I remember looking into working the industry when I first got out of the Navy as a certified Surface Warfare Officer having stood watch as an Officer of the Deck, CIC watch officer, and engineering watch officer.
Merchant shipping industry didn’t consider any of this or schooling at USNA to be applicable to the commercial industry for certification or licensing. Made no sense to me then or now.
I think they are giving credit to USCG now.
And that may be the clue why they wouldn’t give Navy credit. The CG runs the licensing & documentation.
There were a lot of WWII navy vets, both licensed and unlicensed when I started sailing in the 60’s