I have lurked here for a while but this is my first post. My son received an appointment to USMMA last week and plans to accept. We are very excited for him. Honestly until last spring I didn't know what USMMA was. Family keeps asking "so he's joining the Marines?' Any advice on how to quickly describe USMMA?
How to explain USMMA
- Thread starter Robotmom
- Start date
Mr.2021
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2016
- Messages
- 68
Put simply, USMMA is a federal academy to produce (American) licensed deck and engine officers to serve aboard vessels.
The service requirement (if one graduates) is:
1) Maintain USCG license for 6 years
2) Serve in domestic / foreign commerce (shipping) for 5 years
3) Maintain US Naval Reserve Commission for 8 years
OR
1) Serve 5 years active duty (any branch)
The service requirement (if one graduates) is:
1) Maintain USCG license for 6 years
2) Serve in domestic / foreign commerce (shipping) for 5 years
3) Maintain US Naval Reserve Commission for 8 years
OR
1) Serve 5 years active duty (any branch)
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2009
- Messages
- 1,462
It pains me but ... "Its like Annapolis but for commercial ships like cruise ships and oil tankers."
azmilmom
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2016
- Messages
- 576
That is the best video explaining USMMA! Get used to explaining USMMA to a generally ignorant population. But, the great news is that every time you effectively explain us, you spread the word about our unique Academy and the options and experiences it offers. It is long, but I read and reread the official USMMA 'About us' section until I got it down fairly well.
"The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of our country's five federal service academies. Like the ones you've heard about like West Point or the Naval Academy, USMMA serves the United States in times of peace and war, but in the operation of our vitally important merchant fleet which transports goods, personnel, vehicles, etc. Unlike the other service academies, the graduates can choose to serve our country in either the maritime industry while serving in the reserve of the armed forces, or active duty in the service branch of their choice. And yes, they may choose the Marines!"
And tugboats. . . . . dare I say . . certainly more berths available on them than cruise ships. . . .
Should your son graduate and continue a track as a mariner, it will be a question that he will always get. When I sailed, most folks would ask me questions like, "Where are you stationed?", "When do you go on leave?", or my favorite, "What do you do at night?". I would just tell them that he is going to be training to work as a merchant marine officer (deck or engine, if he has decided, and it won't confuse them). The awareness regarding our merchant marine with the average American is non existent, and it shows in the current condition of the US merchant fleet.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2008
- Messages
- 20,624
Since I spent quite a bit of my career with Military Sealift Command, and subsequently with many KP grads as well as other maritime school grads, I often found myself explaining their school to other Navy folks. I usually described USMMA as one of the five Federal academies, with a mission of producing maritime professionals for afloat and ashore work, with Navy Reserve commissions, and that their school had a dual mission that could uniquely send their grads to active duty careers in all the Armed Services, and the uniformed service NOAA. I would point out the Master of the USNS Ship Name, the fleet oiler which had just deftly unrepped their Navy destroyer (underway replenishment, refueling at sea), was also a Navy Reserve Captain and was due to go to the unit he commanded for his active duty time. Not all USMMA grads go on with their USNR career after the required time, but many do. They are master mariners, and fine officers.
Perhaps you could also mention the story of the battle standard. This was taken from the website. It is an important story to share:
Story of the Battle Standard
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is privileged among the nation's five federal academies to be the only institution authorized to carry a battle standard as part of its color guard. The proud and colorful battle standard perpetuates the memory of the 142 Academy cadet/midshipmen who were casualties of World War II.
During times of war, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard engage in combat, but the students at their respective service academies do not. However, the students of the USMMA receive an integral part of their training at sea, and in the Second World War often found their lives in peril as they sailed through enemy-controlled waters or unloaded precious cargo in overseas combat areas. In all, 142 such cadet/midshipmen never returned to home port.
In their memory, the battle standard bears the number "142" on its field of red, white and blue. In its center is the eagle of the Academy's seal in blue and gray, the school colors, and the anchor of the merchant marine in gold. From its top hang the ribbons which represent the various combat zones in which the Academy's cadet/midshipmen served.
Story of the Battle Standard
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is privileged among the nation's five federal academies to be the only institution authorized to carry a battle standard as part of its color guard. The proud and colorful battle standard perpetuates the memory of the 142 Academy cadet/midshipmen who were casualties of World War II.
During times of war, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard engage in combat, but the students at their respective service academies do not. However, the students of the USMMA receive an integral part of their training at sea, and in the Second World War often found their lives in peril as they sailed through enemy-controlled waters or unloaded precious cargo in overseas combat areas. In all, 142 such cadet/midshipmen never returned to home port.
In their memory, the battle standard bears the number "142" on its field of red, white and blue. In its center is the eagle of the Academy's seal in blue and gray, the school colors, and the anchor of the merchant marine in gold. From its top hang the ribbons which represent the various combat zones in which the Academy's cadet/midshipmen served.
azmilmom
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2016
- Messages
- 576
MSC is not the merchant marine, and MSC employees are not really merchant mariners, they are DoD civilians mariners. I don't think anybody has gone to NOAA in years. Most MSC masters are not from USMMA and do not know much about USMMA, also the number of MSC masters who are O-6's in the Navy Reserve is a few at most.
Using experience with MSC to frame the Merchant Marine Academy is probably not the best idea. I spent months on a replenishment vessel working on those Un-reps, and the attitude towards the warships was, "Wow, those Navy guys are shmucks, they're working an Un-Rep at 2100 for zero overtime, we're all making double our hourly rate. Why would anybody join the navy?"
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2008
- Messages
- 20,624
USMMA sends its grads into such an array of career paths, it’s always very impressive to me. The alumni slice I know, deck and engineering officers serving as Navy civil service mariners, those with lines such as Maersk who have DOD contracts to operate and maintain ships, the spot contract ships, the harbor and river pilots, the ocean-going tugs in and out of MSC, the shore-based marine engineers and operations officers and cargo specialists, the ones in the Reserve sealift units attached to MSC commands, the grads I met in the CG and other services, in the Propeller Clubs in various port cities I was stationed, the grads on staff at USMMA when I visit there on business - a pretty great group of professionals, everyone justifiably proud of KP and its unique nature.
Last edited:
Hell, I have had three careers since graduation. I sailed as an engineer for many years, then came ashore and worked as a Class Surveyor for 10 years. For the last 20+, I have been a loss adjuster for energy and marine claims. I have run across and worked with several KP alumni in all three.