Navigating the transition from the military to civilian world can be tough, especially when it comes to the job hunt.

Military veterans acquire a variety of skills during their service. The question is how to match those skills with a rewarding career in the civilian world. That’s where Maritime Headhunters, founded by a Whidbey Island couple, might be able to offer some assistance.

Capt. Kelly Sweeney, a longtime Merchant Mariner, and his wife, Frances, founded Maritime Headhunters five years ago from their Greenbank home to help anyone interested — especially military veterans — pursue a career with the Merchant Marine.

“Prior military do very well,” said Kelly. “For those who want to use their experience and feel there is more they could be doing, they need to know there is more — and there’s a place they can go to help them do it.”

With more than 30 years experience, Capt. Sweeney has a few connections.

“I have a vast network of people I know,” he said. “The jobs we get here are not jobs that are advertised.”

“It’s a pretty complicated process,” Frances said of transitioning to the Merchant Marine. “That’s why they need Kelly. (Veterans) deserve to get a good job.”

The U.S. Merchant Marine is a fleet of civilian-owned merchant vessels that use navigable waters to transport cargo and passengers in and out of the U.S. and around the world. Any commercial vessel transporting cargo falls into the Merchant Marine category. The U.S. Coast Guard supervises the Merchant Marine – issuing licenses, inspecting vessels and monitoring operations, but it does not run the Merchant Marine; how to handle day-to-day operations is under private control.

While a civilian organization, the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 gives the President the authority to press a Merchant Marine vessel into service during a national emergency, and mariners are considered military personnel in times of war.

Because of that connection, it is possible for Navy veterans in particular to transfer some of their time at sea to a Merchant Marine license. Kelly Sweeney helps evaluate what a client will need to do to pursue a career in the Merchant Marine.

“After meeting, I have a good idea where they are at,” Kelly said. “Skills from the military are very useful, but they don’t necessarily transfer across the board.”

Once a client has the proper documentation in place, such as a Merchant Mariners Document, a passport and a Transportation Worker Identification Card, the job search can begin.

Former Marine 1st Lt. Steve Mauceri learned of Maritime Headhunters through a classmate at New York Maritime College. He knew he wanted a career on the water and had heard good things about Capt. Sweeney.

“I already had my license and knew what to expect as a Merchant Mariner, but Capt. Sweeney was able to place me in a capacity to set me up for success,” Mauceri said. “He took the time to speak with me and really see what my goals and intentions were. He’s spoken of very highly by other Merchant Mariners.”

Mauceri, who has a 3rd Assistant Engineer’s License, now works for the largest dredging company in the U.S., improving and repairing channels, waterways and ports. He said because of Kelly’s help, there was very little he had to do to get the job.

“He did everything,” Mauceri said. “All I had to do was speak with the HR representative and schedule my physical.”

According to Capt. Sweeney, an entry level position for someone with no experience could be something like washing dishes or swabbing decks, and would pay approximately $4,000 to $4,500 a month. An able seaman could earn between $6,000 to $8,000 a month, junior officers more than $10,000 a month, Captains even more. For someone willing to work their way up, there’s a lot of potential. And it’s not just men seeking these jobs.

“Women are highly sought after,” he said. “And we’re not talking just as cooks, either, but as engineers.”

“Kelly will never get someone a job on a ship that he wouldn’t work himself,” Frances said. “I’m so proud of what he’s managed to do.”

While he doesn’t generally go to sea any longer, like any good sailor, even Capt. Sweeney can’t resist an occasional opportunity.

“I still will do jobs that are unique or that I haven’t done before,” he said, although after 32 years, there’s not much he hasn’t done.

Success, enthusiasm for the job and an underlying feeling of patriotism is what has made Sweeney want to help others find the same kind of professional satisfaction he found in the Merchant Marine.

“We need good people,” Kelly said. “A strong Merchant Marine is vital to our country.”

What to do:

Anyone interested in pursuing career in the Merchant Marine needs to have the following credentials in order to work:

• Merchant Mariners Document (MMD)
• Passport
• Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC)

For information on how to obtain these documents, go to:

www.uscg.mil/nmc
www.maritimelicensing.com
www.tsa.gov/twic
www.travel.state.gov/passport

For help with a job search, contact:

Maritime Headhunters
www.maritimeheadhunters.com
CaptSweeney@hotmail.com

360-678-3350