Talk:United States Merchant Marine

message: In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the Congress, by joint resolution approved on May 20, 1933, as amended, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," and has authorized and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.  Vasa2 04:29, 30 May 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Furthermore, to add to my above comments, the article mentions Robert Kiyosaki claiming to have been a merchant mariner... This is fact, as it would have been impossible for him to have graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy without having served at least a year aboard US-flag Merchant Vessels in order to meet the requirements to acquire his license from the USCG. ASC — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.197.11.102 (talk) 08:54, 1 April 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  some thoughts about things to add somewhere in the article 

message: There are a few comments at Talk:Merchant Navy about the structure of the Merchant Marine/Merchant Navy/Merchant Shipping articles, how they relate to each other, and where content should go. Feedback is requested. Thanks. Haus42 14:32, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reorganization (again)

message: Can anyone add content about women at sea in today's U.S. Fleet? See "Changing Course," by Jeanne Marie Lutz for example? Fishdecoy 16:57, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Women at Sea 

message: I think most of the issues brought up on this page have been dealt with, and it might be productive to archive them. Any feelings? Haus42 01:31, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Archive away. KAM 02:07, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I created the archive as per Wikipedia:How to archive a talk page. I think the (lonely) topic still on this page is still open. Cheers. Haus42 13:39, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Archive most of this page

message: Just noticed that the following had been added to this article:
Is this airport in Russia's symbol notable enough in the English Wikipedia to be listed as a link at the top of this article's page? If consensus says no, I say remove. --Pesco 21:50, 9 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: An Airport in Russia?

message: What incentives do private owners and operators have to become part of the Merchant Marine, rather than just operating as a non-affiliated private carrier? -- Beland (talk) 18:17, 15 December 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: U.S. Merchant Marine typically refers to ocean going merchant ships and unlimited tonnage officers and crew as they are directly able to support the government in sealift, but on this article we seem to include anyone with a USCG mariners license and that ship in operation to be apart of the USMM. This might need to be debated, as it seems more supported to just the unlimited tonnage U.S. mariners and ships. This is even supported more by the the official term that came about with the creation of the U.S. Maritime Service after WWI. I think what you are referring too in relation to private carriers becoming U.S. sealift assets. I'll have to look it up, but there is some federal regulation that benefits shipping companies who sign this, but also allows them to be used in time of national emergency voluntarily.--MarlinespikeMate (talk) 21:35, 2 November 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Relationship with private sector 

message: The bill in this section is in response to a situation regarding WWII merchant mariners. The bill is less important than the situation, which IMHO should be mentioned in the article: though many mm's died in the war, and though their service was harsh and dangerous, since they weren't part of the military, they didn't receive the recognition and benefits that their military counterparts did. They've been trying ever since to get some of it.
Somebody who knows the details ought to put this in the article. Lou Sander (talk) 22:38, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Belated thank you..." 

message: The entire premise of this entry is false. There is no such organization as the "U.S. Merchant Marine," and I challenge anyone to find a Congressional authorization for the creation of an organization by this name. While there is a US Merchant Marine Academy, a merchant marine song, a merchant marine flag, a training cadre called the US Maritime Service, a Merchant Marine Reserve in the USN, and some merchant members can be considered veterans, there is no such organization as the US Merchant Marine. The basic flaw is this: "merchant marine" is a strategic conceptualization of a nation's shipping for strategic purposes in both peace and war. Not a service, but an IDEA. If you don't agree, consider this: how many American service personnel belong to labor unions? None of which I am aware.
Joshandjea (talk) 20:58, 13 June 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Joshandjea It is recognized by federal organizations. See http://www.marad.dot.gov/about-us/  — Preceding unsigned comment added by MarlinespikeMate (talk • contribs) 01:42, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

text: Read the first sentence. HausTalk 21:13, 13 June 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  US Merchant Marine? 

message: What's the purpose of listing the CMOH recipients that at one time were Merchant Mariners?? They were not in the USMM at the time they performed the act that earned them the CMOH, nor when they were awarded it. So where's the connection? I might as well go to the Chevrolet or Ford article and list all the CMOH recipients that *at some time* owned, or at least drove in, a Chevy or Ford. Jeesh. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.155.215.19 (talk) 17:36, 27 July 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't see this on the page. Was it edited out or are you erroneously referring to the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal?--MarlinespikeMate (talk) 02:01, 16 October 2015 (UTC)
replies: text: It's just "Medal of Honor" (MOH), btw... -  theWOLFchild 04:29, 24 March 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Congressional Medal of Honor?? 

