Coast Guard Rating · Support
BM Boatswain's Mate
Overview
Boatswain's Mates perform deck maintenance, operate small boats, support navigation and law enforcement, maintain aids to navigation, and supervise ship or station personnel. They operate hoists, cranes, and winches, stand security, navigation, or communications watches, and handle, use, and stow ropes and cables.
Core Skills
- team leadership and supervision
- operations and watchstanding
- risk assessment and safety procedures
- incident and emergency response
- basic navigation and communications
- equipment operation and basic maintenance
- training and coaching junior personnel
- documentation and reporting
- time management
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Office software
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk Revit
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Civilian Career Paths
- Transportation Management
- Facilities Management
- Project Management
- Administration
Training & Development
Getting Started
- National Entry Level Ratings
- Amateur Radio Service Operator License: Technician Class · Funded
- Basic Rigger
Career Growth
- National Able Seafarer (A/B)
- Amateur Radio Service Operator License: General Class · Funded
- 25 GT Great Lakes Master Captain
What the Work Involves
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
Related Occupations
- Sailors and Marine Oilers
- Motorboat Operators
- Ship Engineers
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: vocational training or an associate degree.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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