Like the military, Military Sealift Command (MSC) has a rank structure to organize its personnel. This structure is divided into different jobs, called "rates." There are officers, chief petty officers (CPOs), and non-officer positions, similar to the military. However, in the maritime industry, we have licensed officers, staff officers, chief petty officers, and unlicensed personnel. Licensed officers are like commissioned officers in the military. They either attended a maritime academy or worked their way up through the ranks to earn a deck or engineering license. Staff officers are also officers, but they don't have a license. Chief Petty Officers are like non-commissioned officers in the military. They don't have a license, but they are experienced leaders. Last, unlicensed CIVMARs are like enlisted members in the military. In this article, we'll explain where each rank fits in the shipboard hierarchy and what you need to do to move up to each position!
 

Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC): A Merchant Mariner Credential is document issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that lists your qualifications for specific jobs on ships you can legally preform. When people talk about “licenses” or “endorsements,” they’re referring to certifications on your MMC.
 
Credible Sea Days vs. MSC Experience: Credible Sea Days are an official metric that tracks the days you spend on a ship doing tasks that help you become better at your job. Credible Sea Days have various rules, regulations and scenarios are dictated by the Coast Guard. Sea Days are tracked via an official document called a Sea Service Letter. MSC experience, on the other hand, is just time working for MSC. For promotions, you might need both credible sea days and MSC experience.

License Upgrades and Promotions: Getting a more advanced license from the Coast Guard doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get promoted at MSC. It only means you are qualified for promotion. To be permanently promoted, you’ll need to apply and be selected for promotion as dictated by MSC. It is possible to be credentialed above your current position. For example, many Third Mates have their Second Mates licenses, but they are still sailing as and being paid as a Third Mate. However, they are eligible to be promoted to Second Mate because they hold the requisite license.

Departments on MSC Vessels: There are four main departments on MSC ships: Deck, Engine, Supply (which has Supply and Steward branches), and Communications. While all CIVMARs need an MMC, only Deck and Engine departments require sea days and additional Coast Guard regulated trainings for promotions.

Ordinary Seaman (OS): OS is an entry level position. If you have a Merchant Mariner Credential, you are qualified to be an OS.

Able-Bodied Seaman (AB): To upgrade from OS to AB, several Coast Guard classes are required as well as enough credible sea days. OS to AB will entail additional endorsements on your MMC.

Boatswain Mate (BM): BMs require the same MMC endorsements as ABs, but they need MSC experience to be promoted from AB to BM.

Boatswain (BOSN): Boatswain is a Deck Department Chief Petty Officer position. The boatswain is the direct supervisor of the maintenance working AB’s and OS’s. MSC classes and experience is needed to promote to BOSN from BM. You typically need to sail in the BM positions prior to promotion but it is not required.

Operations Chief (OPS): The OPS Chief is a Chief Petty Officer that assists the navigator with coordinating the vessels operational schedule. Prior Navy experience or specific classes are required to promote to OPS Chief.

3rd Mate (3/O or 3/M): The most junior licensed deck officer. 3/Ms are the direct supervisor of watch standing AB’s. 3/Ms must have a 3rd Officer Coast Guard license.

2nd Mate (2/O or 2/M): The 2/M is the direct supervisor of watch standing 3rd Officers. 365 credible sea days are required to upgrade your license from 3/O to 2/O.

Chief mate (1/O or CHMTE): The Chief Mate is the deck department head. They are in charge of the entire deck department. A Coast Guard 1st Officer license is required. Coast Guard classes and enough sea days are required to upgrade from 2/O to 1/O.

Captain (Master): The Captain is overall in charge of the whole vessel and is responsible for command decisions. This is the highest shipboard rank held. A Coast Guard Masters license is required. Enough sea days are required to upgrade from 1/O to Master.

Wiper: Wiper is an entry level position. If you have a Merchant Mariner Credential, you are qualified to be an Wiper.
 
Engine Utility (EU): To upgrade from Wiper to EU, several Coast Guard classes are required as well as enough credible sea days. Wiper to EU will entail additional endorsements on your MMC.
 
Deck Machinist (DMACH): A skilled engine department position. Classes and sea days are required to upgrade to DMACH.
 
2nd Electrician (2nd Elec): A skilled engine department position. Classes and sea days are required to sail as a 2^nd Electrician.
 
Chief Electrician (CHELEC): A skilled engine department position. Experience as a 2^nd Electrician is needed to promote to CHELEC.
 
Pumpman: A skilled engine department position. Classes and sea days are required to sail as a Pumpman.
 
Unlicensed Junior Engineer (UJE)-A skilled engine department position. Classes and sea days are required to sail as a UJE.
 
Electrical Technician (ET)- A skilled engine department position. Classes and sea days are required to sail as an ET.
 
3rd Assistant Engineer (3/ AE): The most junior licensed engine officer. 3/AEs are the direct supervisor of watch standing UJEs. 3/AEs must have a 3rd Officer Coast Guard license.
 
2nd Assistant Engineer (2/AE): The 2/AE is the direct supervisor of watch standing 3/AEs. 365 credible sea days are required to upgrade your license from 3/AE to 2/AE.
 
