Indoctrination begins on Thursday, July 9, 2026!

Congratulations on your appointment to the United States Merchant Academy! We are pleased to welcome you among an elite group of students selected to the Class of 2030. Below are items of interests that will help you prepare for reporting to Indoctrination on July 9th. All accepted candidates will receive detailed reporting instructions, referred to as the "Logging In" booklet, via FedEx, by the first week of May. If you have questions about the process, please contact us at INDOC@USMMA.EDU.

Admitted students virtual information sessions

Appointees will be notified via email of virtual sessions. These information sessions are intended for Class of 2030 appointees. Appointees are highly encouraged to attend a session. 

Reporting Date and Time

Plebe Candidates will report to the Academy on Thursday, July 9, 2026, 0700 - 0830. 

0700-0730    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names A thru I)
0730-0800    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names J thru R)
0800-0830    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names S thru Z)
 

• Plan to arrive within 15-30 minutes prior to your report time, so that you may be better prepared for in-processing. 
• ONLY those who have received Orders to Report can sign in to the Academy on the above date at their specific designated time. 
•  Please note, you will report with your designated group. Athletic recruits will not be permitted to report in with their future teammates at a time outside their designated group. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.
• No late starts will be permitted. 
• You should eat breakfast before you arrive. 
• Note: Athletes may bring equipment IF they have coordinated with their coach for a drop off prior to the reporting schedule.

FAMILY INDOCTRINATION SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 9, 2026
0700-0730    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names A thru I)
0730-0800    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names J thru R)
0800-0830    Plebe Candidate Drop Off (Last Names S thru Z)
1100-1145    Family Brief in Ackerman Auditorium
1150             Family View Plebe Oath on Barney Square
1200-1300   Welcome Lunch hosted by USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation (USMMA-AAF)
1300             Campus Closed to Visitors
 

Key Dates

Indoctrination Ends           Friday, July 24, 2026
1st Term Classes Begin    Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Family Weekend                September 11 to 13, 2026

Travel to USMMA

Within your Logging In packet you will receive  Orders to Report that includes your Student ID number and instructions on making your travel arrangements. Once received please ensure that you check off the Acceptance or Declination box, sign and return the form via email to INDOC@USMMA.EDU.

Plebe Candidates are reimbursed for official travel only from your legal home of record directly to Kings Point. Hotel and rental vehicles will not be reimbursed. Your authorized travel expenses include privately owned vehicle mileage at the government mileage rate ($0.725/mile) or common carrier (aircraft) at the government rate (whichever is least costly to the Government).  It is recommended that all official travel arrangements be made through USMMA’s Travel Management Center. Travel Professionals’ preferred contact method is e-mail (tpi.travel@embarqmail.com). Telephone calls are welcome at 1-850-678-6688. To receive reimbursement for Indoctrination travel expenses, you will be required to submit substantiating documents (all receipts). Questions, please refer to the Logging In booklet.

Mail and Package Delivery

Plebe Candidates are prohibited from receiving packages prior to and during Indoctrination. USMMA mail is collected from the Great Neck Carrier Annex building, therefore, processing packages may take an additional 2-4 days for distribution to the student. Mail and packages without box numbers may experience added, significant delays in delivery. Please ensure all First-class Mail, magazine subscriptions, Parcel Post, and package delivery services include the correct box number. Mailbox numbers are assigned during INDOC. 

Personal Gear – Plebe Kit – Educational Kit:

Plebe Candidates entering the Class of 2030 are required to purchase a Plebe Kit. The required items are listed in the Logging In booklet by quantity, size, and vendor. These items are required for uniformity, and no deviation will be permitted. Plebe Candidates are required to purchase the Educational Kit in the fall of 2026, prior to the start of the second trimester. The contents and cost of this kit will depend on the academic major. The kits are available for a tax-free purchase from the USMMA Navy Exchange (NEX).

The Plebe class of 2030 are required to purchase a computer package above from the USMMA Navy Exchange as part of the Educational Kit. Details and costs are provided in the Logging In booklet.

Additional information on what to bring to the Academy is detailed in the Logging In booklet. 

