tlswogh89

How come know one knows about this place? During my plebe year, I went to New York city, and everyone thought we are from Naval Academy. But, when we told them we are going to Merchant Marine Academy, they don't know what it is. I felt so F****** bad. We are working our butt off to serve our nation but people doesn't recognize who we are.

sapphire_ocean

i know who you guys are... *smiles of gratitude*

is2day4him

TLS... get over it buddy.
we're highly under appreciated, and that's ok.
wait till you go to sea. you'll realize there's not a lot of re-affirmation out there either. you do it because you know it's the right thing to do and that it's worth it, not for someone to pat you on the back and say "that'a boy"
if that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong field.
there are great things to be said for being an unsung hero.

Bill0510

You are not "under appreciated." In fact, you will be appreciated in the form of BIG DOLLARS when you graduate. This hardly qualifies as "serving the nation." [Yes, you may serve a port in Iraq that is technically in a battle zone, but, in that regard, you are no different than a KBR contractor who is being paid six times what a soldier is being paid to perform a similar function. You will be paid well to master--well, not technicallyh master since that is the capt's job-- that ship into a harbor.]


For at least one-half of MMA graduates, [the ones who take employment with private shipping companies] this is VERY different than graduates from other service academies, who will make ab out 30,000 at graduation. For the one-third [approx guess] of MMA who elect to serve active duty, you will be appreciated for "serving your country." [When you write to lambaste the post, remember that I am acknowledgeing w/ great gratitude that a significant number of graduates elect to serve active duty.]

For the others, get over it. You have received a relatively free education that sets you up for a great job. [And I think serving in the reserves does not compare exactly to being active duty in terms of hardships.]

While at school, you are not serving anybody; in fact, you are a sponge, living off the fat of the land. [How much tuition did you pay last year?]

So, for you to sit and write a message that implies others should bestow gratitude and/or recognition upon you comparable to that given to others who attend service academies, well, it just doesn't read right.

The MMA is somewhat adrift in terms of mission.
The U.S. marine industry [the seagoing component at least, not the dockside component] is virtually non-existent. MMA could probably disappear tomorrow and the domestic industry wouldn't even notice. Allocate budget to the other maritime academies and the industry would not notice. Allocate budget and numerical strength based on number of graduates who go active duty to the other to the other Academis and the armed forces wouldn't notice either.

Is that going to happen? No. So, be happy the MMA continues to chug along and that you will be able to cliaim graduation from there. THEN, when you get your big time maritime-related job, making six figures, come back and tell us how much you are suffering.

Good luck.

2012kpmam

HA! Lots of responsibility, working hard all the time, little appreciation - Sounds like motherhood. Oh, but one more thing - no pay for motherhood!!!

USMMA2009

Bill, I agree with you completely. I love how so many people try to make the stretch that sailing in the merchant marine is "serving the nation." That is hardly the case. The only thing it serves is your bank account. Sailing is a job like anything else. I would probably liken the "service to the nation" factor on par with mail men. Its a job, like any other. No one comes to KP to sail because they want to "serve the nation". For those that want to sail, they come because its a good education, its free, and you have excellent job placement.

On the other hand, those that are going active duty are a different case.

And don't try to go on about the reserve component. For those that do not choose SELRES, your reserve "commitment" amounts to basically a 2 week paid vacation every year, with some variation in your AT.

davygravy3

Eh, Bill...pretty condescending post, can't really agree with you.

Sure KP grads make good money shipping out, but many of the jobs filled are directly benefiting the American people.

Examples...MSC: ships cannot operate without food/fuel/ammo...no food/fuel/ammo no dead pirates.

Tankers: Doesn't the US consume the most amount of oil in the world?

I think the point here is defining serving the nation...Is one not serving the nation in a gov't position if they are getting paid 100k a year to do so? Or do you need an active duty ID card? I do not think your argument is sound and I definitely did not appreciate the way in which it was said.

Oh and by the way...I'm going active duty.

USMMA2009

Davy,

Its just a job. I find very hard to believe that people join the merchant marine to serve our nation. If that's the case, using the same logic you were using, truck drivers are right in the same category. Yeah, you can argue that any job is serving the nation. My dad is a doctor, he helps people get better, so he to is "serving our nation." Also you cannot compare active duty military and the merchant marines, at least not any more. Maybe in 1942, but definitely not now. Besides, do you think the crews of the ship's really care what they are carrying? It makes no difference to them if they are carrying new Lexus's to the U.S. or tanks to Kuwait.

