Commandant's Corner    

6 July 2023

Summer Sea Term '23 is progressing well! 

-Students are getting on-hand training in navigation, ship handling, at sea watch keeping, marine engineering, steam plant operations and leadership.

-We had excellent port visits in Curacao and Tampa where cadets were able to get off the ship and enjoy the local beaches and night life. 

- As of this writing, TS Kennedy is anticipating a morning arrival at San Juan, Puerto Rico on 13 July for another well earned break from the training schedule. 

-Our final port of the Summer, will be New Orleans, LA. 

-TS Kennedy will return to Galveston on 5 August, with Sea Term 23 officially ending on 8 August.  

1 June 2023

Congratulations to our newest former students! Six engine cadets and 13 deck cadets graduated in May, for a total of 19 new graduates. 

The United States Coast Guard license exams took place the week before last. 12 cadets passed all of their exams (nine deck and three engine). This is a tremendous milestone in their careers and sets them up to receive their licenses as soon as they graduate. 

Corps operations ended on 1 May for the summer and will pick back up soon with the start of Summer Sea Term 2023. Cadet leadership for SST reported on Friday, 26 May to begin planning for the sea term and the 2 June embarkation. Cadets are already checking in and everyone is looking forward to a successful summer at sea. 

Next month's report is sure to be full after a month of sea term under our belts! 

4 May 2023

In April, the Corps was heavily engaged in preparing our cadets for a summer at sea. We will have cadets at sea across the world this summer with students sailing on TS Kennedy, on board commercial vessels of every sort and aboard US Navy ships.

On Saturday, April 29, we hosted families and friends of cadets for Change of Command, where the previous cadet leadership passed command over to the next leaders. It celebrates the accomplishments of the senior class as they step out on the second Pass and Review as the reviewing party, and freshman cadets receive their Maritime Academy Forge pin in recognition of the completion of their first year. At the ceremony, our new Company, Battalion and Corps leaders were presented with their swords, symbolizing their commitment to leadership, duty and the Corps. The academy also presented company award flags for the first time. Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

Most Improved – Alpha One

Scholastic Excellence – Bravo Two

Selfless Service – Echo One

Admirals Best Company – Charlie Two 

On Sunday, April 30, all of the 2023-2024 Corps student leaders participated in an intense leadership forum and training session. We covered topics ranging from leadership traits and styles to the expectation of performance for cadet leaders.