Peachtree City is well represented at one of the five Federal Academies, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located on Long Island in Kings Point, New York.
There are currently four Peachtree City, Georgia students enrolled at the Academy. The lone upperclassman is Third Class Midshipman Brandon Collins, son of Boyd and Karen Collins (graduate at McIntosh High School). Just entering the Academy are Plebe Candidate Nathan Shepherd, son of Richard and Angela Shepherd (Starrs Mill High School), Plebe Candidate Daniel Lee, son of Kovin and CJ Lee (Starrs Mill High School), and Plebe Candidate Ryan Krisher, son of Andy and Mary Krisher (McIntosh High School). This new group of candidates had very busy high school years by being involved in various activities including: President of Future Business Leaders of America, participation in German foreign exchange program, National Beta Club, McIntosh Track & Field and McIntosh Lacrosse teams, German Club, honor graduate, Boys State, Eagle Scout, National Honor Society, Key Club, National Society of High School Scholars, Principal’s Student Advisory Board, cross country at Starr’s Mill and serving as a Congressional Page in Washington, D. C. for Lynn Westmoreland.
A glimpse at a map of the United States shows us that we are a maritime nation. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean; to the west, the Pacific; off our southern border, the Gulf of Mexico; in the north, the Great Lakes; and crisscrossing our states, great rivers like the Mississippi and other inland waterways. Every hour of every day, ships of all types ply the waters in and around our nation. They leave our ports laden with U.S. goods bound for foreign markets, or arrive in our harbors with merchandise and materials for American consumers. There are tankers traveling along the west coast with raw petroleum for our refineries; Great Lakes vessels loaded with iron ore, coal or other minerals for America’s industry; huge containerships in Eastern ports, their box-like containers filled with manufactured goods; general cargo ships in the Gulf unloading pallets of coffee and crates of fruit; tugboats pushing and pulling barges carrying the Midwest’s grain. These kinds of vessels, owned by U.S. companies, registered and operated under the American flag, comprise the U.S. merchant marine. This fleet of highly productive ships is a major part of our system of commerce, helping guarantee our access to foreign markets for sale of our manufactured goods. Moreover, in time of war or national emergency, the U.S. merchant marine becomes vital to national security as a “fourth arm of defense.” Our merchant ships bear the brunt of delivering military supplies overseas to our forces and allies. The stark lessons of twentieth century conflict prove that a strong merchant marine is an essential part of American seapower.
The Academy represents Federal involvement in maritime training that is more than a century old. Since the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant, the U.S. Government has initiated various programs to train its citizens for service in the merchant marine. The United States Merchant Marine Academy, dedicated in 1943, represents the realization of these efforts.
It has since grown in stature and has become one of the world’s foremost institutions in the field of maritime education. Authorization for awarding the degree of Bachelor of Science to graduates was granted by Congress in 1949; the Academy was fully accredited as a degree-granting institution that same year; it was made a permanent institution by an Act of Congress in 1956.
The Academy is located in Kings Point, New York. Its 82-acre waterside campus lies on Long Island’s north shore, about 20 miles east of New York City.
The Academy challenges its midshipmen intellectually and physically. The academic program is demanding, the regimental system rigorous, and it has a tremendous athletic program in the NCAA for both men and women competitors. Midshipman Collins, who played soccer at McIntosh High School and competed in Club Soccer, now plays on the Academy team. This past season, the USMMA soccer team made a final Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA playoffs, eventually being defeated by the team who went on to win the National Championship.
Freshman (fourth class or plebe) year is particularly strenuous as students make the transition from high school graduate to Academy midshipman. In their first few months, they learn many new terms, the quality of endurance, how to perform under pressure, and most importantly, how to successfully manage time.
During sophomore (third class) year, and again during junior (second class) year, midshipmen are sent to sea for practical shipboard training. Aboard ship, sailing the trade routes of the world, they learn the value of self-reliance and initiative as they gain firsthand experience in the mariner’s environment. Midshipman Collins has already spent over 150 days sailing on container ships with multiple trips across the Atlantic Ocean to the Netherlands, Germany, England, the Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean to India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Oman. And the nice part of it, you get paid!
In senior (first class) year, they fine tune the skills learned in the classroom and at sea as they prepare to enter the Professional world.
Enrollment at the Academy requires many personal sacrifices, but the goal is worthwhile. Students must be prepared for numerous demands on their time, a degree of stress, and some limitations on their personal freedom. In return, the Academy develops leaders and prepares its graduates for careers that are bounded only by their talents and desire.
If you are looking for adventure, a quality education, and a highly sought after career either in the maritime industry or service in one of the military services, the Academy may be just for you. The Academy encourages you to contact any of the Admissions Field Representatives in Georgia in the admissions process or please call the Academy at 1-866-546-4778 (1-866-KINGSPT). You may also call (516) 773-5391. There are two distinct processes which must be completed when applying to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. First, you must request a nomination (go to the nomination section of this website to obtain more information). Second, you must also do one of the following: either (a) Request an application from the Academy; (b) Print Application (c) Apply online. Students may begin applying to the Academy on 15 April of your Junior Year of High School. The application deadline is 1 March of the year you wish to enter the Academy. The earlier you start the application, the sooner all related processes can begin (scheduling for your DoDMERB physical, for example).
