Military veterans can now convert active duty sea service into credit toward an engineering officer bachelor’s degree at NMC's Great Lakes Maritime Academy, the college announced this week.

Coast Guard Capt. Bradley Clare signed the approval letter for the Academy’s Military Veterans Program (MVET) on September 23 at the American Merchant Marine Veterans annual convention. MVET will allow student-veterans to transfer sea service and training completed while on active duty into the GLMA engine officer program before GI education benefits expire. According to an NMC release, more credentialed engineers graduating sooner will help the merchant marine industry, whose workforce is aging.

“I am excited to approve this program for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy which greatly supports providing a pathway for military members to integrate into the maritime industry,” Capt. Clare said in a statement. “The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center is very committed to ensuring the success of our transitioning military members.”

GLMA Superintendent Jerry Achenbach said the MVET program is the result of more than four years of work involving several members of the Academy's faculty and staff and USCG officials. It is expected to improve recruitment to the Academy’s engineering program. In addition to allowing cadets to bypass redundant training, the approval will allow student veterans to complete the engineering program within the constraints of GI bill benefits. Due to sea service requirements, the current GLMA program exceeds the 36 months of benefits awarded to veterans by the GI bill.

Approval of the program is good for five years, until 2026.