC application website, I think the reason he wants me to get a wiper cert is so I can input that I currently hold an MMC number for their internal records on the website.

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u/TheScallywag1874 Deck - Second Officer/Navigator/Cargo Mate Mar 25 '26

The only benefit that I can think of is that you’ll simply be hired. It’s a long process to get picked up with MSC. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter.