United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five US service academies, also known as Kings Point or USMMA. A student of this academy is called as midshipmen. The individual is trained in navigation, marine engineering, maritime law, ship’s administration, customs, international laws, personal managements and many other subjects that are related to ship.
USMMA is charged to provide training for all branches of military, State Merchant Marine or transportation industry. The candidate should have a nomination from the US Senator or US Representative, apart from strong SAT/ACT and GPA score. It is necessary for an applicant to write an essay, to get a recommendation letter from the councilor.
Applicant should then take two tests, the CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment) physical test and the DoDMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) medical test.
This academy is administered by United States Maritime Service and United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration Department funds it. The student’s body is referred as the Regiment of Midshipmen. Each company and battalion is further sub-divided into The Band, Fifth, Fourth, Third, Second and First. Assignment of the company is done randomly, but those who can play music are requested to join the Band Company.
Plebes (Freshman) begin in July with an indoc, a indoctrination period for 2.5 weeks. It is supervised by upperclassmen officers and the Master Sergeant of the US Marine Corps. During this stress time, physical training, military life lectures and marching is excessively done. The new academic year starts after the indoc training.
Midshipmen, the academy student, focuses on two distinct ship transport education, the marine engineering and the marine transport. The Transport student studies everything about navigation, cargo handling, marine law and navigation rules. The student of the engineering, studies the supporting system of ships and the engine. At the end of the first, midshipmen prepares for the examination which is licensed by the Third Mates or the Third Assistant Engineer.
