Deck Cadet Jobs
Deck Cadet jobs are open across commercial shipping, cruise lines, offshore energy, and inland waterway transport, from entry-level trainee roles to cadet officer positions, with specializations in navigation, cargo operations, and vessel safety. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Join a mission-driven organization that supports Civil Air Patrol’s nationwide Cadet Programs! We’re seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and creative Project Administrator to support its national cadet aviation programs. This position provides essential financial, administrative, marketing, and logistical support for aviation scholarship programs, flight training initiatives, National Flight Academies, and other youth aviation activities. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who enjoys working with numbers, creating engaging content, coordinating projects, and supporting a mission-driven team. Success in this position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong technical skills, and a positive, can-do attitude.
Salary Range: $52,000 -$65,000 (annually), based on experience and qualifications.
What You’ll Do
Financial Administration
- Process and track invoices, purchase orders, reimbursements, and vendor payments in coordination with program management and CAP Finance.
- Support financial administration for more than 100 vendors, representing approximately $3 million annually.
Program and Project Administration
- Support program planning, timelines, milestone tracking, and coordination of administrative deliverables.
- Assist with data collection, program reporting, surveys, and presentations.
Marketing and Communications
- Create engaging social media content, graphics, and promotional materials highlighting aviation programs and cadet achievements.
- Coordinate marketing mailouts, welcome packages, recognition materials, and branded merchandise.
Equipment and Logistics
- Maintain accurate inventory and tracking records for aviation equipment, supplies, and promotional materials.
- Coordinate packaging, shipping, receipt, and distribution of equipment and materials nationwide.
What We’re Looking For
Education: High school diploma or GED with additional education or professional training in business administration, communications, marketing, or a related field.
Experience:
- Experience in financial administration, accounts payable, bookkeeping, or vendor payment processing.
- Minimum two years of experience in administrative support, program coordination, marketing, or a related role.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Canva, including creating graphics, presentations, social media content, and print-ready materials.
- Experience using Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and cloud-based collaboration platforms.
- Familiarity with project management principles, including scheduling, task tracking, and deadline management.
- Strong attention to financial accuracy, recordkeeping, organization, and detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and collaborate effectively with a team.
- Positive, proactive, can-do attitude with demonstrated initiative and problem-solving abilities.
- Experience with equipment inventory, shipping coordination, or logistics preferred.
- Familiarity with Civil Air Patrol, nonprofit organizations, or youth development programs preferred.
- Aviation-related experience or education preferred.
- Experience working with volunteers and distributed teams preferred.
Certifications: None
Why You’ll Love It Here
- Impact a national organization dedicated to serving our communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
- Experience a workplace defined by high morale and genuine enthusiasm.
- Work in a collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth.
Benefits
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans.- Flexible Spending Accounts: Health and dependent care.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) with employer match.
- Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick and personal leave, and holidays.
- Professional Development: Training programs and certification support.
- Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage.
- Supplemental Insurance: Disability, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity.
Discover Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery isn’t just the capital of Alabama—it’s a city rich in history and full of modern charm. Here’s why you’ll love living and working here:
Affordable Living: Cost of living is about 12–14% lower than the national average, with housing costs nearly 25% lower than average.- Historic & Cultural Significance: Walk in the footsteps of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at civil rights landmarks, museums, and memorials.
- Thriving Downtown: A revitalized riverfront district with trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and arts venues like the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
- Outdoor Recreation: Enjoy scenic views along the Alabama River, Riverfront Park, and nearby hiking trails.
- Education & Community: Home to top colleges like Auburn University at Montgomery and Alabama State University, plus a strong sense of Southern hospitality.
- Central Location: Easy access to Birmingham, Atlanta, and Gulf Coast beaches for weekend getaways.
Montgomery blends Southern charm, cultural depth, and affordability, making it an ideal place to build your career and enjoy life.
Why Work for Civil Air Patrol
At Civil Air Patrol (CAP), you are joining a mission-driven national organization working to save lives, strengthen communities, and shape the next generation of leaders. As the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP blends the purpose of public service with the innovation and agility of a modern nonprofit. Every role contributes directly to meaningful service in America’s communities.
