USMMA question

KLCman

KLCman

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Is it true that upon graduating from the Merchant Marine Academy you can receive a commission in any branch of the armed forces you want, such as the Navy or Air Force as an officer?
 
KLCman said:
Is it true that upon graduating from the Merchant Marine Academy you can receive a commission in any branch of the armed forces you want, such as the Navy or Air Force as an officer?
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https://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/2014 USMMA Catalog Part 8 (Service Obligation).pdf

If you haven't already, for any of the SAs in which you are interested, read every page, links and drop downs.

Active duty commissions out of USMMA will always depend on the needs of the individual service, in terms of numbers. Do some more digging, and you can find out the numbers from previous classes. Browse the USMMA forum for further insights.
 
Capt MJ said:
https://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/2014 USMMA Catalog Part 8 (Service Obligation).pdf

If you haven't already, for any of the SAs in which you are interested, read every page, links and drop downs.

Active duty commissions out of USMMA will always depend on the needs of the individual service, in terms of numbers. Do some more digging, and you can find out the numbers from previous classes. Browse the USMMA forum for further insights.
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I was doing a bit of research on USMMA. I'm not so clear about this, so if you could possibly clarify I'd appreciate it.
Unlike the other service academies, do you have to pay tuition for the Merchant Marine Academy?
On their website, it averages at around 11000 dollars. However there are no fees for the other 4 SAs
 
KLCman said:
I was doing a bit of research on USMMA. I'm not so clear about this, so if you could possibly clarify I'd appreciate it.
Unlike the other service academies, do you have to pay tuition for the Merchant Marine Academy?
On their website, it averages at around 11000 dollars. However there are no fees for the other 4 SAs
Click to expand...

You do not pay tuition, but you do pay for fees as well as room and board. There is a link on the Admissions page that describes an estimated cost for attendance as well as separate links that share information about applying scholarship and federal aide rewards. After visiting with my DS in the fall, I can assure you that you must include plans for transportation funds to get around the area.
 
lifelearner said:
You do not pay tuition, but you do pay for fees as well as room and board. There is a link on the Admissions page that describes an estimated cost for attendance as well as separate links that share information about applying scholarship and federal aide rewards. After visiting with my DS in the fall, I can assure you that you must include plans for transportation funds to get around the area.
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You do not pay for room and board. There are fees for haircuts, laundry and tailoring. Your plebe year is more expensive due to items needed specifically for plebe year.

KLCman - the vast majority of the information you are seeking is on the USMMA website and you need to be careful how you read it. The $11,000 that you speak is an approximate for travel to and from the academy from your home over all breaks over all 4 years and all of your own other personal expenses. Please re-read the website again carefully.
 
USMMA is different from the other 4 Academies in many significant ways, because its mission is not to produce active duty officers.

Other SA cadets and mids enter onto active duty on Day One at their SA and are paid salary by DFAS. They receive full medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits same as AD. All of them, unless NPQ, are expected to go AD and complete a service obligation.

USMMA midshipmen do not attend in an AD status and do not have the same benefits and salary. The times they spend at sea, they receive cadet pay from their shipping line. They are required to pursue careers in the transportation industry as specified in USMMA guidance and maintain a USN Reserve officer commission for a set number of years. They are free to pursue a wide range of careers within the guidelines. There is also an option to apply for an AD commission into the 5 Armed Services, as well as one of the Uniformed Services, NOAA. I just realized I don't know if USPHS is an authorized route; it's the other Uniformed Service. (There are 7 Uniformed, of which 5 are Armed.)

I think one of the best things about KP is the variety of career paths available, both civilian and uniformed. You might go there thinking this is a path to the Air Force, but find yourself tracking toward a civilian harbor pilot career, or the reverse.

My knowledge of KP comes from years of serving on Navy AD with Military Sealift Command and getting to know the many KP grads who are Federal civilian mariners, many AD Navy friends who attended KP or a state maritime academy, as well as visits for business purposes in one of my civilian jobs.

The stalwart KP midshipmen and grads and family on here will surely add more specifics.
 
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Capt MJ said:
USMMA is different from the other 4 Academies in many significant ways, because its mission is not to produce active duty officers.

Other SA cadets and mids enter onto active duty on Day One at their SA and are paid salary by DFAS. They receive full medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits same as AD. All of them, unless NPQ, are expected to go AD and complete a service obligation.

USMMA midshipmen do not attend in an AD status and do not have the same benefits and salary. The times they spend at sea, they receive cadet pay from their shipping line. They are required to pursue careers in the transportation industry as specified in USMMA guidance and maintain a USN Reserve officer commission for a set number of years. They are free to pursue a wide range of careers within the guidelines. There is also an option to apply for an AD commission into the 5 Armed Services, as well as one of the Uniformed Services, NOAA. I just realized I don't know if USPHS is an authorized route; it's the other Uniformed Service. (There are 7 Uniformed, of which 5 are Armed.)

I think one of the best things about KP is the variety of career paths available. You might go there thinking this is a path to the Air Force, but find yourself tracking toward a harbor pilot career, or the reverse.

My knowledge of KP comes from years of serving on Navy AD with Military Sealift Command and getting to know the many KP grads who are Federal civilian mariners, many AD Navy friends who attended KP or a state maritime academy, as well as visits for business purposes in one of my civilian jobs.

The stalwart KP midshipmen and grads and family on here will surely add more specifics.
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Thank you for explaining the difference between KP and the other SAs clearly.
 
The other SAs have fees for various things, as well as book costs, but depending how each SA handles it, it comes out of the mid or cadet's monthly pay. There is no tuition or room and board bill.
 
BuckeyeGuy said:
You do not pay for room and board. There are fees for haircuts, laundry and tailoring. Your plebe year is more expensive due to items needed specifically for plebe year.

KLCman - the vast majority of the information you are seeking is on the USMMA website and you need to be careful how you read it. The $11,000 that you speak is an approximate for travel to and from the academy from your home over all breaks over all 4 years and all of your own other personal expenses. Please re-read the website again carefully.
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Thanks for the clarification. I feel like DS needs a spreadsheet to keep the details sorted out.
 
KLCman said:
Is it true that upon graduating from the Merchant Marine Academy you can receive a commission in any branch of the armed forces you want, such as the Navy or Air Force as an officer?
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Yes, that's true but the primary mission of USMMA is NOT to produce military officers. Kings Point's primary mission is to produce licensed merchant marine officers to man U.S. flagged vessels, ocean-going vessels engaged in international trade, and when necessary, sealift support for military operations.

If you are looking for a military career I'd strongly suggest focusing on the 3 military academies ... USMA, USNA, and USAFA. If you have an interest in maritime law enforcement you might consider the USCGA as well.

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
KenJ said:
USPHS ... isn't that docs and nurses ... largely/principally assigned to Native American reservations?
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USPHS has a wide range of public health missions: Center for Disease Control, Federal prisons, Native American health, and many others. I met a USPHS Dental Officer at USMMA a few years ago. There was a USPHS captain (same as Navy ranks), physical therapist at USNA Brigade Medical.

There is a clickable Duty Station Map on this landing page:
https://www.usphs.gov/
 
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