Seamanship Deckhand - Ordinary Seaman
Training Programs > Transportation

Seamanship Deckhand - Ordinary Seaman

Potential earnings range:
$37,440-$75,483*
Per year after graduation

Want to work outdoors and on the open water? Are you attentive, dependable and persistent? Enjoy cooking and caring for others? 

Then you may be a good fit for Job Corps’ Seamanship Deckhand – Ordinary Seaman training program.

On the job, you will ...

  • Respond to fire, flooding, medical emergencies and man-overboard situations 
  • Perform basic navigation skills, including knot-tying and blueprint-reading 
  • Coil and throw heavy mooring lines 
  • Identify and clean galley equipment 
  • Prepare a 14-day menu for up to 60 people on a specific budget that includes a variety of foods, such as breakfast, pasta, meats and baked goods 

Some of the career options you will have ... 

Most Seamanship graduates go to work on ships or other sailing vessels. Work schedules and weather conditions vary depending on the type of ship. Most travel for long periods of time and work long hours while they are on the ship. 

The credentials you will earn ...  

This is the first level of basic training offered in the Seamanship series. In the Seamanship Deckhand – Ordinary Seaman training program, you will earn industry-recognized credentials and/or state licensure. You will undergo a Certification and Watchkeeping Assessment as well. Students should also earn a state-issued learner’s permit and driver’s license upon completion of the program. 

What you’ll need to start training ...  

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent (can be earned at all Job Corps centers) 
  • Completion of all introductory and career preparation courses 
  • Passing scores on all written and performance tests 
  • Meet academic (math and reading) requirements 
* Salary information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Program and is provided for planning purposes only. Actual salary will depend on student skill level, credentials earned, experience level and location.

Need help meeting one or more of these requirements?

Don’t worry! At Tongue Point Job Corps Center, our staff will help you along your journey to make sure you have all the tools and resources you need to check those boxes and start your training

Meet your instructors

Meet your instructors

Len Tumbarello
Len Tumbarello has been the director of Seamanship at Tongue Point Job Corps Center since 2013. In this role, Len leads a team of 12 instructors to help students achieve the necessary qualifications for a career in the maritime industry, and in 2015, he helped double the Seamanship program from 60 to 120 students. Len retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2013 after 28 years of service and now is able to pass his experiences on to his students.