message: I read the entire section on the US Merchant Marine Academy and had to click-through to find out where it's located (King's Point, NY).  Someone who won't be reverted should add that into the description.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.52.171.31 (talk) 14:40, 14 April 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Specify academy's location 

message: Hello all,
I have added a training section where the USMMA use to be for better organization. I have moved some text relating to training into this section, and have also added the state maritime academies and deleted some frivolous USMMA information that is better served on that specific page. I hope others will help structure and organize this page better.--MarlinespikeMate (talk) 01:46, 16 October 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Training Section 

message: This is just a bloated 'in pop culture' section that needs some attention. And weeding. -  theWOLFchild 04:31, 24 March 2016 (UTC)
replies: text:  I agree. I believe only prominent accounts should be mentioned, with citations.--MarlinespikeMate (talk) 06:17, 24 March 2016 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm thinking that all the fictional accounts that are not directly about USMM or have a very strong correlation should be scrubbed. Specifically the television section. I don't know if a character mentioning that they were once a merchant sailor warrants being included. However, if this detail is critical to the story line or continuously occurring, then it could stay (McHales Navy for example.)--MarlinespikeMate (talk) 17:01, 17 April 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Fictional accounts  

message: I added the limited tonnage section under training awhile back, but now am reconsidering this addition. The term Merchant Marine, as described by the U.S. Navy is as follows: "The Merchant Marines lead civilian ships used to transport both imports and exports during peacetime and serves as an auxiliary to the Navy during times of war, delivering both troops and supplies." This seems to by synonymous with ocean going AGT (any gross tonnage) licensed mariners and associated ships (i.e. Unlimited Tonnage), but not necessarily limited tonnage mariners. The definition also seems to hold the term "imports and exports", which is not covered by limited tonnage mariners. The Navy also says "The Merchant Marines predate both the U.S. Coast Guard (1790) and the U.S. Navy (1797). In times of war, Merchant Marine Officers may be designated as military Officers by the Department of Defense." This would not be true to limited tonnage mariners.MarlinespikeMate (talk) 03:54, 9 August 2016 (UTC)
replies: text: ″The license designating limited or unlimited and various other categories of tonnage, et al., is not the controlling factor″ I would disagree, and argue the specific program that USMMA and state academy SSOP unlimited tonnage licensed mariners commission into is the Navy's 1665 reserve designator Strategic Sealift Officer with an AQD of T3D or T3E for deck or engineering officers, which specifically and exactly links the unlimited tonnage license with a billet and qualification in the military. Before 2011, this program was called the Merchant Marine Reserves as far back as before WWII. The first warfare insignia of the Navy was the Merchant Marine Reserve pin, further linking the unlimited tonnage officer's license with the title. The 'AND remain a commissioned officer in one of uniformed services' is a side bar to get around sailing and using your license and not paying back the grant that supported the education and training. What does all this have to due with the title "Merchant Marine"? I think more so than one would think when we consider the history and context of the names use. The name historically revolves around the conglomerate of entities you refer too that entail the movement of essential supplies across the ocean in support of war or continually in piece time in support of the country in a broad and diverse sense. I think linking the name to historical context is critical is this articals description, which is why I bring up the limited tonnage discussion.MarlinespikeMate (talk) 03:06, 18 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Are Limited Tonnage Mariners considered "Merchant Marines"? 

message: The "External links" section has become bloated with eleven links. On anything less than B-class I would simply "trim" them to three or four however, it is easier to see if someone familiar can look at them to see if some can be incorporated into the article or just deleted per WP:External links. It may be possible that one or more would be acceptable to be included in a "Further reading" section. Otr500 (talk) 15:14, 18 August 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  External links 

message: I ran across a quote from Douglas MacArthur (primary source) concerning the Merchant Marines. I don't know if it is located elsewhere but seems appropriate for the 19th and 20th centuries section. When ordered off their ships and into foxholes during the invasion of invasion of Mindoro "most of the mariners chose to stay with their vessels as long as the ships were afloat" under the auspice of "volunteer skeleton crews":Merchant Marines: MacArthur quote:
I have ordered them off their ships and into foxholes when their ships became untenable targets of attack. At our side they have suffered in bloodshed and in death. The high caliber of efficiency and the courage they displayed mark their conduct throughout the entire campaign in the Southwest Pacific area. I hold no branch in higher esteem than the Merchant Marine services.
---   Otr500 (talk) 16:17, 18 August 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  WWII 

message: "Nearly 800 American-owned ships are flagged in other nations.[9][10]"
Source 1 is just a person stating this fact again with no citation. Source two links to the CIA world fact book and while it does list the number of vessels I see no where where it lists ships flagged in other countries.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 23.16.31.42 (talk) 19:04, 15 April 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Flag of Convenience? 

message: The US Navy has a long history of Animosity towards the merchant marine and they continually try to separate themselves from by using the term “civilian” and acronyms like civmar (civilian mariners). While many US merchant mariners are in fact civilian, many are reservists and veterans of other services. 
This definition is especially problematic considering that many US Merchant Mariners working under military contracts can be subject to the Uniform Code Of Military Justice. 
Further the US Merchant Marine, via the US Maritime Service has it’s own uniform, flag officers, a commandant (the US Maritime Administration), and issues military awards and decorations. These are not the actions of a “civilian” organization. 67.246.77.39 (talk) 13:20, 4 July 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  Not all merchant mariners are Civilian