Questions about the commitment

derekz19

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Nov 19, 2015
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Can anyone explain the commitment that is required if a student drops out (voluntarily) before their 3rd (or junior) year? Can students at the USMMA voluntarily drop out?
 
Yes, you may drop out with no commitment at any time before your second class (junior) year.
 
You can drop out any time you want, but there may or may not be consequences.

Theoretically your commitment kicks in at the start of your Junior/2nd Class year. Whether or not MARAD feels the need to go after you for the cost of your education ... ??? I've never heard of it happening, but who knows.

If you are class of '19 this is all in your paperwork somewhere if you still have it. If you want out but are afraid of MARAD, you always have the option of failing all your classes and getting disenrolled. It should only take one trimester if done right.
 
You can drop out any time you want, but there may or may not be consequences.

Theoretically your commitment kicks in at the start of your Junior/2nd Class year. Whether or not MARAD feels the need to go after you for the cost of your education ... ??? I've never heard of it happening, but who knows.

If you are class of '19 this is all in your paperwork somewhere if you still have it. If you want out but are afraid of MARAD, you always have the option of failing all your classes and getting disenrolled. It should only take one trimester if done right.


I can imagine that some of these young adults may realize, after their first sea year experience, that the life at sea isn't for them and maybe they have reliaxed they want to go in a different direction. What a tough decision to make though, whether to leave KP or not.
 
Another question: This is about the committment after graduation. It sort of confuses me. Is their an option to just serve your time out in the Naval Reserves without going to sea in the merchant marine industry or without serving on active duty? Can you just serve your time out in the Naval Reserves?
 
Another question: This is about the committment after graduation. It sort of confuses me. Is their an option to just serve your time out in the Naval Reserves without going to sea in the merchant marine industry or without serving on active duty? Can you just serve your time out in the Naval Reserves?

No. The commitment is for both and to separate masters. The sailing commitment is to MARAD, the Navy Reserve commitment is to DoD.

If my memory is correct, it is 5 years in the maritime industry (maintaining your license for 6 which theoretically forces one renewal) and a separate 9 (I think) years in the Navy Reserve.

Active Duty will fulfill both commitments.
 
No. The commitment is for both and to separate masters. The sailing commitment is to MARAD, the Navy Reserve commitment is to DoD.

If my memory is correct, it is 5 years in the maritime industry (maintaining your license for 6 which theoretically forces one renewal) and a separate 9 (I think) years in the Navy Reserve.

Active Duty will fulfill both commitments.

8 years in the Navy Reserve. Standard commitment is always 8 - even for the other academies. The differences are only in the active vs. reserve time. As a general rule - for every year of education paid for by the tax payers - you have 2 Years Of obligation.

The standard for the other academies is 5 active and then 3 Reserve, but the Reserve can be IRR or SELRES in most cases. For KP grads that 8 years is all IRR - in the SSRG Program, with a mandatory five years of sailing / working in the maritime industry. Or you can do the 5/3 as Active/Reserve and not have to work in the industry.
 
You can drop out any time you want, but there may or may not be consequences.

Theoretically your commitment kicks in at the start of your Junior/2nd Class year. Whether or not MARAD feels the need to go after you for the cost of your education ... ??? I've never heard of it happening, but who knows.

If you are class of '19 this is all in your paperwork somewhere if you still have it. If you want out but are afraid of MARAD, you always have the option of failing all your classes and getting disenrolled. It should only take one trimester if done right.

MARAD has already made it pretty clear that if you stay for 2 years, you're "on the hook" in their own words. If one was to drop out after the start of 2/C year there would certainly be consequences.
 
No. The commitment is for both and to separate masters. The sailing commitment is to MARAD, the Navy Reserve commitment is to DoD.

If my memory is correct, it is 5 years in the maritime industry (maintaining your license for 6 which theoretically forces one renewal) and a separate 9 (I think) years in the Navy Reserve.

Active Duty will fulfill both commitments.

8 years in the Navy Reserve. Standard commitment is always 8 - even for the other academies. The differences are only in the active vs. reserve time. As a general rule - for every year of education paid for by the tax payers - you have 2 Years Of obligation.

The standard for the other academies is 5 active and then 3 Reserve, but the Reserve can be IRR or SELRES in most cases. For KP grads that 8 years is all IRR - in the SSRG Program, with a mandatory five years of sailing / working in the maritime industry. Or you can do the 5/3 as Active/Reserve and not have to work in the industry.

Thanks for making this clear!
 
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