News
See below for the latest stories on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and its midshipmen.
USMMA … Needed Now More Than Ever
To mark Maritime Day 2023, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AAF) examined the logistics challenges and sealift requirements of a trans-Pacific sealift. Please click here to watch the video…
Another Day, Another Warning: America’s Alarming Maritime Deficit
More and more experts are sounding the alarm about America’s readiness and ability to fight a major war with China. The U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy are responsible to train the militarily obligated Merchant Marine officers who will command these vessels in times of war…
No Contest: China’s vast, ever-growing maritime capacity
Without a strong and sustainable fully-crewed merchant fleet, America will be unable to prevail in a protracted conflict with China…
Is our military sealift ready?
Americans not familiar with wartime logistics usually assume the Navy is responsible for moving troops, supplies, armaments, fuel, and everything else needed to fight a protracted conflict. But that is the job of the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet and the military service-committed Merchant Marine officers…
USMMA Key Component in Addressing Maritime Security Challenges
As America readies itself for unprecedented challenges from the likes of China, we need to remember its not all about hardware. We need the right people with the right training, who are ready, able, and willing to serve their country. For military sealift, that’s where the USMMA comes in…
USMMA Midshipmen Help Deliver Ukraine Tanks
On any given day, up to 200 Midshipmen of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) are at sea around the world engaged in essential training on U.S.-flag commercial vessels. Many of these vessels are contracted with the U.S. government for deployment in wartime to transport the weaponry, supplies, and fuel without which our military forces cannot prevail…
Preparing for the Next War in the Pacific
This timely article addresses the current severe shortage of fuel tankers, which will be critical to keep the U.S. Navy afloat in any potential war with China. The author, Captain Steve Carmel, points out the difference between “assured access” and “assumed access” and how depending on foreign flagged tankers in a conflict could be disastrous…
The Importance of Human Capital in a Sealift
This opinion article from RealClearDefense where former deputy undersecretary of the Navy Seth Cropsey discusses the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine in deterring and winning a major conflict against an increasingly aggressive China or a desperate Russia…
Merchant Mariner Shortage Has Gotten Worse, but a Partial Solution Is Available
A mariner shortfall in 2018 was a grave concern. Today, with an escalating conflict in Europe and an increasingly bellicose China, the lack of seasoned merchant mariners is a clear and present danger to our national security…
Start Solving the Mariner Shortage Before War Breaks Out
Rear Adm. Mark Buzby (USN-Ret) calls attention to the acute shortage of U.S. Mariners. Adm. Buzby, served as Commander of the Military Sealift Command and as Maritime Administrator, lays out a partial solution: Immediately increase the enrollment at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), the primary source of the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Sealift Officers (SSOs)…