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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…

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…

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…

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…

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)…

This timely article highlights the ongoing shortage of Merchant Mariners facing this country at an especially crucial time. One readily implementable, tried-and-true solution would be to increase the class size at the nation’s federal maritime academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)…

This important New York Times essay by Michael Roberts highlights the increasing danger of ignoring China’s growing maritime influence. Mr. Roberts reminds us that we cannot ignore the personnel side of the ledger…

China’s maritime buildup, both military and commercial, is an increasingly major concern for U.S. policymakers…

On Sept. 2, a total of 253 new Midshipmen were sworn into the U.S. Naval Reserve at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y…

This timely Stars & Stripes article highlights the importance of America’s military sealift to protecting our nation and the consequences if we are not prepared. In light of Russia’s logistical failures in its invasion of Ukraine, including an inability to supply sufficient fuel to its forces, the Department of Defense is taking a serious look at its sealift capacity and its impact on our ability to supply our troops with weapons, food, fuel, and materiel in a future conflict.