Yesterday I found out that I received a nomination to USMMA! I have a few different questions about the school. My planned major is in marine engineering, and I know that I could join the Coast Guard with that. Does anyone here have any information about that major? Also, for sea year, do you only have to read a book and write an essay, or is there other work too? Thank you!
Nom + Questions
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KamsDadQB1
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Congratulations. You can actually commission in any branch after graduation. When you say "information about the major", what do u mean? U can get the course curriculum from the website. My son will be majoring in the that degree plan as well.
I saw the page for marine engineering, but I didn't know if there was any other insider information, maybe about good teachers or cool class projects, etc.
Congratulations on your nomination. You can look up the curriculum for each of the three marine engineering majors on the USMMA website. Sea year projects are WAY more than reading a book. As an engine cadet, you will have humanities projects, but you will also have basic deck projects and complicated engineering projects. Many (most) of the projects are ship specific including drawing diagrams of all the major systems in the ship. Each project will have to be signed off by the Chief Engineer on your ship or his/her designee. Most of the Chief engineers are pretty demanding that you be able to understand and explain everything about the ship's engine room and propulsion system before they sign you off. These projects are in addition to your regular 8-12 hour work days which sometimes go seven days per week depending on your ship. When you return from sea, you will have written and oral tests by designated faculty at USMMA to test your knowledge again. Many mids fail sea projects and get set back or disenrolled. Sea year is no walk in the park. You will definitely earn every one of those credits. It is one of the best experiential learning environments anywhere.
Drenns3
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Take a look at the recent post "It's Been a rough winter...." that will give you some idea what could happen at sea, too.
Congrats on your nomination.
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I sailed merchant ships for 18 years. Saw lots of cadets...your hours and what tasks the Officers assign to you will vary depending upon those Officer (Chief Engineer & 1st Assist. Engineer for you). You can learn a lot. Most, not all, of the Officers have been in similar shoes as you-so the tend to assign the right amount and type of work to cadets. There are a very small number of officers, that, are so demanding, almost no cadet can impress them.
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The engineering sea project is a wee bit more involved than just reading a book and writing an essay.. I'll leave it to others to go into the nitty gritty. And yes, there's also some 'hands on' work the Chief and the First will have you doing down in the engineroom.. You'll probably be spending some quality time in spaces like this purifier room.. Bring a jacket.. it can get a little chilly in there, especially if you're standing under a blower..
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Ahh, the joys of HFO/IFO purifier cleaning. . . . hell, any purifier for that matter. . . . as to the Sea Project comment, I don't recall mine being very difficult. Yeah, more than reading, but it gets done. On all six of my cadet ships I was lucky. The engineers gave me lots of work to do. Some interesting, some just plain grunge. Came in handy once I ended up on tugs.The engineering sea project is a wee bit more involved than just reading a book and writing an essay.. I'll leave it to others to go into the nitty gritty. And yes, there's also some 'hands on' work the Chief and the First will have you doing down in the engineroom.. You'll probably be spending some quality time in spaces like this purifier room.. Bring a jacket.. it can get a little chilly in there, especially if you're standing under a blower..
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SeaProject: I was a Ch. Mate on a ship. The Deck Cadet, came up to the bridge to do some work. He had his project book with him. He got talking about the Project .... the Captain didnt like what he said. Captain grabbed the Project, walked out on the bridge wing and feed the fish with it. I couldn't belive it. It was the end of that Cadets tour...not good.
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@cmakin, my Kings Point son sent me this many years ago.. I thought it was hilarious. As a KP engineer you can probably relate.. I see the cadet in the picture is letting everyone know that Kings Point is number one..
cypress101
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that's gross and very dismissive to women, and other college options ... being at service academy does not make you immune to being sexist. lets not ignore the many issues in Service Academies among cadets/mids
Ouch. . . I don't ever recall really sharing my Sea Project with anyone onboard. I can't even recall having any CE sign off on any of it. With a couple that I sailed with, it would have been a waste of time. There is a fair amount of anti KP sentiment out there.
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I don't recall...but I'm pretty sure it was a Web cadet...a "Webster"
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Webb = Webb Institute [of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering].. I've always heard of them referred to as 'Webbies'..
twoducks
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'Sexist?' How is that 'sexist?' If it were three boys drinking and a female engineer, you wouldn't call it sexist, would you? Why then, is it sexist? Maybe because the three girls were described as 'hot?' If the gentleman had been labeled 'hot,' or 'handsome,' no reasonable person would expect you to have an issue. The real 'problem' is your double-standards. Stop discriminating against men; it's gross and dismissive.
Yeah, Webbies are an interesting bunch. We didn't have much (any?) interface with them. I did have one as a Naval Architect professor, and he was one of the smartest folks I have ever met.