Biggest Maritime Academy In The U.S

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), situated in Kings Point, New York, is recognised by many as the biggest maritime academy in the United States, in terms of student enrollment numbers, academic excellence and career opportunities provided.

It is one of the five federal service academies, almost a century old, and is operated by the Maritime Administration (MARAD).

It trains officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine, branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the marine transportation industry.

It is known for its rigorous academic programs, which require more credit hours for a baccalaureate degree than any other federal service academy.

This is accompanied by the academy’s ‘Sea Year’ experience, which allows the trainees to acquire real-world experience by working onboard commercial or military vessels.

Those who pass this unique combination of challenging curriculum are awarded several credentials mentioned below.

• A highly sought-after Bachelor of Science degree
• A U.S. Coast Guard license
• An officer’s commission in the U.S. Armed Forces

This is why the graduates of this academy are highly sought after as officers in the merchant marine and the military.

All students have a service obligation once they graduate, and the institution offers the most career options compared to other federal academies.

The graduates of the biggest U.S. maritime academy can choose to work 5 years in the U.S maritime industry with 8 years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the armed forces or 5 years on active duty in any of the country’s armed forces.

Lying on an 82-acre campus in Kings Point, New York, the institution has waterfront facilities and over 100 vessels and small craft for training purposes.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy’s 4-year program focuses on instilling traits like leadership, discipline and dedication in its students, numbering around 950 young men and women.

The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1, there are 40+ Registered Student Organisations, 135 Faculty Members, and the average size of a class is 24.

The academy also prepares students for a maritime career onshore and to serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Academic Departments at the Biggest Maritime Academy in the U.S

• The Marine Engineering Department offers 3 majors, including Marine Engineering, Marine Engineering Systems and Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management.
• The Marine Transportation department offers 2 courses- Marine Transportation and Maritime Logistics & Security. These programs share a common core of both Nautical Science and Maritime Business courses.
• The Naval Science Department’s curriculum focuses on skills and knowledge students would need to serve as officers in the United States Navy Reserve. All midshipmen take courses on the Strategic Sealift Officer Program as well as Leadership and Ethics.
• There are other departments too, including Humanities, Mathematics and Science, Physical Education and Athletics, Professional Development & Career Services, and the Academic Center for Excellence.

Curriculum

The curriculum is challenging physically and mentally. Freshman ( fourth class or plebe) year is especially difficult as students go from being high school graduates to Academy midshipmen. In the first months, they learn endurance, performing under pressure while being calm and how to manage their time properly.

In the sophomore ( 3rd class) year, and during Junior ( 2nd class) year, midshipmen go to sea for practical shipboard training, sailing across the world, learning values like self-reliance and confidence to make decisions, a key skill that every seafarer or officer must possess.

In their senior (first class) year, students polish their skills as they prepare to enter the real world.

Admission Procedure

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the biggest maritime academy in the U.S, one must be

• At least 17 years old and must not have passed the 25th birthday before July 1 in the year of entrance.
• Be a citizen of the United States either by birth or naturalisation, except for a limited number of international midshipmen specially authorised by Congress.
• Meet the physical, security, suitability and character requirements necessary for commission in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
• Obtain a Congressional nomination to the Academy, submit a completed application, and qualify scholastically.
• Be of good character.

Fill out the Application Online

(Applications for the Class of 2030 are now Open)

• First, create an account in the USMMA Applicant Portal, using your own email address ( not a shared one or a family email address)
• One must have a LOGIN.GOV account with the same email address as one’s account on the USMMA Applicant Portal.
• One can use the LOGIN.GOV credentials to sign in to the portal; no additional password is necessary.
• After creating the USMMA Applicant Portal Account, a confirmation email with instructions on accessing the portal will be sent.
• One should not attempt to access the portal from the LOGIN.GOV account page.
• If one does not have a LOGIN.GOV account, it can be created at https://www.login.gov/create-an-account.
• You will receive an email with additional information on how to log in to the portal after you create your account.

Applying for a Nomination

• Applicants must be nominated to the Academy by a U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator from their State of Residence/Domicile.
• Securing a nomination does not guarantee appointment to the Academy.
• Nominating authorities select their nominees by any method they wish, including a screening interview.
• Each nominating authority has a different process and a unique deadline.
• Nominations to the Academy must be received by January 31st, and nominating authorities notify the Academy of their nomination.
• If the academy does not receive one’s nomination by January 31st, the application is closed.

(Note- The Academy does not accept Vice Presidential or military service-connected nominations, i.e. Presidential, Regular/Reserve Component, ROTC.)

The Secretary of Transportation may appoint up to 50 qualified applicants per year to the Academy.

Entrance Exams

• All applicants must take either the SAT or the ACT.
• The Academy accepts test results up to the February test date of the year for which applicants seek appointment.
• The Academy will accept all test scores attained within three years of the application deadline.
• SAT scores should be forwarded using the Academy’s College Board Code: 2923.
• ACT scores should be forwarded using the Academy’s ACT Code: 2974.
• Students are encouraged to take both the SAT and ACT tests several times to improve their scores, as the highest scores are accepted.
• SAT or ACT qualifying scores for admission are declared by the Academy for each entering class.

Transcripts

One must get an official transcript from high school and college(s), if applicable.

A transcript through 11th grade and a mid-year grade report for 12th grade are required by the application deadline of February 1st.

Fitness Test

• Proper completion of the Candidate Fitness Assessment is a requirement to secure admission.
• Candidates who fail the test can retake it.
• Passing results must be received in the Office of Admissions by the application deadline.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the results are submitted to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Office of Admissions by the application deadline.
• Fourth Class Midshipmen must be able to swim 100 yards using two basic strokes, and 15 minutes of flotation.
• Non-swimmers must learn basic swimming strokes before entering the Academy.

Medical Examination

• An applicant must be physically fit and meet the requirements for an appointment as a Midshipman Strategic Sealift Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve.
• The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) determines the medical qualification of Academy applicants.
• To be considered for the DoDMERB medical exam, you must submit your online application, and the Office of Admissions must receive your high school transcript (through 11th grade) and unofficial SAT/ACT scores.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to pursue medical processing to its conclusion.
• It can take several weeks to schedule your initial medical evaluation and several more weeks to determine medical qualification.

Height and Weight Requirements

• All applicants must meet the Navy body composition standards in accordance with the OPNAV Instruction 6110.1J, Physical Readiness Program.
• The maximum body fat percentages are 22 per cent for men and 33 per cent for women.
• Applicants who do not meet the established medical requirements for admission at the time of their medical examination may still be considered for and offered a conditional appointment.
• Appointed candidates should report for the Academy’s Indoctrination Program, meeting the height-weight standards.

Comparison With Other Maritime Academies in the U.S

There are 6 state maritime academies in the U.S., including Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

These institutions also offer highly quality maritime education but operate as part of state university systems.

The largest state maritime academy by enrollment is SUNY Maritime College, Bronx, NY, but USMMA is the central federal institution for maritime officer training in the U.S due to its federal status and historical leadership in merchant marine training.

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• 15 Colleges Providing Marine Courses in the U.K.
• Top 10 Maritime Colleges in the United States
• Top 10 Merchant Navy Colleges In India

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