United States Merchant Marine Academy - Definition and Overview

Aerial view of United States Merchant Marine Academy

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States service academies. It is charged with training officers for the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the military, or the transportation industry. Founded in 1943, it is located on the north shore of Nassau County, New York (Long Island) at Kings Point. Its students are titled Midshipmen and are organized into a regiment. It awards Bachelor of Science degrees, and is one of the US military academies.

Graduates of the USMMA are qualified to be officers of large commercial ships. They are trained in navigation, ship's administration, maritime rules, personnel management, international law, Customs, electrical and mechanical systems, and many other subjects important to the task of running a large ship.

It was the first academy to admit women, doing so in 1974, two years before the other four did so.

External link

• USMMA Official Website (http://www.usmma.edu/)