By Daniel Bissell | Restoration News
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)—also known as King’s Point—was becoming one of the most woke military colleges in the nation until President Trump took charge.
Midshipmen can now focus on becoming skilled merchant mariners and military officers rather than diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) specialists. Applications have been in decline at the school, but Trump’s actions will certainly energize potential recruits.
In December 2022, USMMA hired Superintendent Joanna Nunan who turned the school’s focus toward anti-Christian division rather than mission readiness.
She was previously head of human resources at the Coast Guard Academy responsible for DEI initiatives. Nunan was appointed to the new position—where she remains today—by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, no doubt for her far-Left views.
One of Nunan’s first directives was to remove a historic painting of Jesus watching over distressed mariners at sea. Apparently, it was offensive to a radical anti-Christian group, so she removed it from where it had been hanging for over 70 years and relinquished it to a flood prone basement.
Yet she permitted an LGBT celebration portrait to remain on display.
In October 2023, Nunan created a new policy that allowed biological men to use the same bathrooms, locker rooms, and living quarters as women.
“Trans” men who identified as women were also authorized to compete in women’s sports.
Perhaps most egregiously, Supt. Nunan unilaterally decided to permit transgender midshipmen to receive a waiver from obligated military service.
These are just a few examples of the radical agenda Nunan implemented at the prestigious school in just two years of leadership.
Fortunately, President Trump’s executive order to de-woke the military outranks her far-Left agenda. This is an email received by USMMA midshipmen on February 14th:
LGBT clubs will no longer be permitted, and transgender displays will be removed from the campus. Gender dysphoria will be treated as a mental illness, not an excuse for a waiver from military obligations.
Taxpayer funds will no longer be used to promote divisive agendas, and approved attire will no longer advertise sexuality—as seen below.
Photo from USMMA website
A Major Victory for Military Readiness
USMMA is the least-known of the five official military service academies. The others are the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Just like the other academies, applicants to USMMA must receive an appointment through a congressman or senator.
USMMA is the only academy authorized to carry a battle standard. In times of war, other service academy students haven’t engaged in combat, but USMMA students can be the first ones called to duty.
In World War II, the Merchant Marine Academy lost 142 midshipmen in combat and the battle standard signifies their sacrifice.
During times of war, merchant seaman can be called into service on behalf of the Navy. Their jobs are critical to transporting necessary supplies to war zones.
Overseen by the Secretary of Transportation, King’s Point is the only U.S. military academy that trains students to work in the merchant service.
Upon graduation, there are two tracks midshipmen can take in exchange for a taxpayer funded college education: Either becoming an active duty commissioned military officer in any branch of the Armed Forces, or sailing on a merchant vessel in addition to commissioning into the U.S. Navy Reserves. Around 25 percent of students choose the active-duty military route, while the rest become merchant mariners.
King’s Point may be one of the most strenuous of all the service academies. During their 4 years in school, students must complete 9 months of “sea year training” in two underway periods on merchant vessels.
They get to travel the world and hone their skills through hands-on learning. An arduous sea year project becomes a weighted portion of their grade. Because of the sea time requirement, the academic year is 11 months long split into trimesters.
As a requirement to graduate, every student must pass the challenging U.S. Coast Guard licensing exam to qualify as a deck or engineering officer. This prestigious license provides graduates with the opportunity to work in industry jobs with starting salaries in the six figures.
Shortage of Mariners
The United States has a critical shortage of qualified mariners.
Military Sealift Command, a division of the Navy, recently announced the sidelining of 14 support ships due to a lack of manpower.
The number of students applying to King’s Point dramatically decreased under Nunan’s leadership—down 22 percent.
An insider told Restoration News that standards at the school were lowered, and they believe that has led to higher dropout rates.
Reduced standards for admission set students up for failure in this rigorous math and science heavy program.
A lack of focus on infrastructure problems at the Academy may also contribute to recruitment problems. In 2024, Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) introduced legislation to fund rehabilitation at King’s Point.
He said, “Maritime security is critical to our national security, and yet the Academy has been allowed to fall into disrepair – threatening recruitment efforts as well as the quality of education the Academy can provide.”
Multiple reports of a lack of heat and hot water—that continue today—are examples of Garbarino’s concerns.
The first step has been taken to Make USMMA Great Again. It’s time to acquire new leadership at the school that will promote recruitment, high standards, and focus on infrastructure needs not social justice ideologies.
First published on Restoration News
Leave a Comment