Doylestown’s Kirlin graduates from U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Kolbe Maximilian Kirlin of Doylestown Township recently graduated with the distinction of Kings Point Scholar from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y.
Kirlin earned a Bachelor of Science and a commission in the U.S. armed forces. He also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying him to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine. Kirlin is also a graduate of La Salle College High School.
The Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy that educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their congressman or senator. Kirlin was nominated by former U.S. Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick
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 his four-year education, Kirlin spent one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels.
Kirlin will fulfill his commitment as a Third Engineering officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine and as a U.S. Navy Strategic Sealift officer.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.), a 1986 alumnus of the academy, gave the commencement address and told the graduates, “Your graduation comes at a particularly important inflection point in the United States history. Sea power matters now more than ever. And a big part of that is all of you.”

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