About SIPSAMS

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, Academies Cadets

to educate young men and women to become officers in the United States Merchant Marine. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) license as a deck or engineering officer, or both, and a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve or other Reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. USMMA graduates’ service obligation requirements are as follows:

MARAD provides financial assistance to six State Maritime Academies to train U.S. merchant marine officers pursuant to the Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980. Each Academy trains and educates young men and women to become future U.S. merchant mariners. Each Academy also offers a unique learning environment. The Academies are California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, CA; Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, MI; Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME; Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA; State University of New York Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, NY; and Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston, TX.

In addition to the financial assistance provided to each of the State Maritime Academies, the Maritime Administration also offers financial subsistence to a limited number of candidates selected to participate in the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program. The program requires each candidate must be a U.S. Citizen, be at least 17 years old but not older than 25 years of age, possess a secondary school education, meet physical standards, complete the Naval Science Curriculum, and obtain a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Students who participate in the SIP Program are called cadets and receive $4,000 annually for a maximum of four years to offset school costs. In consideration for the financial subsistence the SIP graduates’ incur a service obligation, the requirements are as follows:

Federal law imposes service obligations on the graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and State Maritime Academies (SMA) graduates in the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program. The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) monitoring of these individuals begins in their first year at the academies and continues normally for 8 years after graduation, and possibly longer if some delay or a deferment is granted. This monitoring is required to determine if statutory and regulatory requirements are being met as well as to measure program performance in achieving MARAD and DOT strategic objectives to meet the U.S. national security and commercial mobility requirements.

[1] All armed forces of the United States are currently requiring 8 years.

[2] All armed forces of the United States are currently requiring 8 years.


Home	About MSCS	Requirements	Resources	Employment		Login


	The U. S. Merchant Marine Academy The Maritime Administration (MARAD) operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, to educate young men and women to become officers in the United States Merchant Marine. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) license as a deck or engineering officer, or both, and a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve or other Reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. USMMA graduates’ service obligation requirements are as follows: to complete the academy’s course of instruction; and to submit an Annual Compliance Report Form (MA-930) to MARAD annually reporting the components of your service obligation; and serve in the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of the United States for at least five (5) years following graduation as: (A) a merchant marine officer on vessels documented under U.S. laws or owned and operated by the U.S. or by any State or Territory of the U.S.; or (B) a commissioned officer on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or NOAA Corps; or (C) with the Federal government in a maritime-related position that serves the national security interests; or (D) ashore, in a U.S. maritime related industry, profession or marine science, if a determination has been made that no afloat positions are available; and maintain the U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, including all endorsements held at graduation, for six (6) years following graduation; and apply for and accept, if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in any reserve unit of an armed forces of the United States and maintain that commission for at least six (6) years after graduation[1]. State Maritime Academies MARAD provides financial assistance to six State Maritime Academies to train U.S. merchant marine officers pursuant to the Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980. Each Academy trains and educates young men and women to become future U.S. merchant mariners. Each Academy also offers a unique learning environment. The Academies are California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, CA; Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, MI; Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME; Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA; State University of New York Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, NY; and Texas Maritime Academy, Galveston, TX. *Student Incentive Payment Program* In addition to the financial assistance provided to each of the State Maritime Academies, the Maritime Administration also offers financial subsistence to a limited number of candidates selected to participate in the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program. The program requires each candidate must be a U.S. Citizen, be at least 17 years old but not older than 25 years of age, possess a secondary school education, meet physical standards, complete the Naval Science Curriculum, and obtain a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Students who participate in the SIP Program are called cadets and receive $4,000 annually for a maximum of four years to offset school costs. In consideration for the financial subsistence the SIP graduates’ incur a service obligation, the requirements are as follows: to complete the academy’s course of instruction; and to submit your Annual Compliance Report Form (MA-930) to MARAD annually reporting the components of their service obligation; and serve in the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of the United States for at least three (3) years following graduation as: (A) a merchant marine officer on vessels documented under U.S. laws or owned and operated by the U.S. or by any State or Territory of the U.S.; or (B) a commissioned officer on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or NOAA Corps; or (C) with the Federal government in a maritime-related position that serves the national security interests; or (D) ashore, in a U.S. maritime related industry, profession or marine science, if a determination has been made that no afloat positions are available; and maintain the U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States, including all endorsements held at graduation, for six (6) years following graduation; and apply for and accept, if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in any reserve unit of an armed force of the United States and maintain that commission for at least six (6) years after graduation[2]. Notes to Graduates: Employment as a merchant marine officer in the U.S. flag fleet consists of 150 days of sailing employment in a calendar year, or as determined by MARAD. The required period to report employment is a minimum of three (3) years for State Maritime Academy SIP graduates. However after that period each graduate has remaining the obligation to report to MARAD the U.S. Coast Guard License and Reserve compliance each for a minimum of 6 years. The reports you submit will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness by the Maritime Administration. If there are any questions during this review, you will be contacted. The reports you submit to MARAD do not satisfy your annual reporting requirement for your reserve organization. Graduates must submit separately an annual report to your specific reserve unit, in accordance with the procedures of that organization. Federal law imposes service obligations on the graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and State Maritime Academies (SMA) graduates in the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program. The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) monitoring of these individuals begins in their first year at the academies and continues normally for 8 years after graduation, and possibly longer if some delay or a deferment is granted. This monitoring is required to determine if statutory and regulatory requirements are being met as well as to measure program performance in achieving MARAD and DOT strategic objectives to meet the U.S. national security and commercial mobility requirements. [1] All armed forces of the United States are currently requiring 8 years. [2] All armed forces of the United States are currently requiring 8 years.