The United States Merchant Academy (USMMA) is a prestigious academy that has been training officers for different military branches, the transportation industry, as well as the United States Merchant Marine.

Administration and Accreditation

Also known as Kings Point, USMMA is located at 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY 11024. The academy colors are gray and blue and their mascot is a Mariner.

Currently, its administration is led by the following: RADM James A. Helis (Superintendent), Dr. Shashi Kumar (Dean), and Capt. John C. Kennedy (Commandant). Furthermore, they have 100 faculty and staff presently.

USMMA is a national institute that is under the operation of the Federal Government’s Maritime Administration, which is a Department of Transportation agency. Its curriculum is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Academic Curriculum

USMMA students are called Midshipmen and they are trained in navigation, marine engineering, maritime law, ship administration, international law, customs, personnel management, and other courses that are necessary to be learned for proper ship management.

As of now, there are about 500 students in the academy and they are all striving to survive the regimental lifestyle inside the campus.

The institution offers a four-year program which specializes in training midshipmen for merchant marine officer licensing as well as reserved commissioned officers of the U.S. Armed Forces. Discipline, dedication, and leadership are developed in each student to prepare them for the careers waiting for them both at sea and ashore.

Admissions

For a student to get into USMMA, there are specific qualifications that they need to meet. First of all, candidates should submit a completed application form and be qualified scholastically. They should also meet the minimum required for SAT/ACT and GPA standards as well as have a good moral character.

Moreover, candidates must have graduated from a K-12 curriculum. Upon enrollment, they must be at least 17 years old but not exceeding 25 years of age. Only United States citizens are eligible, though the academy accepts very few international students authorized by the Congress.

Candidates must all meet the security, physical, and character requirements that are required to be appointed as a U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman. A Congressional nomination to the Academy is also a requirement. Morever, they are required to submit a certification from the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB), and go through the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) to certify fitness. They must also submit a security clearance when they enroll at the Academy to be able to receive a commission as a U.S. Armed Forces officer during graduation.

Adventure of a Lifetime

Like other military schools, it is not easy to be a student of USMMA. Discipline, competition, and survivorship must be learned by each midshipman in order to prepare them for their future career. However, everything pays off when they receive their diploma after four years. The leadership, character, and credentials that they have achieved inside the campus are priceless accomplishments that will always benefit them when they go into the real world.