The California Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets is the undergraduate student body at the California Maritime Academy. As a State Maritime Academy, as required by Title 46 Part 310 of the Code of Federal Regulations students are considered Cadets, required to wear uniforms, and utilize a demerit-based disciplinary system. Participation in the Corps of Cadets is mandatory; participation in the Navy Reserve Merchant Marine program is optional. Cadets still utilize Merchant MarineNavy-style uniforms, customs, and traditions. Based on academic majors cadets are organized into Squads, Sections, Divisions and Companies which regularly muster in Morning Formations multiple times a week, as well as standwatches on campus and aboard the training ship.[4]
There is no armed service obligation attached to graduation from the California Maritime Academy. However, financial aid and additional career opportunities exist for those students who choose to participate in any of the several military programs available on the CMA campus:
Coast Guard – Auxiliary University Program, Maritime Academy Graduate Program[5]
The California Nautical School was established in 1929, when California State Assembly Bill No. 253 was signed into law by Governor C. C. Young. The bill authorized the creation of the school, the appointment of a Board of Governors to manage the school and the acquisition of a training vessel. The school's mission was "to give practical and theoretical instruction in navigation, seamanship, steam engines, gas engines, and electricity in order to prepare young men to serve as officers in the American Merchant Marine." By 1930, a training vessel and a school site was acquired; the original location of what would become California Maritime Academy was California City (now Tiburon, California) in the San Francisco Bay Area. This established the Corps of Cadets at the California Maritime Academy.
In January 1990 RADM John J. Ekelund, then president, resigned amidst allegations of mistreatment of the academy's first female cadets.[9][10] This led to a gradual elimination of military regimentation of cadets' life and training, as well as leading to becoming part of the California State University System. After becoming a campus of the California State University system, mandatory participation in the Navy Reserve Merchant Marine was eliminated with the introduction of academic majors that were not focused on becoming a licensed Merchant Marine or Reserve Naval Officer.
Organization
The California Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets is a cadet-run organization, consisting of over 1000 members, modeled after the Naval Regiment of Midshipmen. The Corps of Cadets is supervised by the Office of Leadership Development who establish baseline regulations for the running of the Corps of Cadets. The day-to-day activities, such as formations and watchstanding are run primarily by the cadets.
Office of Leadership Development
United States Maritime Service Cap Insignia
The Office of Leadership Development is Commandant of Cadets, who is appointed by California Maritime Academy and is a paid staff and faculty member. The Commandant is typically a retired Senior Officer from a maritime service, either the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard.
The Commandant is assisted by a Company Commandants who oversee the cadet companies and one Lead Company Commandant for Leader Development. There is also an administrative support staff. In the past, the Commandant staff had Chief Petty Officers who mentored cadets on professional development and responsibility.
The campus President, Commandants, Company Commandants, Commanding Officer of the Training Ship, licensed faculty, and Training Ship staff, many of whom are Commissioned Officers of the United States Maritime Service also wear the Merchant Marine uniforms to set the standard for cadets to look up to, as well as develop cadets leadership and professional abilities.
The California Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets is organized on the level of a Naval Regiment of Midshipmen. The same uniforms and insignia are used, with the exception of using the title of the rank. The following is the structure as of the 2014-2015 Academic Year:
Rank Structure
Corps Executive Staff
Corps Commander (6 Gold Bars)
Corps [Executive Officer] (5 Gold Bars)
Corps [Chief of Staff] (5 Gold Bars)
Academic Training Officer (5 Gold Bars)
Corps Information & Technology Officer (5 Gold Bars)
ASCMA President (6 Gold Bars)
Senior Hall Director (6 Gold Bars)
Cadets wearing the "Salt and Pepper" uniform. Rank or class standing is indicated by the shoulderboards.
Company Staff
Company Commanding Officer (5 Gold Bars)
Company Chief (5 Gold Bars)
Company Executive Officer (4 Gold Bars)
Company 1st Assistant/2nd Mate (4 Gold Bars)
Company 2nd Assistant/3rd Mate (3 Gold Bars)
Company 3rd Assistant (3 Gold Bars)
Division Staff
Division Commanding Officer (4 Gold Bars)
Division Executive Officer (3 Gold Bars)
Division Officer (2 Gold Bars)
Section Leader (1 Gold Bars with Blue Breaks)
Squad Leader (1 Gold Bars with Red Breaks)
All seniors not in an officer position wear the rank of Cadet Ensign (1 Gold Bar). Previously underclassmen were considered equivalent to enlisted ranks, and depending in position wore insignia of a Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer. Currently, cadets in non-leadership positions wear sleeve striping and rank insignia that corresponds to their academic class standing.
Freshman Training
Freshman cadets attend an orientation that familiarizes them with the campus layout and policies. Cadets are no longer required to undergo any training in drill or physical training. Cadets no longer learn marching, but still learn facing movements for Morning Formation and Colors.
Cadet awards
Only awards received from California Maritime Academy, awards from another Maritime Academy if a transfer student, and awards from Military service are worn on the uniform. Reserve Officer Training Corps, Civil Air Patrol, and other program awards are not allowed to be worn on the CMA cadet uniform. Following Navy Uniform regulations, ribbons are worn three to a row, with no spaces in between the rows.
Ensign Henry D. McNabb, USN (1939) died September 9, 1943, killed by German artillery while serving on the crew of USS Arcturus. At the time he was operating LCM 15 in a four-man crew and five enlisted men. While assisting a British Landing Craft at Blue Beach, LCM 15 came under fire from a German 88 mm shore battery which killed Ensign McNabb and five of his men, wounding three of the other four men and sinking the LCM 15. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions.[14]Firehouse #14 in Stockton, CA is on a street named for him.[15]
Captain John Clague, USN (1940) while serving on the crew of the USS Hamilton, received the Bronze Star for service in the liberation of the Philippines.[17]
Captain Noel V. Bird, USN (1939) served aboard two Attack Transports and was involved in fourteen amphibious landings in North Africa and throughout the Pacific during World War II.[18]
Staff Sergeant Cassell J. Wiggins, USMC (alumnus) served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, and was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V for actions after his convoy was ambushed. He exposed himself to enemy fire to clear a path to attend the wounded Marines.[24]
.svg){kind=small}
