Marine Science Technician (MST) is an

enlisted Enlisted may refer to: * Enlisted rank An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or ...

rate in the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...

. They are specialists in enforcing Federal Maritime Laws for

Marine Safety Marine safety is one of the eleven Missions of the United States Coast Guard, missions of the United States Coast Guard. Coast Guard personnel inspect commercial vessels, respond to pollution, investigate marine casualties and merchant mariners, m ...

, Marine Security, and

Environmental Protection Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals, organizations and governments. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair dam ...

Typical Duties

* Commercial Vessel Inspections Boarding and examining foreign flagged commercial ships via

Port State Control Port state control (PSC) is an inspection regime for countries to inspect foreign-registered ships in port other than those of the flag state and take action against ships that are not in compliance. Inspectors for PSC are called PSC officers (PS ...

Inspections to ensure compliance with international and federal regulations covering lifesaving equipment, safety, pollution control, operations, prevention of introduction of invasive species, and crew welfare. Domestic vessel inspections including fishing vessels, passenger vessels, and cruise ships. * Waterfront Facility Safety and Security - Conduct safety and security inspections of waterfront facilities such as cargo terminals, refineries, and passenger ferry/cruise terminals, to prevent accidental and intentional disruptions in the maritime community. * Pollution Response and Prevention - Investigation and response to marine oil spills and chemical releases to determine responsibility and contain the spill. Manage multi-agency responses and notifications, and provide oversight during the cleanup of these spills. To prevent future spills, MSTs work with industries to create contingency plans to protect nearby sensitive wildlife areas from potential spills. * Marine Casualty Investigations - Investigate vessel incidents that result in loss of life, serious injuries, oil spills,

hazmat Dangerous goods, abbreviated DG, are substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials ( syllabi ...

spills, or high levels of property damage. * Container Inspections -

Shipping container A shipping container is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. In the context of ...

examinations and searches at ports. Enforce shipping laws for hazardous material compatibility and reactivity in containers. * Waterways Management - Management of waterway usage for events and during times of disaster. * Disaster Response - During and after disasters such as the

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill The ''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spill (also referred to as the "BP oil spill") was an industrial disaster that began on 20 April 2010 off of the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect, considere ...

or a major

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

, MSTs are deployed to respond to environmental emergencies, ensure maritime safety, coordinate federal agency response, and manage waterway/port recovery. * Explosives Handling - Oversight and management of explosives loading at shipping ports * Boarding Team Member - Boarding vessels for law enforcement purposes * Other standard Coast Guard duties - An MST will be assigned to standard Coast Guard duties as required by the operational tempo of the unit the member is assigned to. File:121102-G-OA962-367_(8164098136).jpg File:Defense.gov_photo_essay_100506-N-6070S-371.jpg File:Coast Guard Oversees Oil Spill Clean Up DVIDS180597.jpg File:US Navy 091003-F-3798Y-136 U. S. Coast Guard Marine Science Technician 2nd Class Ryan Erpelding, assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Hawaii, moves a barrel with hazardous waste towards the back of a truck in Pago Pago, American.jpg File:US Navy 091029-N-7095C-137 Marine Science Technician 2nd Class John Daughters.jpg . File:Coast Guard leads multi-agency port operation DVIDS1098890.jpg File:Pollution_Patrol_(6831015406).jpg File:Coast Guard encounters injured sea lion during environmental surge operations 151016-G-BT948-077.jpg File:Aerial_Observation_Pre-Tropical_Depress_DVIDS1097364.jpg File:Members of Sector Baltimore help release rehabilitated Canada geese 160222-G-CF771-024.jpg File:US Coast Guard marine science technician, assesses the South Carolina waterways from the air,.jpg File:U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Carrillo, Marine science technician stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy.jpg File:Coast_Guard_inspects_first_container_vessel_to_enter_the_Great_Lakes_140419-G-ZZ999-002.jpg File:Coast Guard inspects dinner cruise ship DVIDS1099884.jpg File:Coast_Guard_unit_conducts_security_checks_i_DVIDS1095482.jpg

History

Around 1962,

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

enlisted members began being assigned to carry out routine oceanographic observations on ocean stations, ice breakers, and oceanographic ships. These billets were filled by Aerographers Mates (AG) and

Sonarmen Sonar technician (abbreviated as ST) is a United States Navy occupational rating. STs are responsible for underwater surveillance. They assist in safe navigation and aid in search, rescue and attack operations. They operate and repair sonar equi ...

(SO) until in November 1968, when the decision was made to create a new rating. The new rating absorbed the AG rating and functions and SOs were given the option of converting. The rating supported the Coast Guard's Ocean Weather Station Programs, Aviation Support Programs,

International Ice Patrol The International Ice Patrol is an organization with the purpose of monitoring the presence of icebergs in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and reporting their movements for safety purposes. It is operated by United States Coast Guard but is fun ...

, and Polar Ice Operations Program, among others. The official name of Marine Science Technician was adopted in 1970.

Training and qualification

The MST rate requires high ASVAB scores. Prospective MSTs must meet

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It is o ...

(ASVAB) score requirements of 114 in Verbal Ability plus Arithmetic Reasoning (VE+AR), and a minimum Mathematics Knowledge (MK) score of 56. Training for the rating is accomplished through a 12-week course at USCG Training Center Yorktown, VA. Upon graduation, MSTs may go on to pursue qualifications such as Pollution Responder, Federal On-Scene Coordinator's Representative, Facility Inspector, Container Inspector, Port State Control Examiner, Port State Control Officer (with vessel type classification) and other specialized qualifications.

References

http://www.uscg.mil/epm/AO/Non-Rate/Rate%20Requirements.asp {{Reflist

External links

Fleet Reserve Association August 2013 issue, USCG Marine Science Technicians
United States Coast Guard job titles

Typical Duties

History

Training and qualification

See also

References

External links