Of the elite Military service academies, The United States Merchant Academy is charged with the responsibilities of training officers for the Merchant Marines, which are basically Auxiliary Navy, which support the Navy, especially during a War, transporting supplies and men. Otherwise, they are used basically for Military transportation services.

Its history can be traced back the Marine Merchant Act, passed by the congress in 1936,following which, 2 years later, the U.S Merchant Marine Corps, was launched. It held on to the legacy of providing for the best of young men and women who join the armed forces after a grueling test at the respective Service Academy, as the case may be.

A unique thing about the academy is the fact that it has always been involving in serving the country ardently in the time of need, especially during the World War 1 and 2 and also during the Persian Gulf conflict, Kuwait Gulf war and recently the Iraq War.

Admissions to the Academy is a rather rigorous process and calls for a high degree of academic, physical and mental abilities and the candidate also requires to be nominated by an official from the congress, a senator or other approved officer by the federal government. Applicants also ought to take an essay test and source recommendations from previous professional or academic contacts and is also mandated to go through a physical test.

The Cadets during the course of their training usually focus on two major study groups: Transportation and Engineering, learning everything possible about ships, the navigation systems, the engines and the steering systems, the communication systems and the whole gamut of transportation sciences like reading radars and such like.

Upon Graduation, the cadets are usually rewarded a bachelor of science degree, or a USCG License as a Merchant Marine Officer or as a commissioned ensign into the U.S Navy or one of the many branches of the United States Armed Forces. The opportunities are simply endless for the deserving few.

Life after graduation is fortunate for cadets graduating out of the USMMA as to the fact that they really have a wide variety of opportunities available for them to choose from. Graduates have the freedom to choose to be commissioned as Merchant Officers to provide service on U.S Flagged Vessels, or work in maritime service and join any other area of the Armed Forces. However, the graduating officers are required to retain their Coast Guard License for at least 6 years.