<p>Just in case--please any thoughts? I realize that they are very different academies, but just in case we face this difficult (but truly wonderful) decision, can anyone offer some pros/cons to help my son? He is an athlete, and spent time at both institutions. He has already turned down 2 athletic college offers to go military, but this may be his most difficult decision.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any help</p>
<p>Service Academies are about careers. Would he rather serve in the merchant marines or the CG?</p>
<p>This sounds simplistic...but he really wants to serve. He loves both...and can see himself at either place being very happy. The Midshipmen/Cadets that he spent time with were all very positive, and spoke very highly of their respective institutions. He left both places excited and certain that it was the best place in the world! He can't go wrong, but I'm wondering what advice some seasoned military parents can offer. I have my choice, but I'm afraid that my choice is based upon a "mother's" perspective, and may not be the most beneficial in the long term. Thanks for any input...</p>
<p>The biggest difference I can see between the 2 SAs is Sea Year. That was one of the things that really appealed to my D about USMMA. How does your S feel about the idea of Sea Year? It is a big part of the KP experience. Also, KP is very focused in the majors it offers. That may or may not be a issue for your S. Is your S in contact with coaches at both schools? </p>
<p>Good luck to your S in making his decision and getting through the application process!</p>
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<p>:confused: I'm not really sure how that differentiates, I would offer that the USCGA is "focused in the majors they offer" as well. </p>
<p>USNA69's answer really is the best possible response in this situation - does he want to be a Merchant Mariner or serve in the US Coast Guard?</p>
<p>Sorry, I wasn't clear. Perhaps it would be better to say that KP is limited in the majors available. For example, USCGA has a Government major. KP offers variations on Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering, and Logistics & Intermodal Transportation. That's a fairly narrow range of majors and it is important that prospective students understand that.</p>
<p>Jenns--- Your most reliable source of information will be from admissions officials from each candidate institution. Granted, there may be a bias from them, but they will know their stuff when it come to their particular institution. In particular, which course of study would your son be interested in? I'd suspect it's something offered at both schools. Otherwise, the decision is academic.</p>
<p>And you are right not to pigeonhole KP so quickly. From what I've seen, about 1/3 of the graduates also have that desire to serve in Active Duty (all branches are available, but primary choices seem to be Army and Navy/Marines, and Coast Guard). Mine, heck, several I know happen to think Marine Ops is great, and do the 4am ruck marches/"fun" runs before class several times a week (the crawling through muddy culverts story was particularly notable). Some are better in one thing that another, but they are quite respectful of each others' strengths and make a great team. Army as a great crew as well. Don't want to shortchange any others, I just haven't met them yet. </p>
<p>I've also met some great kids at KP who are going Coast Guard. They , or their parents, may choose to share more specifics about their individual decision. I know some wanted to understand the global network better, so that they could see how best the CG can protect our coastline(understanding the inspection and enforcement from BOTH sides); some wanted the experience of Sea Year (4mos + 8mos stints) to examine their options. The are many good reasons. </p>
<p>Unfailingly, the active duty officers and retirees from several branches of service that my son talked to encouraged "keep your options open". Mine chose to do that at KP.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son on his decision. They are both great schools.</p>
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<p>They also have a Management major. And one in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and Operations Research and Computer Analysis.</p>
<p>Yet everyone graduates with a BS degree due to the required core of math and sciences required of all cadets, regardless of their major.</p>
<p>ALL cadets, regardless of intended major, have a core curriculum of:</p>
<p>Chem I and Chem II
Physics I and Physics II
Calculus I and Calculus II
Intro to Engineering and Design
Into to EE
Nautical Science I, II, III, and IV
Economics
American Government
English Comp & Speech
Criminal Justice
Maritime Law Enforcement
Leaders in US History
Morels and Ethics
Literature of Leadership
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Oceanography
Leadership and Organizational Development
Probability and Statistics</p>
<p>No doubt, USMMA focuses their core of studies to ensure the very best Merchant Marine officer, and the USCGA is focused on developing the very best Coast Guard officer.</p>
<p>Hence my concurring with USNA69's statement regarding this young man's service career choice.</p>
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<p>If one truly hasn't made a decision, KP is a viable choice. I'm with Luigi. I cannot think of any compelling reasons whatsoever for someone who wishes to serve in the CG and has been accepted to the CGA, not go there. </p>
<p>Perhaps instead of seeking advice of midshipmen or parents, those who know might be the ones who have actually done it.</p>
<p>However, not all 17 or 18 year olds are positive what they want to be or where their strengths lie entirely. Coast Guard offers more majors plus the USCG life for a while. Kings Point has more limited majors, but offers more variety in career outcomes - not just "merchant marines" as USNA69 calls them. Many join the armed services, USCG, NOAA or become commercial mariners. </p>
<p>But I agree with USNA69 that your son should discuss it with alumni of both fine institutions as they can offer better advice at this point.</p>
<p>Approximately 4000 young men and women each year commit to a particular service and plan their SA education accordingly. Is it too much to ask of the final 50 or so? There are some who may need it but the vast majority make the decision, live with it, and do fine.</p>
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not just "merchant marines" as USNA69 calls them
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<p>And what would you call them?</p>
<p>United</a> States Merchant Marine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>Actually, the Coast Guard liaison officer at Kings Point is a recent CGA graduate. I'm sure he could advise you very clearly about the options. Also, there is a "club" at KP called the Guardians which consists of KP Mids that want to go active duty CG upon graduation. I PM'd you the reasons my son chose KP. But as said below...have your son investigate with graduates of both. I can give you an email of the Sector Galvaston Commander for the CG which is a KP graduate if you would like; just PM me.</p>
<p>Merchant mariners is I believe the correct term.....at least according to the link you provided USNA.</p>
<p>some prefer the term Professional Seaman.</p>
<p>That would be the Navy.</p>
<p>I believe the choice was USCGA or USMMA. Coming out of USCGA one becomes a USCG officer, a member of the Coast Guard, an oft-forgotten military service. Coming out of USMMA, you default to a USNaval Reserve commission when entering commercial maritime service with a USCG license OR you are commissioned in one of the Armed Services, or NOAA. </p>
<p>Merchant Marine refers to commercial shipping; a person in that trade is a Merchant Mariner. The Proud, the Few should have Marine reserved to them as they fought the pirates off Tripoli. They are a bit busy now to fight the Somalian pirates...</p>
<p>You have lost me. Until they start calling the Academy the United Commercial Maritime Service Academy, I, and it seems like everyone else, will continue to refer to the merchant marine.</p>
<p>Agreed that the merchant marine is the service and merchant mariner is the individual.</p>
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does he want to be a Merchant Mariner or serve in the US Coast Guard?
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<p>Ummm. My kid is a little of both? I dunno. Just sayin'. :D He finds that by having the 3rd Mates License through KP as an active duty Coast Guard Officer it will benefit him in his future job. Look for the fall issue of CG Proceedings magazine to come out soon. He has an article coming out called "Getting a Start Through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy". He tells what its like to go CG out of KP & what his experience has been.</p>
<p>I thought of something to add as to my own personal beliefs & such. I sometimes ponder thoughts that he can't serve in the CG forever. Wonder where he'll be in 20 years..... Will he teach, will he head up security in some port or will he sail commercially? KP gives him good legs for the career that will follow his service time from what I have seen. What do some of you other folks think about where you see your kids further down the road?</p>
<p>Go USCGA...As far as an academy training ship; they still have enough money in their budget to pay for fuel.</p>