If there's one thing Captain George Trowbridge is certain of, it's the need for high quality training for mariners who want to advance in their careers. "Most mariners don't know what they need to be doing now to advance to the next level," says Trowbridge, owner of Quality Maritime Training, LLC in St. Petersburg, FL. "Many mariners don't have situational awareness when it comes to their careers. They're surprised when they try to get a new license. They're simply not aware of what they need to do."By the end of his 22-year career in the United States Navy, Captain Trowbridge achieved the rank of Master Chief Quartermaster. The Navy has well-established training programs that offer what Trowbridge calls "a natural progression." In the Navy, seamen know exactly what they must do to achieve the next rank. In the commercial maritime industry, however, no such direction exists and career mariners are often on their own when it comes to their career plans. Consequently, mariners waste much of what could be productive training time at sea, and slow their ability to achieve higher licensure. "People call the Coast Guard looking for career counseling," says Trowbridge. "The Coast Guard will assist them with the application as long as they meet the criteria, but the Coast Guard application is an elimination process. If they don't meet the criteria, they won't be licensed." Mariners also look for help from maritime training schools, but this can also be a tricky proposition. "We have a lot of schools that do not have experience in the regulatory requirements for maritime licensing," says Trowbridge. "More employers are becoming engaged in the careers of their mariners. Some employers are good at it; they get educated about what mariners need to do," but for the most part, Trowbridge says that mariners looking for career guidance have few reliable sources of information."To fill this void, Trowbridge founded his first marine training school in Pensacola, FL in the 1990's, which he eventually sold to Houston Marine Training. After the sale, he worked with other maritime training schools to help develop their curricula. After building solid training programs for other schools, Trowbridge decided to offer his own training and opened his second school, Quality Maritime Training. For Trowbridge, quality is the key, not only for his own school, but also for his students who will be adequately prepared for licensure when they complete the Quality Maritime Training requirements. According to Trowbridge, many maritime schools today are designed to appeal to people who want a 6-pack license. "These are people who are looking for a mid-life career change or they're semi-retired and want to run a fishing or diving charter."For mariners who want higher tonnage experience, the quality of the training is crucial. Unfortunately, many mariners make the decision to attend classes based on which schools offer the most affordable tuition. Trowbridge also says that mariners often don't understand that they must complete training and education requirements while they're accumulating sea service. In addition to the training and certification requirements, the mariners must also complete assessments where they demonstrate proficiency required for advancement. This information is rarely supplied by low-quality mariner training schools. For the inexperienced mariner, finding schools that provide quality training and preparation can be difficult. Trowbridge advises mariners to research the schools they're interested in carefully. "Some schools are certificate mills. They'll imply to students that as long as they've paid for the course, they'll get a training certificate." Good schools have strict attendance and grading policies, and follow the Coast Guard regulations on testing. Under Coast Guard rules, a student is able to test only three times before washing out, however some schools are known to allow students to test until they pass. Trowbridge counsels prospective students to avoid these certificate mills and look for schools that offer quality training programs. Trowbridge also advises students to avoid schools that travel from place to place, offering exam-preparation style training, "Major schools have fixed locations and training centers," says Trowbridge. "They offer a full range of courses." Before determining which school to attend, a prospective student should ask questions like "How many students fail this course?" If no one fails the course, the student should look for more rigorous training opportunities. New 2010 STCW amendments, which are presumed to take effect on January 1, 2012 hold the potential for change in the maritime licensing and education industry. "The good news is that the new rules allow the Coast Guard to provide better oversight over accredited training institutions," says Trowbridge. "Approved training institutions are open for inspection by the Coast Guard at any time," he says, noting that Quality Maritime just recently had its first Coast Guard inspection. The new STCW regulations are not yet finalized, so maritime academies do not yet know what will be required by the Coast Guard for licensure when the new rules take effect. Some current license classifications are expected to be phased out, but in any circumstances, Trowbridge plans to deliver the highest quality training to students who are seeking maritime licensure. One service Quality Maritime Training does not offer is job placement. "I don't do that," says Trowbridge. "Many employers now pay for training just to keep their boats manned, and they want schools to sign agreements saying their personnel won't be solicited for employment."
For his part, Trowbridge is trying to offer the best quality, affordable maritime training to students who want to learn. "When I retired from the Navy, I was appalled at the lack of training I saw, the incompetence and the lack of caring about the incompetence among mariners. I was warned about it, but I had to see it for myself." For Trowbridge, the measure of his success at Quality Maritime Training is simple. "The big key for students is whether they left here with more than they came in with. I think they do." George Trowbridge can be reached at 727-209-1811/800-581-5509 or visit http://www.qualitymaritime.info
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