Merchant Marine: Difference between revisions

U.S. citizen candidates for admission must sign a service obligation contract as a condition of admittance to the USMMA; U.S. candidates who completed Indoc will execute the Oath of Office as a Midshipman in the Navy Reserve the day prior to Acceptance Day.<ref name=":5">{{Citation|title=e-CFR: Title 46: Shipping, Subpart C—Admission and Training of Midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy—§310.58. Service obligation for students executing or reexecuting contracts.|url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=a34279558d0ad77d2c0ddf9c291c6cdb&ty=HTML&h=L&pitd=20170101&n=pt46.8.310&r=PART#se46.8.310_158|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref> Plebes officially become part of the USMMA Regiment of Midshipmen on Acceptance Day, which is now standardized at 2 weeks after Indoc ends.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usmma.edu/about/communications/usmmas-acceptance-day-weekend-will-celebrate-plebe-accomplishments|title=USMMA's Acceptance Day Weekend Will Celebrate Plebe Accomplishments|date=2014-02-21|newspaper=U.S. Merchant Marine Academy|access-date=2017-02-17|language=en}}</ref> Until they are "recognized" later in the academic year, plebes must continue adhere to stringent rules affecting most aspects of their daily life. After earning it, the plebes are recognized, henceforth accorded privilege of the title [[Midshipman]], which gives them more privileges, known as "rates".

Academy students focus on one of two different [[ship transport]] areas of education: marine transportation or [[marine engineering]]. Transportation students learn about ship [[navigation]], cargo handling, [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea|navigation rules]], and [[admiralty law|maritime law]]. Engineering students learn about the function of the ship's engines and its supporting systems. There are currently five different academic majors conferring a Bachelor of Science degree in the major field of study available to midshipmen: