Texas A&M University at Galveston

Undergraduate science programs offered by TAMUG include Majors in marine biology, marine Sciences, and many others. Engineering programs include marine engineering technology and offshore coastal and systems engineering. For those wishing to pursue programs in liberal arts and social sciences, students can pursue the major in maritime studies.[6]

The Texas A&M Maritime Academy offers a unique program that trains licensed United States mariners as either third mates or third assistant engineers through the maritime transportation, marine engineering technology, or master of maritime administration and logistics license options.[7]

Minors' in a separate subject area can also be pursued in addition to the declared undergraduate majors. Some minors are administered solely by TAMUG, whereas others are jointly administered by the main Texas A&M University campus in College Station. Minor fields of study include anthropology, chemistry, economics, English, geology, history, marine biology, maritime administration, military studies, ocean and coastal resources, oceanography, SCUBA diving technology and methods, and others.[8]

Graduate programs at TAMUG are administered by the Departments of Marine Biology, Marine Sciences, and Maritime Administration. In the Department of Marine Biology, students may pursue either a PhD or master's degrees (thesis or non-thesis) in marine biology. In the Department of Marine Sciences, students may pursue a master of marine resources management that can be completed as either a course-based or thesis-based master's program. The Department of Maritime Administration administers a master of maritime administration and logistics.

In addition to the local graduate programs administered by the Galveston campus, many faculty hold joint graduate or joint appointments in other departments at Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU). This allows graduate students to enroll in PhD programs at TAMU, yet complete the PhD in residence on the Galveston campus with the appropriate faculty advisor. Other common graduate programs completed at TAMUG include a PhD in oceanography, master of wildlife and fisheries, etc.[6]

Undergraduate students who immediately know they wish to pursue some graduate school may benefit from a "3+2" program, which allows students to concurrently pursue undergraduate and master's degrees. The duration of the program is 5 years, and the student receives two Texas A&M University degrees (bachelor's and master's). These programs are a year less than usually needed to complete these degrees separately (6 years), which provides considerable added value to their educational careers. Two programs are currently offered at TAMUG in this fashion, bachelor of ocean and coastal resources with a master of marine resources management in the Department of Marine Sciences, and a bachelor of maritime administration and a master of maritime administration and logistics in the Department of Maritime Administration.

On January 26, 1962, a long sought-after idea of a Texas-based maritime academy came to fruition when the Texas Governor Price Daniel and the president of Texas A&M, General Earl Rudder, signed the agreement authorizing the Texas Maritime Academy. General Rudder subsequently named retired Navy Captain Bennett M. Dodson as the first superintendent of the Texas Maritime Academy. Monday, September 17, 1962, was to be the opening day, and Captain Dodson had put the first class of 23 "Saltwater Aggies" under the guidance of the first Marine Corps company at College Station. This was to inspire maritime cadets with a sense of discipline and tradition at sea. Dodson is quoted saying, "I wanted my students to get Marine Corps discipline and knowledge of Naval tradition during their early college life." The maritime cadets were assigned to Dorm 11 as Company I, 3rd Brigade, (I-3). After their freshman year at the main campus in College Station, the cadets were then moved to Galveston to complete their maritime-related classes. The academy operated between the two campuses for eight years, up to 1971.[4]

In the summer of 1963, as the fledgling academy awaited its own training vessel, some 50 A&M Cadets got underway aboard the Empire State IV with SUNY Maritime for their first official cruise. A&M President Rudder had promised TMA its own ship by the summer of 1965. In that year, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced it would donate the American Export Lines vessel Excalibur, but the vessel was sold, instead. In March, the academy acquired the luxury liner USS Queens, and in June she was refitted to become the USTS Texas Clipper, the academy's first training ship. May 26, 1966 marked the first license ceremony with 13 seniors and General Rudder gave the keynote address. Two days later, the graduating cadets were driven to College Station to attend the Aggie commencement and receive their diplomas. This back-to-back practice continued for 19 years until Galveston starting holding its own ceremony.[4]

Currently, cadets/midshipmen do the entire program at the Galveston campus, but participate in two march-ins at Kyle Field per year with the College Station Corps of Cadets. The license ceremony and commencement take place at the Galveston Island Convention Center (2015).[12]

Since the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, the position of superintendent a maritime academy is commissioned as a rear admiral (upper half) in the United States Maritime Service, which is under the United States Maritime Administration per Secretary of the Department of Transportation.[13]

This program includes both "deck cadets" pursuing a major in marine transportation or a master of maritime administration and logistics and "engine cadets" pursuing a major in marine engineering technology. License option cadets make up the majority of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. These cadets participate in all functions of the Corps of Midshipman, along with various training activities, three summer training cruises, weekly maintenance, and in-port watch-standing activities during the semesters.[7]

This program is made up of license option cadets who are additionally striving for a commission in the United States Navy Reserve as a naval officer with a 166x designator (strategic sealift officer - SSO). As another option, SSO program midshipman are eligible for an active-duty commission.[28] These midshipman make up the second-most popular program within the academy and participate in both license program training activities and NROTC training activities and take additional naval science courses.[7]

This program also offers the cadet a competitive-based student incentive payment of $8000 per year for up to four years.[29]

These midshipman are competing for a commission as a naval officer, but are not earning a merchant marine license. They participate within the Corps of Midshipmen, yet do not participate in most of the licensing program training. NROTC midshipmen are able to major in any degree offered at the campus.[7]

These cadets participate in the Corps of Midshipmen without obligation to any above program. Like NROTC midshipmen, they are able to pursue any major offered.[7]

The Maritime Academy Graduate Direct Commission Officer Program is available to cadets who graduate with a license. Cadets apply their senior year to receive a three-year commission as a USCG officer into critical service need specialties appropriate to their training and experience.[30][31]

All students in the Texas A&M Maritime Academy are required to be in the Corps of Midshipmen. This is a regimented program in accordance with Title 46 Part 310 of the Code of Federal Regulations that is structured to provide discipline, leadership, team-building, and a professional learning environment. The TMA Corps of Midshipmen has a unique heritage, with a blend of tradition and customs that originate from its historical foundation with the TAMU Corps of Cadets.

Midshipmen stand morning formations, room inspections, mandatory study periods during call to quarters Sunday through Thursday, and march periodically at events.[32]

The students who make up the Corps of Midshipmen are either referred to as midshipmen or cadets, depending on the program in which they are involved. Overall within the student body, they are referred to as the Corps of Midshipmen.

Cadet/midshipman uniforms have evolved over the years, and are similar to naval uniforms. The standard uniform worn day-to-day is the midshipman khaki uniform, similar to service khakis of the U.S. Navy. Other uniforms include the midshipman service dress whites for graduation or special ceremonies, midshipman summer whites, academy blue-coveralls for maintenance, and salt & peppers. SSO and NROTC midshipman wear the Navy working uniform to training events, as well.

The academy has several unique uniform components. Freshman and sophomores wear a black belt with a blue cover. Juniors and seniors wear a white belt with a black cover. Corresponding collar devices and belt buckles are also worn depending on class and rank. Seniors are also allowed to wear a "senior fleece" with a TMA patch in place of the navy Eisenhower jacket. Seniors who have also passed license are authorized to wear a coveted maroon A&M cover, handed out by the superintendent (2015).[32]

Special units are organized groups within the corps made up from cadets of all four programs. The special units include the Hearn Honor Company, Color Guard, and Midshipman Drill Team.

The organization structure of the Corps of Midshipmen is mixed with professional staff members at the top and cadet/midshipmen senior leadership. The superintendent, deputy superintendent, assistant commandant, and active-duty naval officers make up the professional staff. The regimental commander, battalion commanders, and company commanders make up the cadet senior leadership.

The Corps of Midshipmen is divided into two battalions and 12 companies (2015). Eight companies are made up primarily of deck license option cadets , two of engineering license option cadets , and two "victor" companies. Victor companies comprise cadets of mixed programs and are either 25 years or older, are married, or have a bachelor's degree or prior military experience. Victor company cadets are allowed to live off campus and participate less in regimental activities. They are generally regarded to set the example for other cadets with their age and experience.[32]

Texas Clipper II

1. TS Texas Clipper, ex-USS Queens (APA-103) — 1965–1996
2. TS Texas Clipper II, ex-USNS Chauvenet (T-AGS-29) — 1999–2005
3. Sirius, ex-USNS Sirius (T-AFS-8) — 2005-2009 [33]
4. S.S. Cape Gibson — 2009–2012[34]
5. TS General Rudder, ex-TV Kings Pointer — January 2012 – present[35]

The Texas Maritime Academy acquired its first training ship in 1965. Previously named the SS Excambion when sailed by American Export Lines, the vessel was renamed the Texas Clipper because of its rounded (or clipper) stern. In 1996, Texas A&M Galveston (of which Texas Maritime was now a part) retired the aging Texas Clipper. In its stead, the school acquired the decommissioned USNS Chauvenet. Built by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1970, the new vessel was named the Texas Clipper II as per tradition.

In the summer of 2005, the Texas Maritime Academy took delivery of the USNS Sirius. Built in 1966 as a replenishment ship for the Royal Navy and purchased by the U.S. Navy as a logistics ship, it supported two carrier battle groups in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian hostage crisis and continued its career in the Navy serving across the world, notably in the Persian Gulf. It was retired and given to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, then assigned to TAMUG under an agreement that it can be activated by MARAD at any time. During the fall of 2005, the Sirius served in New Orleans for Katrina relief, from September 10 until November 29 and at Lake Charles, LA for Rita relief until March 2. Because of its extended relief effort, Sirius was unable to undergo a refit in 2006 to adapt its new role as a training vessel and comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety standards. Because Sirius had not undergone a refit, it could not be formally commissioned as the USTS Texas Clipper nor could it be used for summer training cruises. This is forcing the university to look to the other state maritime academies (California Maritime Academy from 2006–present) to help fulfill the summer cruise requirements until the work on the Sirius was completed. In the winter of 2009, the US Coast Guard ruled that Sirius was unfit for training and was prepared for decommissioning while the school looked for a new training ship. On June 25, 2009, Sirius was returned to the U.S. Maritime Administration.[36]

USNS Cape Gibson as the training ship in 2011: Other training vessels are seen in the small boat basin. The gravity davit lifeboat trainer is seen on the left.

In 2009, the academy acquired SS Cape Gibson.[34] The academy trained on this ship while it was docked at the campus, but was again unable to sail on her until a refit was done. In 2012, the vessel was towed to the government's navy reserve fleet near Beaumont and replaced with the TS General Rudder.[35] The academy's own General Rudder was the first vessel since 2005 on which it was able complete summer training cruises. The limited size of the vessel (64 personal), however, means a good majority of the cadets still sail with other maritime academies.[35]

1. R/V Trident: The research vessel is a 70-ft catamaran that serves the maritime academy as an underway terrestrial, engineering, and electronic navigation lab. She also serves other majors at TAMUG for underwater research and exploration.[37][38]
2. Ranger is a 25.5-ft push boat built to scale. The vessel is used for tug and tow classes, using TAMUG 100 & 200 barges that are also built to scale to simulate liquid cargo barges.[39][40]

The academy has a small boat basin with various other small boats, such as jet-drive fast-rescue boats, motor lifeboats, outboard motor boats, and twin-screw vessels used for ship handling, engineering, and general seamanship training.[41]