To join the US Merchant Marine, one can attend a maritime academy or start as an ordinary seaman. The fleet consists of civilian vessels owned by Americans and can be used for military purposes during wartime. Attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy provides a commission in the US Navy Reserve and certification as an officer. Obtaining a Merchant Mariner Credential allows one to start as an ordinary seaman and progress to become a licensed officer.
There are two main roads to join the Merchant Marine. The first route is to attend a marine academy, such as the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Acceptance at USMMA is limited, and there are only a handful of other maritime academies in the United States. The other method of joining the Merchant Marines is by going to work on a US-flagged ship as an ordinary seaman. Your progression through the Merchant Marines on this path will lead you to become a skilled seaman, after which you can choose to become a licensed officer.
The US Merchant Marines is the fleet of civilian vessels owned by Americans, flagged in the United States and engaged in domestic or international trade. A number of vessels are also operated directly by the United States government, known collectively as the Federal Fleet. The men and women who join the merchant marines are known as sailors and are not uniformed members of the military. During wartime, this fleet can and has been used to deliver supplies and deploy troops, at which point it can be considered a branch of the United States Navy. While the correct term is “Merchant Marine”, the informal term “Merchant Marine” is sometimes used, especially by older sailors.
One way to start a career in the merchant marine is to attend a maritime academy. The United States Merchant Marine Academy, in particular, will provide you with a commission in the United States Navy Reserve in addition to certification as a third officer or third assistant engineer upon graduation. To enroll in the USMMA, you will need to obtain a recommendation from a United States Senator or Representative. Other maritime academies offer various opportunities to qualify for the U.S. Coast Guard third mate or third assistant engineer tests and typically do not require service upon graduation.
The other way to join the merchant marines is to join a crew as an ordinary seaman. To do this, you’ll first need to obtain a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) from the United States Coast Guard, after which you can look for work as an ordinary seaman. Once you have logged enough hours as an Ordinary Seaman, you can attempt to become an Able Seaman. This position will allow you to take on more responsibility, and you may be able to gain much of the experience needed to become a licensed officer. You can choose to pursue a career as a deck officer or engineer, depending on your interests.
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