Tinley Park Woman Joins Elite Group, Graduates Merchant Marine Academy

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park native has completed an elite education and training, including spending a year aboard ocean going vessels, while attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Lauren Cynthia Hunter of Tinley Park recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, NY. Hunter earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U. S. armed forces. She also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying her to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. flag merchant marine.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of five U.S. federal service academies. It educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers to serve the nation during peace and war. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their Congressman or Senator. Hunter was nominated by Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

All USMMA graduates incur an obligation to serve the United States. The U.S. Flag Merchant Marine—manned exclusively by American mariners—is essential for securing the country’s commerce in peacetime and delivering warfighters, weapons, and military supplies in times of conflict. The majority of “Kings Pointers” serve for eight years as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working aboard U.S. flag vessels; others will serve on active duty in our nation’s armed forces.

By virtue of their elite training and real-world experience, graduates are ready to go on day one in service of American military strength and economic power. As part of her four-year education, Hunter spent one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels.

The Academy welcomed Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks as the commencement speaker.

"(A)gain and again throughout history, America's merchant mariners have delivered," Dr. Hicks told the graduates. "And today, merchant mariners remain an indispensable component of our national defense, because they continue to deliver: To Europe, where more than 70 vessels have helped bring supplies and equipment to U.S. allies and partners after Russia once again invaded Ukraine; And to the Indo-Pacific, where multiple strategic sealift ships provide critical maritime prepositioning of U.S. military equipment and supplies. What so many of you will do as merchant mariners enables our ability to project power globally, to respond to crises and contingencies on short notice, and to campaign in support of joint operations."

Dedicated during WWII, USMMA has since served the nation in both peace and war. Learn more at www.WeAreTheUSMMA.com.

For more information about the Academy, visit https://www.usmma.edu/.