United States Merchant Marine Academy

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. It is charged with training officers for the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the military, or the transportation industry.

Midshipmen (as students at the Academy are called) are trained in navigation, ship's administration, maritime rules, personnel management, international law, Customs, electrical and mechanical systems, and many other subjects important to the task of running a large ship.

History

Aerial view of United States Merchant Marine Academy

Between 1874 and 1936, diverse Federal legislation supported maritime training through schoolships, internships at sea and other methods. A disastrous fire in 1934 aboard the passenger ship NS Morro Castle, in which 134 lives were lost, convinced the U.S. Congress that direct Federal involvement in efficient and standardized training was needed.

Congress passed the landmark Merchant Marine Act in 1936, and two years later, the U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps was established. The first training was given at temporary facilities until the Academy's permanent site in Kings Point, New York was acquired in early 1942. Construction of the Academy began immediately, and 15 months later the task was virtually completed. The Academy was dedicated on September 30, 1943, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who noted that "the Academy serves the Merchant Marine as West Point serves the Army and Annapolis the Navy."

World War II required the Academy to forego normal operation and devote all of its resources toward meeting the emergency need for merchant marine officers. Enrollment rose to 2,700, and the planned course of instruction was reduced in length from four years to 18 months. Not-withstanding the war, shipboard training continued to be an integral part of the Academy curriculum, and midshipmen served at sea in combat zones the world over. One hundred and forty-two midshipmen gave their lives in service to their country, and many others survived torpedo and aerial attacks. From 1942-1945, the Academy graduated 6,895 officers.

World War II proved that the Academy could successfully meet the needs of a nation in conflict. As the war drew to a close, plans were made to convert the Academy's wartime curriculum to a four-year, college level program to meet the peacetime requirements of the merchant marine. In 1948 such a course was instituted.

The Academy has since grown in stature and has become one of the world's foremost institutions in the field of maritime education. Authorization for awarding the degree of bachelor of science to graduates was granted by Congress in 1949; the Academy was fully accredited as a degree-granting institution that same year; it was made a permanent institution by an Act of Congress in 1956.

The Academy's national value was again recognized as it accelerated graduating classes during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, and for its involvement in such programs as training officers of the first U.S. nuclear powered merchant ship, the NS Savannah.

Admission requirements were amended in 1974 and the Academy became the first federal service academy to enroll women students, two years ahead of Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard.

During the Persian Gulf conflict in early 1991, and for many months prior to the war, both Academy graduates and midshipmen played key roles in the massive sealift of military supplies to the Middle East. Midshipmen training at sea also participated in the humanitarian sealift to Somalia in Operation Restore Hope.

Most recently, Academy midshipmen and graduates have been involved in many facets of the War in Iraq. Many graduates were involved in the transportation of supplies during the buildup to the war in 2003. Many graduates in the Naval Reserve have been called to serve supporting Naval roles in ports in Iraq and Kuwait. Graduates who have entered other branches of the service have had more direct roles in Iraq. Aaron Seesan, a 2003 graduate and Army Lieutenant, was the first graduate to give his life for his country during a war since Vietnam.

George W. Bush delivering the commencement address at the Academy.

Due to the service of Midshipmen in every major conflict the country has been involved in since World War II, the regiment is privileged to carry a regimental battle standard. The Merchant Marine Academy is the only Federal Service Academy granted the right to do so, and the standard is carried with the colors at all times. Campaign ribbons from all the conflicts Midshipmen have taken part in help to dress the battle standard, and bring honor to the academy and her midshipmen.

While the Academy's curriculum has changed dramatically since 1943 to reflect the technological advances of America's merchant marine, the institution has maintained its unswerving commitment to quality education and excellence among its midshipmen.

The American Merchant Marine Museum is located at the campus in Kings Point, New York.

On 19 June 2006, United States President George W. Bush gave the commencement address at the Academy. He used the opportunity to make a major foreign policy initiative on the Iranian nuclear program. He was the first sitting President to visit the Academy. The address was the first time an American President addressed the Academy.

Admissions

Admission to the Academy is a rather rigorous process. In addition to requiring high GPA and high SAT/ACT scores, the Academy, along with all of the other academies except the United States Coast Guard Academy, requires that the candidate be nominated by a Representative or Senator.

Applicants are required to write an essay, get letters of recommendation from 3 sources (including one from the guidance counsellor), take the DoDMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) physical, and take a Physical Fitness Exam.