Don't get me wrong...I love what KP does and I think the U.S. Merchant Marine is essential, but don't try to make it something it is not. My ego doesn't require me to feel more appreciated. If people don't get it, then oh well.

btw, I am also going active duty after sailing ("serving the nation") for 8 months and making as much money as possible

suzannegra

Bill said: "[And I think serving in the reserves does not compare exactly to being active duty in terms of hardships.] "

Ask Lt.Toner's family if serving in the reserves is not a hardship. Lt. Toner was serving in the reserves as part of his commitment for his "free" education. End of rant.

Honor the fallen: Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV

woloman38

LCDR Patrick J. Murphy, USNR, of suburban Chicago, Illinois, was identified as one of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon. A member of the Naval Reserve, LCDR Murphy was performing a three-week assignment with the Navy Command Center, was standing duty when the attack occurred.

Patrick is survived by his wife of 15 years, Masako Murphy; his two children, Mitchell, 6, and Casey, 3; and his mother, Joan Miller of Glenwood, Illinois.

I can't think of a more difficult "hardship."

kp2001

Sorry guys, serving in the reserves does not produce the same hardships as serving on active duty. Yes, members of the reserves can still be killed during their active duty periods; however, so can active duty members so you have to compare the other factors.

There are reasons why reserve retirements are different than active duty and if being in the Reserves produced an equal number of "hardships" don't you think they would be equal?

Bill0510

Certain "active duty" posts can be relatively easy; anecdotal evidence does not prove or disprove anything.

"Most" reservists [well, maybe "many"] reservists serve relatively easy [taht would be relative to active duty] assignments. [Granted, under current conditions, Army reservists do not fit this description under many, many circumstnaces.] Do "some" reservists serve in dangerous assignments? Absolutely. Do some of them serve voluntarily and, temporarily, as active duty; perhaps. Teh fact remains that a MMA graduat can [and it could probably be stated that frequently] does satisfy his/her obligation w/out EVER serving in a forward position that places them in harm's way or in any sort of active duty assignment. The same cannot be said of most graduates from the other academies.

There is nothing wrong with the arrangement. This is the deal currently in place between MMA graduates and the American public. More power to those who benefit from attending the MMA; they have nothing for which they should b eashamed. Just don't equate the "service" that MOST MMA graduates provide with that provided by MOST graduates fo teh other academis. While both services contribute to the well-being of the country, it is difficult [really, "impossible"] to equate the two "services."

kp2001

Couldn't agree more.

navy2010

oops- wrong post!

jasperdog

Bill, KP2001, and USMMA2009 -

1) Particular individuals who've paid the ultimate price aside, today the Reserves and National Gaurd in many ways are having it harder than those on active duty. There's LOTS of DOD data to support this statement concerning ops tempo, etc.

2) Diplaying a total lack of understanding for the basic underlying mission of USMMA, and/or Federal support of State Maritime Academies, doesn't make your broad, sweeping statements any less stupid than they are inflamitory.

3) Resenting someone just because he or she can make a very good income doing something important and contributory to society? I guess we'll put USMMA and State Maritime Academy grads into the same class as the surgeon who can put you together and save your life after you're in a car accident or like life threatening circumstances. DOT and Transportation Research Board data suggests that at least 1 in 7 jobs in the USA today is tied to a healthy and vital transportation industry, the Maritime component of which is as important to the healh of as it is to the ability to project power globally. Go look up how many C-17 flights it takes to put an Armoured Division somewhere, let alone sustain them and compare that to how many Ship's transits it takes to do the same. Sure the guys are well paid - there's 20 of them on that ship, how many airmen does it take to keep 3, 4, or 5 C-17's flying? It's called economics and the flavor is capitalism - we live in the USA and I'm glad we are both a freely elected democracy and our economic system is capitalism. I'm also glad we have well qualified and trained men and women in the Maritime industry. Go look at the $$$ per graduate the US spends on each graduate of KP vs. each West Point, Annapolis and/or USAFA graduate - once again the economics work - believe me there's been folks looking at this for decades.

If you serve on active duty - I thank you for your service and mean no disrespect but don't for a minute think that is the only important job America needs done. We need our way of life protected by the military and we all should be grateful for those who do so. However, let's not belittle the improtance of other who contribute to the building and continued operation of a strong national economy that enables all of us to live in relative oppulance.