Some incredibly disappointing news about the next USCG Eagle trip - I received an email a couple of weeks ago from TSA that my application had been approved by the TSA and sent on to the USCG so to expect a new welcome packet within the week.
Fast forward to a week and a half later and I received a personal call from TSA apologizing as they received word from the USCG selection group that they suddenly made the decision during this selection process to not allow any TSA on any OCS training cruises who have been on two or more trips!? So because of this, the USCG rejected my application for the next trip...even though they did not advertise this rule in any way before hand (since it didn't exist yet).
I do know that they get a lot more applications for their Spring OCS trip than fall, mostly because many Tall Ships people are usually between ships/jobs. Last year we had a full roster in the Spring but in the Fall, out of the 16 or so slots, only 6 people showed. So if they did the two trip limit to cull down the applications, they'll be hurting the Fall program even more.
Hard to not take it personally since I know there aren't many crew in the past three years who have been on more than twice. I've also met many USCG officers on these trips who encouraged me to keep coming back and collaborating. It's possible I stepped on someone toes and didn't realize it and thus the "sudden rule"...as others have pointed out, it's very easy to step on their toes without realizing it.
The Friendship of Salem being a federal government ship does allow us to collaborate directly with the USCG so I technically do not have to go on as TSA. For this trip I could have pushed the matter but I know that once they set their roster it's pretty much set in stone and if I did do something wrong I'm unaware of, it would not help the matter.
Since the Friendship of Salem is going to be laid up for at least another year-year and a half (or more), I'm afraid to let my skills fall on the wayside and that I'll start forgetting all my training. So I've decided to look at this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.
Based on some recommendations, I'm going to apply for the two week training course aboard the Lady Washington/Hawaiian Chieftain on the west coast. The Lady Washington would be ideal since it's also from the Friendships era and I'm told the training program is top notch. After I get through it the first time, I can go whenever there's an open slot on other voyages. Sounds ideal to me. Thanks to Captain Jeremy for pointing me in the right direction.
But I'd also like to visit my other sailing friends when possible so with any luck I can join them during one of their training periods or even on a day sail as a (non paid) deckhand. Anything I can do to expand my experience and have fun while doing it.
Got my application forms printed out so wish me luck!
Fast forward to a week and a half later and I received a personal call from TSA apologizing as they received word from the USCG selection group that they suddenly made the decision during this selection process to not allow any TSA on any OCS training cruises who have been on two or more trips!? So because of this, the USCG rejected my application for the next trip...even though they did not advertise this rule in any way before hand (since it didn't exist yet).
I do know that they get a lot more applications for their Spring OCS trip than fall, mostly because many Tall Ships people are usually between ships/jobs. Last year we had a full roster in the Spring but in the Fall, out of the 16 or so slots, only 6 people showed. So if they did the two trip limit to cull down the applications, they'll be hurting the Fall program even more.
Hard to not take it personally since I know there aren't many crew in the past three years who have been on more than twice. I've also met many USCG officers on these trips who encouraged me to keep coming back and collaborating. It's possible I stepped on someone toes and didn't realize it and thus the "sudden rule"...as others have pointed out, it's very easy to step on their toes without realizing it.
The Friendship of Salem being a federal government ship does allow us to collaborate directly with the USCG so I technically do not have to go on as TSA. For this trip I could have pushed the matter but I know that once they set their roster it's pretty much set in stone and if I did do something wrong I'm unaware of, it would not help the matter.
Since the Friendship of Salem is going to be laid up for at least another year-year and a half (or more), I'm afraid to let my skills fall on the wayside and that I'll start forgetting all my training. So I've decided to look at this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.
Based on some recommendations, I'm going to apply for the two week training course aboard the Lady Washington/Hawaiian Chieftain on the west coast. The Lady Washington would be ideal since it's also from the Friendships era and I'm told the training program is top notch. After I get through it the first time, I can go whenever there's an open slot on other voyages. Sounds ideal to me. Thanks to Captain Jeremy for pointing me in the right direction.
But I'd also like to visit my other sailing friends when possible so with any luck I can join them during one of their training periods or even on a day sail as a (non paid) deckhand. Anything I can do to expand my experience and have fun while doing it.
Got my application forms printed out so wish me luck!