Going to a SMC for a USCG commission?

SamAca10

10-Year Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2009
Messages
1,045
Could any one inform me on if it's possible to go to a SMC for a Coast Guard Commission? I know that the Coast Guard doesn't have a ROTC program, but is it possible to receive any sort of financial aid from them or anyone else for going to a SMC? Which SMC would be best for this? Has anyone done this before?
 
http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-fit/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-programs
There are two programs that are applicable to your question. The Coast Guard has negotiated a program with 6 colleges that have a corps of cadets that allows for direct commissioning of graduates followed by a 4 week long orientation to the USCG course. I know that several cadets who graduated in 2009 from VMI commissioned under this program.That program is called Direct Commission Selected School
Norwich University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas A&M University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Military Institute
Mary Baldwin College, Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership
The requirement for elgibility is that the individual must:Have successfully completed at least two years of ROTC or equivalent regimented training, or two years at a federal military service academy
[/B]
The second program allows for the direct commissioning of Maritime graduates The Direct Commission Maritime Academy Graduate Program is available to individuals who hold a degree from a qualifying state or federal Maritime Academy and hold a Third Mate or Third assistant Engineer license, or a degree major in Marine Environmental Protection or a related field. . The colleges covered under this program are : New York (SUNY Maritime Fort Schuyler) Mass Maritime; Maine Maritime; Texas Maritime Academy /Texas A&M Galveston; California Maritime Academy & Great Lakes Maritime as well as USMMA - Kings Point

I don't believe that either of these has any kind of monthly or annual stipend associated with them ie.. these are not the same as ROTC programs. The closest that I think would be at the Maritime Colleges where they offer the Selected Incentive Program/ Merchant Marine Reserve Program (SIP/MMR) available and which leads to a USNR commission if you take a 3rd Mate or 3d Asst Engineer license. The USNR obligation can be satisfied by the USCG commission. The SIP program offers an annual $4000 payment and is applied for while a 4th class cadet (additionally -at least in New York -an SIP recipient is given in- state tuition rates.)
I would strongly urge you to look at the Maritime Colleges if you are interested in a route into the USCG. They have a number of significant professional educational opportunities that dovetail with the needs of a USCG career and additionally offer instate or in region tuition rates if you live in the states that have regional agreements with them- (there are a lot of states covered in this category). Fuji may be able to post a good deal more on this.
 
We were just at SUNY Maritime open house this weekend. I would echo bruno's advice and suggest strongly that you look at the maritime school programs if you really want a Coast Guard career. That Coast Guard third mate's license will open a lot of doors for you, and if really want it you can earn it at SUNY Maritime and (with a little extra work) still major in marine environmental science, if that's your thing. The MMR program sounds like a good deal, too.

I should add that, at SUNY Maritime and, I suspect, at the other maritime college, those who are pursuing the third mate's license (deck or engine) must be a part of the regiment of cadets (as opposed to a civilian student). While the regiment is somewhat less strict than at the SMCs -- for instance, at SUNY even freshmen have liberty every weekend -- you will still have a seperate education through the regiment in military organization and bearing.
 
Last edited:
Okay thanks! :thumb:

Just curious though, what majors are offered at a Maritime Academy? Would I be able to do electrical engineering or something like history?
 
Okay thanks! :thumb:

Just curious though, what majors are offered at a Maritime Academy? Would I be able to do electrical engineering or something like history?

Well- it's important to note that these are not primarily Liberal Arts colleges- they have Liberal Arts/humanities departments but they are engineering and technology heavy degrees for the most part.
Here is a link to the SUNY Maritime Academic page that lists all of their majors:
http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Academics/index.aspx
SUNY Maritime in addition to licensing as 3rd Asst Eng or 3rd Mate offers:
BE degrees:
Electrical Engineering; Facilities Engineering; Marine Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Naval Architecture; &
BS degrees:
International Transportation & Trade; Marine Business; Marine Environmental Science; Meteorology & Oceanography;Marine Transportation.

Mass Maritime offers the following degrees:( link is below).
http://www.maritime.edu/l2.cfm?page=6

-Marine Engineering with USCG License
• Marine Transportation with USCG License
• Facilities Engineering
• Emergency Management
• Marine Safety and Environmental Protection
• International Maritime Business
 
Last edited:
Back
Top