I want to be a captain

[harbor950]

There are a number of versions of this, I think this is the original.


Written by a ten year old schoolboy and published in the 1993 March Maritime Officer.

I want to be a captain when I grow up because it’s a funny job and easy to do. Captains don’t need much school education they just have to learn numbers so they can read the instruments. I guess they should be able to read maps so they won’t get lost. Captains should be brave so they won’t be scared if it’s foggy and they can’t see, or if a propeller falls off they should stay calm so they will know what to do. Captains have to have eyes to see through clouds and they can’t be afraid of thunder or lightning because they are closer to them than we are.
The salary that captains make is another thing I like. They make more money than they can spend. This is because most people think that captaining a ship is dangerous, except captains, because they know how easy it is. There isn’t much I don’t like, except girls like captains and all the girls want to marry captains so they always have to chase them away so they won’t bother them. I hope I don’t get seasick because I get car sick and if I get seasick I could not be a captain and then I would have to go to work.

 

[FlyWright]

I've seen a similar letter purportedly written by a young boy wanting to become a pilot. I could have written that letter in my youth.

I became a pilot because
a) I loved flying, and
b) I didn't want to work for a living.

 

[psneeld]

Sounds more like something written by one of a couple captains I know..

 

[O C Diver]

I'm a captain. Do what you like to do and you'll never work a day in your life.

Ted

 

[healhustler]

That explains it. All I need to do is to Captain the boat instead of fix it, and then it won't be work anymore.

 

[siestakey]

I never made it to captain in my 4 years of Active duty AF and 5 of FLANG

LOL

 

[what_barnacles]

I just want to see it in the flavor of "I want to be a cowboyee"

LOL

 

[alormaria]

This is just wrong. I'm in my third renewal and I've yet to be chased by any girls.

 

[Baker]

I've seen a similar letter purportedly written by a young boy wanting to become a pilot. I could have written that letter in my youth.

I became a pilot because
a) I loved flying, and
b) I didn't want to work for a living.
c) The chicks dig pilots

There....I fixed it for you!!!

 

[FlyWright]

There....I fixed it for you!!!

Thanks, Baker...I didn't want to brag!

 

[Forkliftt]

!!


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

 

[Carolena]

While not everyone is going to become a Master Unlimited in command of a large ocean going vessel, perhaps another reason to become a captain is the recent survey that listed State University of New York Maritime College as having the highest paid graduates at mid-career (it was two schools above Harvard). My brother captains a large ship and he gets a great four week on/four week off rotation. Most people get four weeks off PER YEAR. That and he and his family can live wherever they want as the company flies him to and from the ship. Oh, and he loves his job (priceless).