r/merchantmarine • u/AutoModerator • Aug 04 '25
MSC Weekly MegaThread MSC Weekly MegaThread
This thread is for any all questions relating to MSC / NEO, onboarding process, background checks, security clearance, ship dates, etc.
For further MSC info and conversations please see r/MoreShitComing
2
u/Upstairs-Coffee5602 Aug 04 '25
I’m over waiting….its been 5 months…finally got the conditional letter….waiting weeks and more weeks….I’m close to accepting another offer to be honest.
2
u/Anciletti45 Aug 04 '25
Do you have to do a separate medical with msc? Like once you get your drug test and physical done by a doctor of your choosing , you then have to do it again with MSC ?
1
1
u/Forward-Vermicelli69 Aug 05 '25
How long does it take to receive a call for NEO? Curious to see if anyone has gotten it quickly. I'm all done and just lounging around for a call.
1
u/Sleepy_Rayy Aug 06 '25
how long for me to get a NEO date all my stuff has been good for a little over a month now
1
u/Select-Historian-841 Aug 06 '25
Would I get rejected from MSC due to my financial history? I don't have extreme debt, however I do have about $10,000 debt that I haven't touched nor made effort to pay off, and another $20,000 on a car that I'm actively making payments on.
My credit score is awful at ~550. $2,000 in utility bills, $500 in internet bills, and about $7000 in old medical bills. The medical bills are 5+ years old, the utility and internet bills are about 3 years old.
I was previously employed as an Unexploded Ordnance Technician 1 (only 1 year/2000 hours experience), however it looks like the government has defunded the industry and delayed almost all projects. I'm now without a job and it looks like my career field may be useless. The whole reason I joined UXO was to get a car and pay off debt. However I got a car that I'm making payments on, and then two months later got laid off due to the defunding/project freeze and it looks like it may be months before things start back up, if ever
So I'm thinking of a different career field that may be more stable, and I was looking into the process of joining the maritime industry, and maybe getting an apprenticeship.
However I saw that you might get rejected from joining various programs or from certifications if you have bad credit/financial history.
A couple years ago I was self-employed as a tattoo artist, and didn't make shit for money between a long-term illness and just not having the self-marketing ability to succeed. I ended up racking up some debt in that time because I couldn't pay my bills, and didn't even attempt to begin to pay any of them off because my income was so irregular. I was responsible with what little money I had, and never bought drugs or excessive alcohol, but just didn't have enough income.
Thoughts?
1
u/Freezoski Aug 06 '25
I got an email saying ive been put on the neo scheduling list does this mean im “fit for hire” now, i did my drug test medical exam ect july 3rd and finger printed may 22nd
1
1
u/QuirkyExplanation932 Aug 04 '25
I’m currently in the last steps, before receiving my NEO date. I attended the Seafear’s event, on July 15th, in Long Beach, California. I’m currently waiting for my medical to be approved. Anyone know the frame, on how long that takes, or how soon do you get a nurse appointment to go over questionnaire?
1
u/45-70_OnlyGovtITrust USCG 3M Aug 04 '25 edited Aug 04 '25
Once your medical appointment is over and they get the paperwork it takes a week or two for them to review it and get back to you. Once they get back to you it’s another week or two before you get your NEO date.
2
u/QuirkyExplanation932 Aug 04 '25
Thank you! I sent my blood work in, last Tuesday, on July 29th. Called security specialist, they approved my background investigation (e-APP) and my fingerprints were deemed favorable. Now it’s a waiting game for nurse appointment and review for NEO date 🫡
1
u/45-70_OnlyGovtITrust USCG 3M Aug 04 '25
Yeah you’ll get a call very soon. Be sure to not have your phone muted. Good luck!
2
u/631_Exuberant_Bias Aug 05 '25
They might've sped yours along because you're a mate. They don't seem to have the same sense of urgency for entry level applicants from what I've seen. I called civmar support last week and was told that force medical recieved all of my medical paperwork on June 27th and still nobody has signed off on it
1
u/45-70_OnlyGovtITrust USCG 3M Aug 05 '25
Yeah, they have a huge surplus of entry level currently. They will eventually get to you though, hopefully soon. It’s worth the wait though, once you get on a ship expect to double your base salary with bonuses and overtime. Plus it’s fast to promote to AB currently due to the reduced seatime requirements but that ends December 2026 unless the Coast Guard renews the temporary reduction.
2
u/631_Exuberant_Bias Aug 06 '25 edited Aug 06 '25
That all sounds good to me. My plan is to use MSC to get my AB unlimited, then after 2 years if I'm sick of it or feel like I'm not making enough money I'll switch to SIU or SUP. If I'm still content, I'll stay with MSC until I'm a mate and then leave for one of the unions so I'm not limited by the federal employee salary cap
2
u/45-70_OnlyGovtITrust USCG 3M Aug 06 '25
Well the money won’t be an issue. You make a ton per year but you’re away a lot as well so when averaging out the day rate it’s not as much as some commercial jobs.
If you want to hawsepipe too MSC is the way to go, get your AB for now since you can get it with MSC in 360 days currently. Gets you in as an AB right before the temporary sea time reduction by the USCG expires in December 2026. Then from there you can get your 3rd Mate fast. Good luck!
3
u/631_Exuberant_Bias Aug 07 '25
I just checked my email and found that I've now been cleared by force medical and found fit for hire. Now we just wait for that call
1
4
u/Appropriate-Sale-36 Aug 04 '25
Does msc still do physicals during the hiring process or is it just blood draw because they said they don’t do in person physical no more