MSC is proud to recruit transitioning military and veterans with a broad range of experience to work aboard our fleet of oilers, ammunition ships, joint high-speed vessels, fast combat prepositioning ships and more. Across all departments, over 40% of our afloat crew is made up of former military because their skill-sets and experience align with needs of MSC’s. Our civil service careers offer:

  • Transferrable skill-sets
  • Camaraderie and continued service to country
  • Federal job security and benefits
  • Career advancement
  • Training
  • Paid leave and overtime pay

Stop Searching, keep serving – at MSC, you can apply and advance the skills you learned in the military to a civil service career. Because our hiring needs change frequently we encourage you to Start the Process so that you’re ready to apply once a position opens.

Veterans Preference

With veterans’ preference, you may receive preference over non-veteran applicants in the hiring process. If you have 10-point preference you are eligible to apply for any position for which the Command hires externally.

Types of Veterans’ Preferences:

  • Disabled – 10 point preference eligible
  • Non-Disabled – 5 point preference eligible
  • Sole Survivorship – 0 point preference eligible

When claiming any veterans’ preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other acceptable documentation. Applicants claiming 10-point preference will need to submit Form SF-15.

  • DD-214: The “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”, is issued to military members upon separation from active service. It contains information about the veteran’s dates of military service and separation. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 Report of Separation and other military and medical records through the National Archives Veterans’ Records Service.
  • SF-15: The “Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference” is used by federal agencies and OPM examining offices to adjudicate individuals’ claims for veterans’ preference.
  • Civil Service Preference Letter: A Civil Service Preference Letter states only your overall disability percentage without identifying your specific disability. You may obtain this letter by downloading it from the Letters section of your eBenefits account.

Veterans may be eligible for other special hiring authorities, learn more.

Veteran service members may also apply for MSC civil service mariner (CIVMAR) announcements prior to their date of separation from military service. However, in order to be considered, they must meet the definition of Active Duty Service Member – as defined by the VOW Act – at the time of application.

Relevant Military Sea Service

Military time/sea service can be used to qualify for advanced merchant mariner’s ratings. If you’d like to apply your experience to a secure, civilian career that offers opportunity for growth, use this chart to assess the merchant mariner’s equivalent to your military service.

Obtain military records here.

Veterans Get Started

  1. Information Request Form (IRF) – Start the Process to begin your pre-application profile which allows us to better assist you and keep you informed. Once you have submitted the IRF, you can log at any time to submit additional information and upload necessary documents to complete your profile.
  2. Did you know – Active duty members of the uniformed services are eligible for a fee waiver for the evaluation of an application for an MMC, the administration of an examination required for an endorsement, and for the issuance of an MMC. The waiver applies to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service. This policy is available on the Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing policy website on the MMC Policy Webpage. Mariners and other interested parties should contact the Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division at MMCPolicy@uscg.mil or 202-372-2357 with any questions.
  3. History of Assignments – Prior to active-duty departure, obtain a copy of your Sea Service Letter and Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), as your seatime may count towards the QMED qualifications. View examples of Sea Service Letters for Deck and Engine. Additionally, request your History of Assignments and records of any maritime related courses you’ve completed. This will help you communicate your skills and experience as you move through the application process.
  4. Credentials – Before applying for a position with MSC, you must possess three important credentials:
    • A current U.S. Tourist Passport with at least seven months remaining prior to expiration. You can find more information on our Resources page or apply online.
    • A Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) and/or Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) with a minimum of ten months remaining prior to expiration. Find TWIC office locations
    • A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner’s Credential (MMC) with at least 10 months remaining prior to expiration. More information on obtaining your MMC and the application forms can be found here.
    • NOTE: When submitting your MMC application, be sure to include your Sea Service Letter and History of Assignments, along with any other documentation verifying your seagoing experience. Please note, if you are an officer or your rating is: DC, EM, EN, GS, GSE, GSM, HT, IC, MR, MM, MK or BT, you could qualify for a higher than entry-level endorsement.
  5. Complete your Profile – Once you have your Tourist Passport & MMC, update that information as well as any other relevant documentation to complete your online profile.
  6. Apply – Once your profile is complete, you’re ready to continue through the application process. View current job announcements and Take Command of Your Career© today.

NOTE: It is recommended, in order to avoid being timed out of the application process, you download the JOA of the position you wish to apply for before hitting the “Submit an Application” button. This will allow you to read and review the Evaluation Criteria and craft your detailed responses in a word processor, using your resume details as a starting point, before you start the application process.