In-Processing Documents Required for Indoctrination:

Plebe Candidate MUST arrive for Indoctrination with the following documents:

Passport: must be valid through December 31, 2030.  If the passport expires prior to that date, please renew the passport prior to Indoctrination. Application or renewal of a current passport expiring before 31 December 2030, can be done at your local Post Office, online at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html, or by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

If you have not yet made an appointment and/or ordered your passport, PLEASE DO SO IMMEDIATELY! Appointment availability may vary, and there can be a lengthy turnaround time for receiving the official document.  Failure to have a valid passport through 31 December 2030 may impact your ability to go to sea. 

If you have NOT received your Passport by INDOC, please bring your confirmation and/or payment receipt demonstrating that you have applied for the credential.

Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC): All U.S. citizens must obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) prior to arriving for Indoctrination. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, including all merchant mariners. The cost of the TWIC is approximately $124.

To obtain a TWIC, go online to https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/programs/twic and carefully follow the instructions provided, especially those related to the requirements for personal identification. It is recommended that you pre-enroll on the TWIC website and then schedule an appointment through the website at your closest TSA Enrollment Center. When pre-enrolling, it is critical to the application of the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) to indicate the card’s purpose is for employment as a Merchant Mariner and the employer is U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  During enrollment, you must provide a physical address (not a PO Box) for the TWIC to be sent.

If you have NOT received your TWIC card by INDOC, please bring your payment receipt demonstrating that you have applied for the credential. 

Student Identification and Access (PIV-I Card): Prospective students planning to attend the USMMA must obtain a government form of identification (PIV-I).
Refer to the Student Identification and Access Credentials Instructions in the Logging In booklet.

Fourth-Class Questionnaire: You will receive a Fourth-Class Questionnaire via email. You must fill out the questionnaire in its entirety and email it back to the Midshipmen Personnel Officer at sicac@usmma.edu.

Information on Midshipman Fees

The Federal Government pays the majority of costs associated with enrollment at USMMA. Midshipmen receive tuition, room and board, uniforms, and textbooks at no cost. Basic medical and dental care are provided through the Academy’s Department of Health Services (DHS).

The Academy assesses Midshipman Fees in accordance with 46 CFR Part 310.62 (b) to cover the cost of items and services generally of a personal nature, which are provided on campus through service contracts. These personal services include:                        

• Wash-and-fold laundry service: weekly service contract for laundry service for uniforms and garments.
• Tailor and seamstress service: personnel and supplies to provide uniform adjustments and repairs to ensure consistent appearance. All midshipmen will ensure they periodically assess and adjust their uniforms (i.e. length of trousers; missing buttons; etc.) through this service as necessary.

The Midshipman Fee for Academic Year 2026/2027 is $912.

Midshipman Fees are payable in full, up front, for the entire Academic Year and are due prior to the start of Indoctrination. The Office of Academy Financial Management (OAFM) will invoice you no later than 1 June 2026.  Additional information may be found in the Logging In booklet.

Financial Aid

USMMA participates in the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Program and is authorized to disburse FSA Pell Grants and Direct Loans to all eligible students.  All students, regardless of family income, are eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. Students must complete a FAFSA to receive financial aid. Refer to the Financial Aid - Class of 2030 documents in your Logging In packet. 

Medical Standards for Admission

For admission to the Academy, you must meet the medical requirements prescribed by the Department of the Navy for appointment as a Midshipman, United States Navy Reserve Strategic Sealift Midshipman Program, and those prescribed by the United States Coast Guard for original licensing as a Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer. As indicated on the DOD Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) Report of Medical History, you are required to indicate any current or past issues, to include prior drug use, even if legal in your home state. 

As per the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), specifically 46 CFR § 310.56, the requirement to meet these medical standards is a continuous one and applies through graduation from the Academy.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THIRD MOLARS/WISDOM TEETH

The Academy staff expects you will arrive at USMMA with no potentially disqualifying dental conditions (i.e. Department of Defense Class 1 dental clearance status). Examples of disqualifying dental conditions include the presence of Third Molars (wisdom teeth), either erupted or impacted, that cannot be maintained in a good state of health. 

To allow adequate time for healing, we advise that tooth removal be completed a minimum of 6 weeks prior to Indoctrination. Failure to follow these guidelines could impact your ability to participate in Indoctrination. Additional information is provided in the Logging In booklet.