Our people advance youth development, aerospace education, and provide trusted emergency response mission support for military, civil, and government agencies. Working at CAP means collaborating with passionate professionals and skilled volunteers across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and more than 1,400 communities.
We offer an environment where your work makes a visible impact. Employees support first responders after natural disasters, contribute to Air Force-assigned missions, and empower thousands of cadets nationwide. You will be part of a team committed to service, innovation, and continuous learning, with opportunities to grow your career while supporting critical community and national needs.
If you want a career with purpose, teamwork, and the chance to make a difference every day, Civil Air Patrol is where your work truly matters.
Background Check: The successful completion of a comprehensive background check is mandatory for this role. This is a critical component of our child protection policy and our commitment to providing a safe environment for minors.
To apply, submit a detailed resume. This position does not offer a relocation package. Salary range: $52,000 - $65,000. Closing date: 16 November 2026.
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Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in deck cadet jobs.
- STCW Basic Safety Training certification from an accredited maritime institution
- Enrollment in or completion of an accredited maritime academy cadet program
- Valid Merchant Mariner Credential or proof of active application with the USCG
- Proficiency in COLREGS Rules of the Road and basic chart navigation
- Documented sea service hours aboard commercial or training vessels
- Physical fitness standards meeting USCG or company-specified medical requirements
Tips for Your Deck Cadet Job Search
List your STCW certifications prominently
Hiring managers for deck cadet roles scan for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping credentials before reading anything else. Put your STCW Basic Safety Training modules at the top of your resume, not buried in an appendix.
Tailor your sea service record
Your discharge book or sea service letters are your proof of sea time. Format them by vessel type, gross tonnage, and trade area so recruiters can confirm you meet the flag state's minimum watchkeeping hours at a glance.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists deck cadet openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your endorsements and vessel experience and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by vessel type
Filter openings by vessel category, tanker, bulker, container, or passenger, because each uses different cargo systems and watchkeeping procedures. Applying to roles that match your onboard experience shortens the vetting process significantly.
Prepare for practical seamanship questions
Deck cadet interviews often include scenario questions on COLREGS Rule of the Road, chart plotting, and emergency muster procedures. Review your navigation fundamentals and be ready to walk through a watchkeeping handover from memory.
Negotiate your joining date, not just your wage
Vessel rotations and port schedules are fixed well in advance, so your joining date is often the most flexible term in an offer. Confirm the rotation cycle, relief schedule, and home time before accepting so the contract fits your life.
Deck Cadet Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most deck cadets?
The most active employers for deck cadets right now are Dollar General, PINAL COUNTY, and Fort Worth Independent School District, and the most openings are in Missouri, Texas, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Shipping companies, cruise operators, and offshore service firms account for the bulk of active postings.
How many deck cadet jobs are remote?
About 0% of deck cadet openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, vessel-based nature of the role. Shore-side training coordination, maritime academy administration, and cadet program management roles are the sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility.
How do you become a deck cadet?
You enroll in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved maritime academy or cadet training program, complete your STCW Basic Safety Training, and accumulate the required sea service hours aboard a training or commercial vessel. After graduation you apply for a Merchant Mariner Credential with the appropriate officer endorsement and begin your watchkeeping career at the deck officer level.
Can you get a deck cadet job with no prior sea experience?
Yes, most entry-level deck cadet positions are designed for candidates still in or just out of a maritime academy, so employers expect limited sea time. What matters most is your STCW certification, your enrollment or graduation status, strong academic performance in navigation and seamanship subjects, and any time spent on training voyages or cadet shipping pools.
What does the deck cadet interview process look like?
Most employers start with a credentials review to confirm your STCW certificates and sea service record, followed by a technical interview covering COLREGS, basic watchkeeping procedures, and emergency response protocols. Some operators add a medical fitness assessment and a practical chart or simulator exercise before extending an offer and assigning a vessel rotation.
Where can I find and apply to deck cadet jobs?
You can find and apply to deck cadet jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your certifications and vessel experience, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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