Academy Dreams
The pier and training vessel at the Merchant Marine Academy

USMMA · Life at the academy · Year 2 of 4

Third class yearU.S. Merchant Marine Academy · Third class

What year 2 of 4 at USMMA looks like: milestones, training, privileges and the service commitment, from official USMMA pages.

The pier at Kings Point, November 2015. Photo: Spc. Stephanie Ramirez via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (U.S. government work).

What this year is like

Third class year brings the first Sea Year sailing period, about 130 to 150 days aboard working ships, with courses in your major on campus between sailing periods.

Key milestones and events

  • Sea Year: first sailing period

These milestones are described, with sources, in the sections on this page.

Academics and training

Sea Year, first sailing period
"This occurs during your sophomore (third class) year and lasts approximately 130 to 150 days"1. "Half the students go to sea while the other half remains in residence"1. Midshipmen sail on "working commercial or military vessels sailing to ports around the world"2.
Academics
courses in your major on campus between sailing periods3.

Privileges

Duties and privileges
Not documented on USMMA's public pages beyond the liberty times above.

Service commitment

When it becomes binding: Midshipmen who have started second class year or later and fail to complete the program may be ordered to up to 3 years of Navy active duty4.

Sources

  1. USMMA: Sea Year Schedule (usmma.edu)
  2. USMMA: About (usmma.edu)
  3. About the Curriculum (usmma.edu)
  4. USMMA (usmma.edu)

Official pages change. Confirm details with USMMA before you plan around them.

Still in high school?

See what to do each year, from freshman year to reporting day, for USMMA.

High school, year by yearUSMMA overview