Garrett Edward Aichele of Bainbridge Island was recently sworn in as a midshipman in the U.S. Naval Reserve at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.

Aichele was nominated by Congressman Derek Kilmer of Washington’s 6th Congressional District.

The United States 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.

It is one of five federal service academies, which include the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

All USMMA graduates earn both a bachelor of science degree and a Merchant Marine Officer license, and incur an obligation to serve the country as an active or reserve officer in the U.S. armed forces.

As part of his four-year education, Aichele will spend one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is the only federal academy where students train on commercial vessels traveling around the globe.