AHS Senior Ready for Merchant Marine Academy

Cody Madison isn’t going to get much of a summer break. In fact, he won’t get much break at all for the next year.

That’s part of the commitment he made when he accepted an offer to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

The Arundel High School senior will receive his diploma Wednesday and then heads out on July 7. Because of the academy’s trimester system, he’ll essentially be there all the way through middle the end of next June as well.

But that’s just the start of the journey, as his acceptance into the USMMA includes a requirement of five years of active military duty or eight years in the Navy Reserve.

“It’s a big commitment, it definitely is,” Madison said. “But I’ve talked to a lot of people who have graduated, and they are all doing very, very well.”

The USMMA is one of the five service academies, along with the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Its mission is to train officers in the transportation industry, who work on ships that move products around America’s waterways. During wartime, these ships also play an essential role in moving military supplies to U.S. forces and their allies.

Madison admitted that he knew little about the USMMA before he began researching schools. He was recruited to play soccer there, but was also leaning heavily toward Virginia Wesleyan. After paying several visits to the USMMA campus on Long Island, NY, he was drawn to its academic rigor and the notion of service to his country.

“I didn’t think I’d ever do it, but I read into it and talked to some alumni, and it seemed like a really big deal and honor, and I really wanted to get involved in it if I could,” he said.

Madison also said he liked that the USMMA allows graduates to select which branch of the military to enter, if they choose to go on active duty. He said he's leaning toward the Navy.

"I feel like if they are paying for my education, I owe them," he said. "It's not anything I should be worried about. There are a lot of soldiers already there. They're doing it, so why should I be any different?"

Acceptance into the USMMA is difficult; last year’s entrance class numbered just 342 plebe candidates. To gain acceptance, Madison not only needed great grades, but recommendations from the school and from U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, and he had to pass a rigorous physical exam.

The physical exam, while thorough, wasn’t something Madison sweated over. He played a key role on the Arundel High soccer team as it won the county championship last fall, and he expects to play at the USMMA, which has a strong Division III soccer program.

“It’s like a brotherhood,” he said of soccer.

And if he had any questions about his college decision, they were put to rest when he told his family.

“My dad said it was the proudest moment of his life. My grandfather said that, too.”