In a bold move that could reshape the maritime landscape of the Pacific, seven intrepid students from Career Tech High Academy Charter School have embarked on a journey that could very well set the standard for maritime education in the region. These pioneers are the inaugural cohort of the school’s Maritime Academy, a program designed to prepare them for careers at sea, with a helping hand from the Western Pacific Maritime Academy (WPMA).
The program, which kicked off on April 13, is more than just a new curriculum; it’s a gateway to a world of opportunities for these students. Principal Wil Castro is thrilled about the prospects. “This program will open many doors for our midshipmen,” he declared. “It’s the first of its kind offered to high school students on Guam. I am grateful to WPMA and Capt. Michael Bacher for choosing to partner with Career Tech for this inaugural offering.”
The Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Program is the backbone of this initiative. It offers an entry-level curriculum consisting of five U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses. These aren’t your typical high school classes. We’re talking about Basic Training – Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, First Aid/CPR, Personal Survival Techniques, Basic Fire Fighting, and Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties. These courses aren’t just about ticking boxes; they’re about equipping students with life-saving skills and knowledge.
The MMC credentials are federally recognized and are necessary for mariners to work at sea. This isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a passport to a career at sea. WPMA’s training certificates are submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard as endorsements to the MMC, allowing the mariner to work in specific maritime ratings. It’s a stamp of approval that could open doors to opportunities in the global maritime industry.
The students didn’t waste any time putting their learning into practice. They dove right in with two field exercises – Personal Survival Techniques training at Dededo Community Pool and Basic Fire Fighting at the Live Fire Training Facility at GCA Trades Academy in Mangilao. It’s one thing to learn in a classroom, but it’s another to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Offering this program required some serious collaboration. Bacher highlighted the partnerships with Career Tech, GCA Trades Academy, Guam Community College, and the Guam Fire Department. “It is a tremendous opportunity for WPMA to launch its maritime training program on Guam through these partnerships,” he said.
WPMA is no stranger to maritime training. As a maritime workforce placement program and U.S. Coast Guard-approved maritime training school based in Saipan, they’re committed to training the “next generation of mariners.” They place their graduated mariners with Military Sealift Command, maritime unions, and local trade. This isn’t just about training; it’s about placement and progression.
Steve McManus, founder and chairman of the board of trustees at Career Tech, sees this as a significant step towards developing a skilled maritime workforce and strengthening leadership capacity for Guam and the broader region. “Both the Merchant Mariner Program and the Traditional Seafaring and Navigation Program are integral components of Career Tech’s Maritime Academy,” he said.
So, what does this mean for the future of maritime education and the industry as a whole? It’s a game-changer, plain and simple. This program isn’t just about filling a gap in the market; it’s about setting a new standard. It’s about showing that maritime education can start early, that it can be rigorous, and that it can lead to real, tangible careers.
It’s also a wake-up call for other educational institutions. If Career Tech and WPMA can pull this off, why can’t others? It’s a challenge to innovate, to collaborate, and to think outside the box. It’s a challenge to ask, “What if?”
And for the students? Well, they’re the lucky ones. They’re the ones who get to be the pioneers, the trailblazers. They’re the ones who get to dive in headfirst and show the world what they’re made of. They’re the ones who get to shape the future of the maritime industry, one wave at a time. So, here’s to the seven students of Career Tech High Academy Charter School. May their journey be as exciting as it is educational, and may their waves ripple far and wide.
