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Welcome back to a numbers game with Ryan Gurdowski.

Thank you guys for being here.

It is December 8th, 2025, just 17 days till Christmas.

I hope you are all having a very healthy and happy holiday season and getting prepared for whatever holiday you're celebrating.

I have gotten zero Christmas shopping whatsoever so far. So I'll be in a full-blown panic by next week.

Anyway, before I get into the topic of the day, I want to talk to the young men who are listening

or to parents who have young sons or nephews and they're looking for a job and a place.

It is a very rough time in America to sit there and find a job, especially for a young person.

I talk to young people all the time.

I came across a story over my feet and I was flabbergasted by it and I wanted to sit there and share it with

you guys. The U.S. is facing a shortage of merchant marines. Now, what is a merchant marine?

There are civilians who operate commercial ships, transporting cargo and passengers globally,

handling navigation, maintenance, and providing services crucial for trade and military support.

The government is desperate to find new merchant marines. According to the New York Times, only 810 people graduated with Coastal Guard qualifications

to work on vessels last year.

You may say, Ryan, I never thought about this.

Why would I want this job?

Salaries are well into the six figures for the military seal of command, which was I never thought about this. Why would I want this job? Salaries are well into the six

figures for the military seal of command, which was taken out of regular service last year because

the lack of civilians to work on these boats. The salary was $220,000 a year for first officers,

...