1st Assistant Engineer (1/AE): The 1/AE is the engine department head. They are in charge of the entire engine department. A Coast Guard 1st engineer license is required. Coast Guard classes and enough sea days are required to upgrade from 2/AE to 1/AE.
 
Chief Engineer (CHENG): The CHENG is overall in charge of the entire engine department. While the CHENG is not in overall control of the vessel, the CHENG does have some specific authorities that differ from the Master. A Coast Guard Chief Engineers license is required. Enough sea days are required to upgrade from 1/AE to CHENG. 

Supply Utility (SU): SU is an entry level position. If you have a Merchant Mariner Credential, you are qualified to be an SU. SUs have the ability to choose a Supply/Logistics or a Steward Department track.

Assistant Storekeeper (ASK): Most junior supply/logistics member. On the job training and MSC classes are needed to promote from SU to ASK.
 
Yeoman Storekeeper (YNSK): A Chief Petty Officer in the Supply department. They help supervise the ASKs. MSC experience is needed to promote from ASK to YNSK.
 
Junior Supply Officer (JSO): A staff officer and the junior officer in the Supply Department. The JSO oversees the YNSKs and ASKs. MSC experience is needed to promote from YNSK to JSO. JSO are also hired directly with specific military experience or with a business/logistics/supply chain degree from a Maritime Academy.
 
Junior Supply Officer Ammo (JAMMO): Technically a Deck department billet, this position is new and requires a business/logistics/supply chain degree from a Maritime Academy.
and specialized MSC classes. This is a staff officer position.
 
Supply Officer (SUPPO): A staff officer and the Supply Department head. In charge of both the Supply/Logistics and Steward department sides of the Supply Department. To promote from JSO to SUPPO MSC experience is needed.

Assistant Cook (ASSTCK): Most junior member of the galley staff. On the job training and MSC culinary classes are required to promote from SU to ASSTCK. It is also possible to be hired directly as an ASSTCK with requisite culinary experience. 
 
Second Cook (2CK): A cook with more responsibilities. To promote from ASSTCK to 2CK MSC experience is needed.
 
Cook Baker (CKBK): Responsible for the galleys baked goods. To promote from 2CK to CKBK, MSC experience and MSC culinary classes are required.
 
Steward Cook (STWDCK): This position is only on specific vessels and they act as the Chief Cook and the Chief Steward on smaller vessels. MSC experience is needed to promote or sail as a STWDCK.
 
Chief Cook (CHCK): The Chief Petty Officer in the galley. Responsible for the daily operations of the galley. MSC experience is needed to promote to Chief Cook.
 
3^rd Steward (3STWD): The 3STWD serves as a lead SU and assists the Chief Steward with SU supervision. MSC experience is needed to promote from SU to 3STWD.
 
Chief Steward (CHSTWD): In charge of the Stewards Department and oversees the daily operations of the Steward Department. MSC experience is needed to promote to CHSTWD.

All members of the Communications Department, also called Radio, must be able to obtain a top-secret security clearance. To obtain the advance clearance, employees must undergo a more rigorous background check.
 
Radio Electronics Technician 2 (RET2): Junior communications employee. Other entry level positions can promote/cross rate to become an RET2. On the job training and MSC classes are required to become an RET2.
 
Radio Electronics Technician (RET1): A mid-level communications employee. Experience as an RET2 and MSC classes are needed to promote from RET2 to RET1.
 
Chief Radio Electronics Technician (CRET): Responsible for supervising the RET2 and the RET1, they are in charge of the radio watches. MSC classes and experience as an RET1 is needed to promote from RET1 to CRET.
 
Local Area Network Technician (LAN Admin): The LAN Admin is a member of the communication department who is responsible for IT support onboard the vessel. Other rates can serve as a LAN admin if specific IT credentials are held.
 
Shipboard Communications Officer (SCO): A staff officer and the Communications Department head. They are in charge of the communications department. MSC experience and classes are needed to promote to SCO.
 

Purser (PURS): A staff officer and a department of one. The Purser serves as the ships administrative officer. On the job training and a Coast Guard Pursers endorsement is required to promote to purser. Any position has the ability to promote to Purser.
 
Medical Services Officer (MSO): A staff officer and a department of one. The MSO is the on-board medical representative responsible for the well-being of the crew. Prior military experience or specific medical experience/licenses are required to be hired as an MSO. Currently, there is no track to promote to MSO once you are an employee, you can only be directly hired as one.

While MSC is distinctly different from the military in a lot of ways, you can still be outranked, and you do have a boss. MSC retains a chain of command, and it needs to be respected. MSCs rank structure is flatter than the military’s and does not have the same rules of decorum (i.e. you don’t have to salute the Captain when you see him), but it is important to remember that he is still your boss. As a word to the wise, you will generally have better luck if you respect your supervisor and other shipboard leaders.

If you still have questions about how promotions work within MSC, Coast Guard licensing or about positions within MSC, that is A-OK, MSC is confusing and full of bureaucratic twists, turns and black holes. That is why we have articles about specific topics on CIVMAR.com and offer career counseling. Explore the site or reach out to learn more!