Organization

The entire student body is referred to as the Regiment. The Regiment is subdivided into two battalions and five companies: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Band with First and Second Companies making up First Battalion and Third and Fourth Companies making up Second Battalion. Assignment to a company is said to be random, though a candidate who can play an instrument will probably be assigned to Band Company.

Curriculum

Freshmen, known as plebes, start in early July where they begin a two and a half week indoctrination period, also known as "indoc." Indoc is functionally run by upperclassmen but is overseen by officers and a Gunnery Sergeant from the US Marine Corps. This high stress period involves physical training, marching, and an intensive introduction to military life at the academy.

Academy students, known as midshipmen, focus on one of two different areas of education: transportation or engineering. Transportation students learn about navigation of a ship, cargo handling, and maritime rules. Engineering students learn about the function of the ship's engines and its supporting systems.

For part of sophomore and junior year, known at the Academy as third class and second class year, students work as cadets on regular American merchant ships. Midshipmen are typically paired two to a ship, one engineering cadet and one deck cadet. Midshipmen work and function as part of the crew and gain an opportunity for generous amounts of hands-on experience as well as the opportunity to travel abroad to many different foreign ports. The average midshipman travels to 18 countries during this period, which totals a minimum of 300 days. Due to this absence from the Academy, the remaining three academic years span from late July, through mid-June.

At the end of 1st class (senior) year, midshipmen prepare for exams to be licensed as either 3rd assistant engineers or 3rd mates. All American merchant officers must be licensed by the US Coast Guard.

Life after graduation

Midshipmen are required to maintain their Coast Guard license for 6 years. They are also required to remain in the Navy Reserve or a reserve component of their choice for 8 years. Merchant Marine Academy Midshipmen have the unique opportunity to join any branch of the service upon graduation, though most remain in the US Navy. Midshipmen that do not go into active duty service are required to serve in the maritime industry for at least 5 years following graduation, and the industry is eager to hire them.

Museum

The USMMA also is the home of the American Merchant Marine Museum. The museum houses the Academy's collection of marine art and artifacts. The museum contains a learning center which is open to the regiment and the public, as well as a number of exhibits.

The museum also houses the National Maritime Hall of Fame. The only permanent exhibit of its kind in the nation, the Hall of Fame honors people and ships important to American oceanic, coastal, inland waterway and Great Lakes shipping. Inductees into the Hall of Fame must have been deceased, or sunk or scrapped, for at least five years. Only one person and one ship are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.

Among the museum's many items are the world's largest collection of navigation and nautical instruments, and the only extensive selection of ship's china, on display anywhere in the world.

Notable graduates

* Alex Bonner, '43, Emmy Award winning radio and television producer and broadcast executive
* Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, '79 USN, Deputy Director Surface Warfare, former commanding officer USS Carney and DESRON-31, Slated Commander USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) Carrier Strike Group
* Vice Admiral Kevin Cossgriff, '71 USN, Deputy Commander Fleet Forces Command, Former Commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt %28CVN-71%29 Battle Group during Operation Enduring Freedom, USS Robert G. Bradley and DESRON-32
* Kenneth DeGhetto, '43, Chariman of the Board, Foster Wheeler
* Ambassador Admiral Romulo M. Espaldon, '50 Philippine Navy (Ret), Former Commander of the Philippine Southern Command and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia & Yemen
* Vice Admiral Albert J. Herberger, USN '55, first Kings Pointer to become a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Former Head of the U.S. Maritime Administration under President Bill Clinton
* CDR Mark E. Kelly, USN, Class '86 Space Shuttle pilot, STS-108 Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-121 Space Shuttle Discovery
* Lane Kirkland, Former head of AFL-CIO
* Robert Kiyosaki, Author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books
* Captain Leo Kraszeski, '44, CEO Sailors Snug Harbor
* Warren G. Leback, '44 Former Head of the U.S. Maritime Administration under President George H.W. Bush
* Martin Lewis Perl, Nobel Laureate
* Skip Prosser, Wake Forest Basketball Coach
* Vice Admiral Robert Scarborough, USCG '44, first Kings Pointer to become a Vice Admiral in the US Coast Guard, Former Deputy Commandant of the US Coast Guard
* Captain William G. Schubert, '74, Head of the U.S. Maritime Administration under President George W. Bush
* Elliott See, Project Gemini astronaut
* Rear Admiral Carl J. Seiberlich, USN '43, first Kings Pointer to achieve Flag Rank, Commanded USS Ticonderoga, USS Mayo, USS Salamonie and the aircraft carrier USS Hornet for the recovery of both the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 crews after their return from the moon
* Judge Joseph B. Williams, '44, First African-American Graduate, New York Supreme Court Judge