Physical Preparation

Physical Fitness Requirements

As a Midshipman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, you will be required to maintain the physical fitness standards of the U.S. Navy. During Indoctrination and in each academic term, the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) will be administered to each Midshipman by the Department of Physical Education, Department of Naval Science, and the Department of the Commandant of Midshipmen.

In order to successfully complete the PFA and the physical fitness requirements of Indoctrination, you must prepare yourself prior to your arrival. Your physical fitness preparation program should be taken seriously and should focus on a challenging training program, nutrition program, and hydration program. The Logging In booklet will explain the fitness requirements in detail and provide a fitness and nutrition program to help you prepare for the physical fitness challenges at USMMA.

Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA)

To measure the general fitness of the Regiment of Midshipmen, all midshipmen must take a Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) each academic term that they are at Kings Point. The PFA consists of two components, the Body Composition Assessment (BCA) and the Physical Readiness Test (PRT).

Every midshipman must pass both parts of the PFA; failure of any part shall result in assignment to the remedial physical fitness program and may result in dismissal from the Academy.

Body Composition Analysis (BCA)

Body Composition is assessed by height and weight screening, as well as body fat percentage if you fail to meet the height and weight standards. The BCA will be administered on entrance day of Indoctrination.

Naval Science Indoctrination Package

As a Plebe Candidate, you will be sworn in as Midshipman, Strategic Sealift Midshipman Program, U.S. Navy Reserve (SSMP, USNR).

The Naval Science Welcome Aboard Packet is included in your FedEx packet.  It outlines the additional information required to process your application for appointment as Midshipman, SSMP, USNR. 

Please follow the instructions in this packet and enclosures carefully. Ensure that all items are prepared prior to your arrival at the Academy. Place all completed documents in a sealed envelope, mark the envelope TO Naval Science FROM (your name). The sealed envelopes will be collected during Indoctrination. 

Get connected:

Alumni Association https://www.usmmaalumni.com/s/1860/18/home.aspx?gid=2&pgid=61
Parents’ Association https://www.kpparents.com/s/1860/18/interior.aspx?sid=1860&gid=2&pgid=512

FedEx packets with detailed reporting instructions, the "Logging In" booklet, and other pertinent information will be mailed out no later than the first week of May. 

HONOR CODE

All students entering the Academy must adhere to the Honor Code at all times.

“A MIDSHIPMAN WILL NOT LIE, CHEAT, OR STEAL.”

The United States Merchant Marine Academy believes that every student should be treated with dignity and respect.  We embrace members of all backgrounds, celebrating the individuality that strengthens each class. Sexual assault, sexual harassment, and discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national origin, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law are actions contrary to our Core Values of Respect, Honor and Service and will not be tolerated on campus, off campus or at sea. 

DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) enforces a zero-tolerance drug policy in accordance with 46 CFR Part 16 and 49 CFR Part 40, which require chemical testing for mariners seeking a United States Coast Guard (USCG) credential. Additionally, as a student participating in the Strategic Sealift Midshipman Program, Midshipmen are bound by the Navy’s “zero tolerance” policy regarding drug abuse. “Drug abuse” is defined as the illegal or wrongful use, possession of controlled substances, or attempts to commit drug offenses. “Wrongful” drug use is the knowing and intentional ingestion of a controlled substance. Wrongful drug use includes the use of prescription narcotics that were not prescribed to you, as well as the misuse of medications prescribed to you when used in a manner inconsistent with medical directions or recommendations. Compliance with these federal regulations is mandatory for all Candidates and Midshipmen.

Every Candidate and Midshipman is expected to demonstrate the integrity, accountability, and sound judgment required of future maritime officers and military leaders. Maintaining a drug-free lifestyle is a foundational requirement of service, operational readiness, safety at sea, and trust placed in Academy graduates. As future mariners and naval officers, Candidates and Midshipmen are required to abstain from illegal drug use entirely and to exercise responsible and lawful conduct regarding alcohol.

A mandatory drug test will be conducted on each Candidate upon reporting for Indoctrination. Additional information is provided in the Logging In booklet.