Graeme Holman, director of operations at STAR Center, shows off the engine simulator to cadets from Maine Maritime and Texas A&M Maritime academies.
More than 50 cadets from Maine Maritime Academy and Texas A&M University Maritime Academy visited Port Everglades during their summer cruise on TS State of Maine in June and made a pit stop at STAR Center to get a glimpse of their potential futures with American Maritime Officers.
Union and STAR Center officials hosted the group in two days of tours of the world-renowned training facilities and the union headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla. Cadets, many of them juniors and seniors, were amazed at the advanced technology and training options at STAR Center and that it is a free of charge benefit included with active AMO membership.
“Sometimes we take for granted just how much of an advantage STAR Center is for us and the training we have access to,” said AMO East Coast Boarding Representative Marissa Cap, who helped set up the tours. “We have world-class facilities that produce world-class mariners and that really resonates when young people get to see that.”
The visit comes on the heels of a successful recruiting season at maritime academy graduations across the country for AMO, where many of the 1,250 graduating cadets have chosen to join AMO.
AMO Rep. Marissa Cap and Dispatcher Roy Emrick greet cadets at Port Everglades on their way to tour STAR Center in June.
AMO Boarding Rep. Marissa Cap welcomes cadets and explains the benefits of joining AMO, including free access to the world-renowned STAR Center training facility.
Director of Engineering Allen Howard demonstrates all the fun “toys” and equipment AMO members get to learn on in the STAR Center machine shop.
Cadets were amazed to learn that STAR Center and AMO members have access to train on their own shooting range and fire fields.
TS State of Maine visited Port Everglades during the summer cruise session in June.