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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. Graduates of the USMMA are qualified to be officers of large commercial ships. They 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.

Until 1874, young Americans who wanted careers at sea as officers had to work their way "up the hawsepipe," learning practical seamanship and navigation as best they could. That year, Congress authorized the Navy to lend ships to leading U.S. ports "for the instruction of youths in navigation, seamanship." New York Nautical School was the first to take advantage of the Act, and the only school which survived, eventually becoming State University of New York (SUNY).

In 1891 the Pennsylvania Nautical School started operation, followed two years later by the Massachusetts Nautical School, but both limited enrollment to state residents. Other state-funded Maritime schools for the training of officers, were established in California (1929), Maine (1941), and Texas.

In response to a need for officers to man the Emergency Fleet during WW I, the United States Shipping Board set up a crash training program in 1917. The 6 week long program, limited to men who had at least 2 years sea time, was called Free Training Schools for Merchant Marine Officers. There were 6,300 graduates as WW I ended, and 11,000 by the end of the program in 1921.

Another training program was based on the 1891 Postal Aid Law and 1928 Jones-White Act which mandated that ships accepting U.S. Government mail subsidies should take cadets for training --"one American-born boy under 21" for each 1,000 tons gross weight -- to be "educated in the duties of seamanship."

Unfortunately, the selection and training of "Mail Cadets" was haphazard at best: some cadets only wanted a free trip to Europe and had no intentions of a sea career; others complained of being given only the most menial chores and no training. Of 1,987 cadets placed with 13 shipping companies between 1932 and 1937, only 100 received licenses. [Two "Mail Cadets" were killed on the Morro Castle in 1934.]

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.

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.

Due to the service of Midshipmen in every major conflict the country has been involved in since World War II, the regiment is privelaged 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.

Admission to the Academy is a rather rigorous process. In addition to requiring high GPA and high SAT/ACT scores, the Academy, along with 3 of the 4 other academies (United States Coast Guard Academy withstanding), requires that the candidate be nominated by a Representative or Senator.

Freshman, 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 ship. 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 midshipmen travels to 18 countries during this period, which totals a minimum of 300 days. 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.

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.

American Merchant Marine at War - Revolution to World War II to today. Created March 26, 1998, Last updated Sept. 8, 2006.

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