Jamko Foundation Incorporated

Peer Level Technical Assistance including: grant research training, program development, fiscal and fiduciary support. We seek to develop relationships with local mission-aligned agencies to increase their capacity and ensure their resiliency. JAMKO focuses on building capacity, strengthening and deploying servant leaders.

Jamko operates a merchant marine training and credentialing program from historic museum ships moored at California ports. Jamko provides skills-based vocational training that aligns with the Onet Occupation for Sailors and Marine Oilers 53-5011.00. The program helps trainees attain the required documents, coursework, physicals and drug tests to acquire a Merchant Mariner Credential and begin work. This opportunity is offered at no cost to trainees, includes wraparound supportive services such as financial literacy and culturally relevant counseling. A person with no high school diploma, no GED and no prior work experience, can complete our 12 week program and begin work as a licensed union Merchant Seafarer with a starting median union wage of $47K, plus benefits, retirement and global travel. Salaries can rise to $100,000+ (USD) in less than 3 years. Strong upward mobility and a shortage of American seafarers means that a young sailor can enjoy a long, prosperous career. Our program helps trainees attain the required documents, coursework, physicals and drug tests to acquire a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) and begin work. Our training model addresses key challenges facing youth seeking employment. Those obstacles are training and exposure to high-quality jobs with sustainable wages, benefits, and pathways for advancement. This is especially for youth and adults from underserved and disinvested communities. Merchant Mariners are licensed, union civilians working for private shipping companies or as non-military personnel on government vessels. The newly credentialed sailors choose to work for a government agency or join one of three maritime unions: Seafarer's Int'l Union (SIU), Marine Fireman's (MFOW), or Sailors Union of the Pacific (SUP). Industry demand is high as sea billets (jobs) are understaffed so 100% of our graduates have been going to work as Merchant Seafarers. Jamko seeks to introduce maritime careers and make the training and documentation attainable by paying direct training and documentation costs.