People are, by and large, ignorant of the existence of the USMMA (United States Merchant Marine Academy) located in Kings Point on Long Island. It is a service academy that educate/trains people for positions as merchant marine officers (and you can also get a naval commision through there). It is, I think, even smaller than the USCG Academy.

I tried to get into the service academies (would have accepted any one) but did not have the political connections to get the congressional appointment. I was offered a spot at the USMMA (probably because few people apply for it because few know it exists) but did not take it. Still not sure if that was a mistake or not. Did not really see myself as a mate on a merchant ship.

One of my civilian supervisors at KAPL was a grad.