Merchant Marine Service Branch, is it military or civil?

Hey y'all, I'm trying to explore all my options for after graduation and I've come across the Merchant Marines. I heard it's somewhat different from the usual Army, Navy, Airforce thing and it's more inclined towards civil services. But is it considered as a branch of the military? Would love to hear from you guys!

Hello! The U.S. Merchant Marines is indeed a unique service. It's essentially a fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant ships, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The personnel on these ships are referred to as merchant mariners.

While it is not a branch of the military, it does play a critical role during times of war. The Merchant Marines aids the military by transporting troops and supplies. During such times, it can sort of be considered as an auxiliary to the U.S. Navy. For example, during World War II, hundreds of merchant ships were requisitioned by the military to assist with the war effort.

However, in peacetime, its activities are more akin to civilian roles, focusing on commerce and trade. Therefore, we could say it straddles both the worlds of civil maritime operations and military support.

To give you a bit more context, graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy or those who have Merchant Marine licenses may have military obligations in times of war or national emergency, which includes serving as a Navy reserve officer. However, their main objective and career path generally revolves around the civilian maritime industry.

So, to sum up, the Merchant Marine isn't formally a branch of the military except in times of war, but it plays a vital supportive role to the U.S. defense and economy. It could be an excellent choice if you're interested in a maritime career with an element of national service.