The Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA) is a prestigious, highly specialized, maritime training program that is embedded within Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG), which is a branch of Texas A&M University (TAMU) at College Station. The mission of TAMMA is to provide the U.S. Navy with commissioned officers and to provide the maritime industries of the Texas and the United States with highly trained and professional licensed Merchant Marine Officers (deck/engine) to serve on ocean-going and inland waterway vessels. The Academy includes:

• Cadets who are in the U. S. Coast Guard licensing program (called License Option) leading to a Merchant Marine Officer’s unlimited license as a deck or engineering officer.

• The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) leading to an officer’s commissioning in the U.S. Navy.

• The Drill and Ceremony Cadets who desire the leadership training in the Corps of Cadets, but choose to not participate in either of the above programs.

• License Option Midshipmen who volunteer and meet the qualifications, may join the Strategic Sealift Officers (SSO) Program administered through the Naval Science Department/NROTC program, which provides the opportunity for License Option Cadets to receive a commission as an Ensign and serve in the Naval Reserve. These Cadets are also eligible to receive funding ($8,000 per year) through the Student Incentive Program sponsored by the U. S. Navy Reserves and administered by the Maritime Administration. Cadets in this program also have the option to request active duty in the U.S. Navy.

The Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA) is over 50-years-old and has a rich tradition of providing outstanding Merchant Marine Officers and active duty Naval/Coast Guard officers who have proudly served in the Merchant Marine and on active duty in the military during the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Somalia, and Bosnia, and now serve in the Iraqi/Afghanistan Wars and the war on terror. Our graduates have gone in harm’s way and served honorably and with great distinction. Undoubtedly, future graduates will also go in harm’s way and face many of the same challenges. Our graduates have distinguished themselves as outstanding ship handlers, engineers, and ashore corporate officers throughout the United States and the world. TAMMA provides the tools to deal with those professional challenges at sea and ashore. The Texas A&M Maritime Academy enables our graduates to have the ability to face any adversity and overcome any challenge. This is accomplished through an extremely demanding academic degree program coupled with a rigorous practical mariner training program taught by handpicked, highly experienced Master Mariners and Engineers. This enables our Cadets to meet the demanding licensing standards and requirements of the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG). This is the reason our graduates are sought nationwide.

To meet the high academic and practical deck and engineering seamanship training standards required to receive a degree, a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) license, and a Commission, an individual must be highly motivated, honorable, extremely dedicated, of high moral character, and willing to sacrifice to meet the necessary regimentation found in the Corps of Cadets.