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USMMA Newsletter - December 2014


U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

In the News

December 2014

Message from Rear Admiral Helis                                                                                                             

As we approach the holiday season, we can look back with pride on what has been a very busy time at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  Following the graduation of the Class of 2013, the Class of 2017 arrived on 2 July and made a quick and successful transition to Academy life.  The Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Robin Braun, joined us for Parents Weekend and administered the oath of office, as Midshipmen in the US Navy Reserve, to the Plebe Candidates.  Our new Secretary of Transportation, the Honorable Anthony Foxx, paid his first visit to the Academy and helped cheer the football team on to victory over Coast Guard at the annual Secretaries’ Cup.  Secretary Foxx toured the Academy after the game and expressed his pleasure at meeting Midshipmen and seeing first-hand the progress we are making in the Capital Improvements Program.  Midshipmen have moved into the newly renovated Rodgers Hall, concrete has been poured for the new Mallory Pier, and the new serving and food preparation areas in Delano Hall are complete.  Work continues at Delano and Mallory and renovations are underway in Cleveland Hall.  Crystal Enterprises is our new food service provider for the Regiment, and they are off to a great start.  The government shutdown unfortunately forced us to postpone classes and send the Regiment home for an early fall break.  We resumed classes on 21 October, and in spite of the lost days we are on track to graduate the Class of 2014 on schedule next June.  The new Training Vessel Kings Pointer received its Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and with a crew of Midshipmen sailed from Florida to the James River Reserve Fleet anchorage.  The Kings Pointer will return to the Academy when Mallory Pier is completed in the spring of 2014.   Finally, the Academy was honored to be the host of ESPN’s Salute to Veterans on Veterans Day, with a live nationwide broadcast from the deck of Melville Hall.  The Band and Color Guard were featured along with Midshipmen who fired questions at the hosts and provided an enthusiastic audience.  We are proud of the progress we are making across the Academy.  I wish all of you a safe and joyous holiday season.


USMMA Celebrates Thanksgiving

On November 25th, the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s (USMMA) administration, faculty, staff and alumni joined the Regiment of Midshipmen to celebrate an early Thanksgiving.

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ESPN Honors Veterans Day Live from USMMA

As the culmination of ESPN’s week-long salute to Veterans, “America’s Heroes: A Salute to the Troops”, ESPN’s television show, First Take, and ESPN Radio’s Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show broadcast live from the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

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Campus Construction Updates

The Academy continues to make progress on its Capital Improvement Plan.

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All Present at the United States Merchant Marine Academy

On October 21st, classes resumed at the United States Merchant Marine Academy following a fall break due to the federal government shut down. Superintendent, Rear Admiral James A. Helis, PhD., welcomed back the entire Regiment of Midshipmen and assured them that the revised Academic calendar would allow the First Class to obtain their United States Coast Guard licenses and graduate as previously scheduled.

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A Busy Couple of Weeks at USMMA

On September 7, the Kings Point community proudly welcomed 237 plebe candidates of the Class of 2017 into the Regiment of Midshipmen. A week later, the Academy was happy to welcome U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx for his first visit to campus, and he couldn't have picked a better day.

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The United States Merchant Marine Academy Marks 70 years

During Homecoming 2013, the United States Merchant Marine Academy marked its 70th anniversary. The Academy, which began as a World War II Cadet Corps training facility, was dedicated as the United States Merchant Marine Academy on September 30th, 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. “The Academy serves the Merchant Marine as West Point serves the Army and Annapolis serves the Navy,” said President Roosevelt.

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Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2014

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