I am looking to become a marine science tech. I graduated with a BS in environmental science and want to go far as I can and understand the difficulty that goes behind it in doing so. As enlisted you have to take the ASVAB and score 115 (VE, AR) and 58 (MK) is there a site that can explain this and how to study for it? In the OCS there is no ASVAD (if that's true). What do the tests involve and what's the difference in the roles of an MST as enlisted and an officer and also in the reserve and in active duty?

My son is a BM2, but is filling an MST billett in New York. In the past 3 years he has finished all his qualifications to switch rating to MST if he chooses to. His job entails LOTS of ship boarding activity on vessels entering NY harbor. They search for drugs,illegal cargo, immigration, pollution etc to make sure ships coming into port are safe and legal. They also do a ton of portside container inspections, petroleum facility inspections, and pollution control. In his spare time, he rides the ferries in a homeland security mission. He gets alot of paperwork as well.It's a popular misconception that MST's are "duckscrubbers".He has yet to scrub a duck,or anything else that files, walks or crawls.
He has, however, been involved in several very large cocaine busts. Frosting on the cake is he is always the guy who gets to ride the Queen Mary to/from NY harbor when she arrives in America.He says the buffet is great!

Macie (OldGuard) can tell you all about the Officer side of things. Her ex is a Commander in the MST rating.

Good luck!

Pepper

That's true, my ex enlisted in the CG in 85 and became an MST. In 1990 he attended OCS and all he has ever done is M work. He has yet to scrub a duck as well. But he has inspected 100's of ships, he has traveled around the world doing inspections (Paris, Rio de Janiero, Mexico, Ireland, Russia). Currently he is serving a tour in Iraq. His official title is Port Advisory Coordinating Element, Officer in-Charge, similar to a Captain of the Port scenario in job but doing a lot more trying to set up the Iraqi's with good port security and control.

It's true he isn't jumping out of helo's rescuing downed fisherman but he was first on scene in Alaska to a cruise ship fire in the mid 80's while he was still enlisted. He safely organized a full evacuation of the cruise ship. So even MST's do their part in saving lives. Also if you have ever seen the video of a fishing boat that is floundering and an ice cold wave washes over the desk, sweeping 3 men into the Bering Sea... he was on the helicopter that was filming that.

M is a great life!!! Enlisted side was exciting & challenging, Officer side is just as challenging & exciting... either side of that house is exactly what you make it! If you send me a PM I'll pass along your email to Jim, I'm sure he will gladly tell you about both sides of M.

Good luck!
Macie

for some reason I can send you a message so here is my e-mail elijah.zukowski@xxxxxxxx.edu
thank you very much!

I edited your email address. It is never a good thing to post your email address on a live forum, someone might spam it or set it up to send all sorts of garbage. I did receive your PM with your email, so it's all good. I will write Jim and ask him to contact you! Macie