https://www.breitbart.com/national-...-s-navy-sideline-17-ships-lack-manpower/

This is what happends when you have a corrupt Govt. Nobody wants to go in.

Unions screwed up a lot of MM's in years past from entering / staying in the service

I know about unions there about the money!.

There was a ruckus a few years back about the surviving merchant marines from WW2. I think they finally did get some benefits after most had already died.
I read some stories about the merchant ships that when the gun boats were attacked and/or put on the run the merchants were often heavy loaded and were left as sitting ducks to be rammed or shelled.

Clint Walker also known as Cheyenne was a merchant marine. He told how he got into the movies when he was going for an interview and stopped to help a lady with car trouble and was late for his interview. He just knew he wouldn't get the job because of being late. He told the guy he had stopped to help a lady and that was why he was late. The guy said yes, I know That was my secretary and hired him. Too bad Hollywood went down the toilet since them days !