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This month, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will celebrate its 75th year of service to our national security. Sometimes called the “forgotten fifth” service academy because the “name brand” schools – i.e., West Point and the Naval Academy – attract headlines, in our family, the USMMA stands as proud and tall as its sister academies…

To win a war, you need to be able to show up. I don’t mean just being present. I’m talking about large-scale military deployments — the sort that would be necessary to respond to North Korean or Iranian aggression, or to fight alongside…

The Merchant Marine’s role in U.S. military history dates back to 1775, and merchant mariners have played a key role in every major U.S. conflict since. Prior to declaring independence, the 13 Colonies had established a small 31-ship navy…

The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) with ship-master Susan Orsini, a graduate of the USMMA, conducted a rescue at sea for 41 people off the coast of the island of Lampedusa, Italy.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis delivers the 2018 commencement address to graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

On May 22, six days before Memorial Day, many Americans will quietly observe National Maritime Day, a day set aside 85 years ago by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to acknowledge the importance of our merchant fleet and remember mariners who died in service to our nation.

The once-mighty U.S. Merchant Marine fleet has nearly collapsed under the weight of high labor costs, zigzagging federal policies and intense competition from abroad, damaging America’s position as the only country in the world able to supply and sustain a long-distance war.

When Federal News Radio last spoke to Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, he had just taken over the position. His first order of business was dealing with a detailed report on MARAD prepared by the National Academy of Public Administration.

“U. S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Midshipmen have different training requirements than others. Located in Kings Point, New York, this smaller, lesser known federal academy requires its students to spend a full year of their undergraduate education at sea on an operational ship.”

“Two Houston Ship Pilots who risked their lives to bring a burning ship to safety and prevented a major maritime disaster on the Houston Ship Channel have been presented with the International Maritime Organization Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, the highest honor for bravery at sea in global maritime industry.”