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<p>That is not true. The Secretary of Transportation must grant a waiver if a graduate wishes to work in a maritime capacity other than at sea. Last year only three waivers were granted. So, 75% of KP graduates in 2007 went to sea AND are serving in the Reserves or the National Guard.</p>
<p>With regard to war material being moved by air, it is moved on C-17’s, C-5’s, C-130’s and there is an Academy to train these folks in Colorado Springs.</p>
<p>According to Military Sealift Command, the number is 95% in times of war, I heard for OIF and OEF its 97%, but I can’t find a reference, so 95 will work. </p>
<p>Also, Military Sealift Command has more than 10,800 employees worldwide, approximately 80 percent of which serve at sea. MSC is the largest employer of merchant mariners in the United States. Approximately 5,100 employees are federal civil service, 660 are military personnel; and another 4,600 are employed by MSC contractors. That civilian mariner who is in command of the MSC ship refueling that destroyer at 20 knots and the third mate in charge of cargo ops making sure everything works on deck are probably Kings Pointers and the person at the helm might just be a KP Midshipman. They are just proud to serve a higher calling.</p>
<p>Nobody, at least I haven’t said, that USMMA keeps our maritme industry afloat. That would be like saying the Naval Academy keeps the Navy afloat when 84% of US Naval Officer accessions are from somewhere other than the Academy.</p>
<p>Both Academies serve the national interest and add value to the defense of our nation. As 4th generation warfare becomes predominant, and the interconnections between economic and military targets become more blurred, the nexus between the private sector and the military will become more important and inherent lessons learned at USMMA will be increasingly more valuable to the nation. In 1943 KP was producing the right graduates to support winning WWII. Today, USMMA is producing the right graduates for the “Long War” – so are USNA, USMA, USAFA, and USCGA.</p>