United States Merchant Marine Academy trains young men and women to become officers in the United States Merchant Marine, which transports civilian and military cargo across the world’s seas and oceans. The academy, which is often called Kings Point, is located on Long Island at Kings Point, New York, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of New York City.
The United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps was established in 1938. Its academy, founded in 1943, became a permanent, government-sponsored school in 1956, and received equal status with the academies of the armed forces. In 1974, it became the first American service academy to admit women. The United States Department of Transportation operates the academy.
Entrance requirements.
Candidates for the school must be citizens of the United States, not less than 17 and not yet 25 years of age by July 1 of the year in which they seek admission. They must be of good moral character. They must also have 16 high school credits, including 3 units in mathematics, 1 unit in science, and 4 units in English. Competitive examinations are held each year among candidates nominated to the academy by United States senators or representatives.
Enrollment.
Appointments to the academy are governed by a state and territory quota system that is based on population. The academy has an authorized strength of about 950 midshipmen taught by around 80 faculty. Students represent the 50 states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In addition, the academy may admit up to 30 students from foreign nations on a paying basis.
The school program.
The academy offers a four-year course of undergraduate study designed to prepare its graduates for the many problems that may confront merchant marine officers during their careers. Midshipmen study and gain practical experience in an atmosphere of order and discipline. Their practical experience subjects include training aboard a ship. Their academic subjects deal with marine engineering, navigation, electricity, ship construction, naval science and tactics, economics, business, logistics, intermodal transportation, languages, and history.
Midshipmen spend their first year as Fourth Classmen at the academy. During their second (Third Class) and third (Second Class) years, they spend half of each year aboard a merchant ship. The remainder of the four years is spent at the academy. All of the fourth (First Class) year is spent on campus. On completion of the program, midshipmen are examined for their original licenses as third deck, third assistant engineer, or dual license officers in the merchant marine. They may then serve on any merchant ship bearing the U.S. flag. Graduates also receive bachelor’s degrees and commissions as ensigns in the naval reserve.
