An Offshore Shortage: Mariners With Support Systems Succeed

As the world watches the Israel and Hamas conflict threatening to erupt into a full-blown war across the Middle East, the United States military is counting its proverbial ducks and looking for solutions to satisfy its recruitment goals. The U.S. Coast Guard, in particular, has been facing recruitment and retention challenges lately, such that experts note a substantial 10% shortage in enlisted ranks. Conservative estimates report a 3,500-person shortfall, with others gauging that the reality could be closer to 4,800 more. Experts believe that without staff changes, the Coast Guard may not have the ability to effectively police the U.S. Coastal waters as it shifts focus onto critical lifesaving missions and national security threats. Officials note that the branch has failed to meet its goal of intercepting 10% of the known illicit drug flow for the last three years in a row.

According to Adm. Linda Fagan, the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, the situation is dire. She underscores the gravity of the problem, which has persisted since the Coronavirus pandemic, stating, "We cannot do the same with less. Conducting our missions is often inherently dangerous, and doing so without enough crew puts our members and the American public at increased risk." This shortage is not unique to the Coast Guard, as all branches of the U.S. military, except the Marine Corps and the Space Force, grapple with recruitment and retention issues in a competitive hiring market. While Adm. Fagan expresses optimism about recruiting numbers rebounding positively, the fact remains that more is needed to meet the current demand.

General Darren W. McDew, Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, worries that the U.S. military will have to rely on mariners from other countries to deploy combat power in surge situations if the U.S. mariner base continues to dwindle. To counteract this, the U.S. DoT is focusing on recruiting from other branches of the military, and addressing retention issues emerges as a critical strategy to ensure the interests of the United States. The "Military to Mariner" initiative provides a track for former military staff members to join the maritime industry and add a reliable pool of skilled men and women to serve on U.S.-flagged vessels.

The challenges, however, extend beyond recruitment to retention within the U.S. merchant marine. Academy graduates in deep-sea sailing trades experience less than a 50% retention rate after ten years. Lately, mariners have cited multiple factors for hesitance to return to offshore work, including poor shipboard working conditions, high stress levels, insufficient shore leave, and a lack of shore support, which has persisted since the Coronavirus pandemic.

As outside stressors continue to mount, the maritime industry's future remains to be seen. One thing is sure: fortune favors mariners with a strong support system. One tool for building that system is connecting with a consulting firm like Core Group Consulting's SSO Career Services. They offer job interview tactics, resume help, and consulting services that will take much of the guesswork out of starting and maintaining a career in the evolving maritime industry.

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