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United States Merchant Marine Academy: Difference between revisions
United States Merchant Marine Academy (view source)
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{{Short description|U.S. service academy}} | {{Short description|U.S. service academy}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox university | {{Infobox university | ||
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World War II required the academy to forgo its normal operation and to devote all of its resources toward meeting the emergency need for Merchant Marine officers. Its enrollment rose to 2,700 men, and the planned course of instruction was reduced in length from four years to 18 months. To meet the wartime needs for qualified merchant marine officers two additional merchant marine cadet training school sites were established, one located in [[Pass Christian, Mississippi]], and the other in [[San Mateo, California]]. (The San Mateo location was closed in September 1947, and the students transferred to Kings Point. The location in Pass Christian was similarly closed in 1950.) In spite of the war, shipboard training continued to be an integral part of the academy curriculum, and midshipmen served at sea in combat zones the world over. One hundred and forty-two midshipmen gave their lives in service to their country, and many others survived torpedo and aerial attacks. From 1942 to 1945, the academy graduated 6,895 officers. As the war drew to a close, plans were made to convert the academy's wartime curriculum to a four-year, college-level program to meet the peacetime requirements of the merchant marine. In 1948, such a course was instituted.{{fact|date=August 2022}} | World War II required the academy to forgo its normal operation and to devote all of its resources toward meeting the emergency need for Merchant Marine officers. Its enrollment rose to 2,700 men, and the planned course of instruction was reduced in length from four years to 18 months. To meet the wartime needs for qualified merchant marine officers two additional merchant marine cadet training school sites were established, one located in [[Pass Christian, Mississippi]], and the other in [[San Mateo, California]]. (The San Mateo location was closed in September 1947, and the students transferred to Kings Point. The location in Pass Christian was similarly closed in 1950.) In spite of the war, shipboard training continued to be an integral part of the academy curriculum, and midshipmen served at sea in combat zones the world over. One hundred and forty-two midshipmen gave their lives in service to their country, and many others survived torpedo and aerial attacks. From 1942 to 1945, the academy graduated 6,895 officers. As the war drew to a close, plans were made to convert the academy's wartime curriculum to a four-year, college-level program to meet the peacetime requirements of the merchant marine. In 1948, such a course was instituted.{{fact|date=August 2022}} | ||
Authorization for awarding the degree of [[Bachelor of Science]] to graduates was granted by Congress in 1949. The academy became fully accredited as a degree-granting institution in the same year. It was made a permanent institution by an [[Act of Congress]] in 1956. The academy accelerated graduating classes during the | Authorization for awarding the degree of [[Bachelor of Science]] to graduates was granted by Congress in 1949. The academy became fully accredited as a degree-granting institution in the same year. It was made a permanent institution by an [[Act of Congress]] in 1956. The academy accelerated graduating classes during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It was involved in such programs as training U.S. officers for the nuclear-powered merchant ship, the [[NS Savannah|NS ''Savannah'']].{{fact|date=August 2022}} | ||
Admission requirements were amended in 1974, and the academy became the first federal service academy to enroll female students, two years before the [[United States Military Academy|Military]], [[United States Naval Academy|Naval]], [[United States Air Force Academy|Air Force]], and [[United States Coast Guard Academy|Coast Guard]] academies.{{fact|date=August 2022}} | Admission requirements were amended in 1974, and the academy became the first federal service academy to enroll female students, two years before the [[United States Military Academy|Military]], [[United States Naval Academy|Naval]], [[United States Air Force Academy|Air Force]], and [[United States Coast Guard Academy|Coast Guard]] academies.{{fact|date=August 2022}} | ||
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[[Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award]], the equivalent of the Defense Department’s Presidential Unit Citation.<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-09-02 |title=Rescue at Water's Edge: The U.S. Merchant Marine Response to 9/11 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc66PsnXPoA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/yc66PsnXPoA |archive-date=2021-12-12 |access-date=15 September 2012 |website= |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | [[Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award]], the equivalent of the Defense Department’s Presidential Unit Citation.<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-09-02 |title=Rescue at Water's Edge: The U.S. Merchant Marine Response to 9/11 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc66PsnXPoA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/yc66PsnXPoA |archive-date=2021-12-12 |access-date=15 September 2012 |website= |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen and graduates have been involved in many facets of the [[war in Iraq]]. Many graduates were involved in the transportation of supplies during the buildup to the war in 2003. Many graduates in the [[U.S. Navy Reserve]] have been called to active duty to serve supporting naval roles in ports in [[Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]]. Graduates who have entered other branches of the service have had more direct roles in Iraq. [[Aaron Seesan]], a 2003 graduate and U.S. Army [[First lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]], was the first Academy graduate since the | Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen and graduates have been involved in many facets of the [[war in Iraq]]. Many graduates were involved in the transportation of supplies during the buildup to the war in 2003. Many graduates in the [[U.S. Navy Reserve]] have been called to active duty to serve supporting naval roles in ports in [[Iraq]] and [[Kuwait]]. Graduates who have entered other branches of the service have had more direct roles in Iraq. [[Aaron Seesan]], a 2003 graduate and U.S. Army [[First lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]], was the first Academy graduate since the Vietnam War to be killed by enemy action. Since that time, two additional graduates, LTJG Francis L. Toner, IV, USN (class of 2006) and 1st Lt. William N. Donnelly, IV, USMC (class of 2008) have both given their lives while serving their country in Afghanistan. | ||
[[File:GWBush at USMMA.jpg|thumb|right|[[George W. Bush]] delivering the commencement address at the academy.]] | [[File:GWBush at USMMA.jpg|thumb|right|[[George W. Bush]] delivering the commencement address at the academy.]] | ||
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==Distinguished midshipmen== | ==Distinguished midshipmen== | ||
The [[Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal]] is the highest award which can be bestowed upon members of the United States Merchant Marine and is the service's equivalent of the | The [[Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal]] is the highest award which can be bestowed upon members of the United States Merchant Marine and is the service's equivalent of the Medal of Honor. Since mariners serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine are not directly employed by the Department of Defense, they are not eligible for the Medal of Honor. | ||
Since USMMA opened in 1943, eight midshipmen have been awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. | Since USMMA opened in 1943, eight midshipmen have been awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. | ||