BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – Since 1891 when Massachusetts Maritime Academy opened its doors there has been a Regiment of Cadets. The description of the Regiment of Cadets is as follows. "The organization of Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Regiment of Cadets consists of the necessary command and staff officers to administer the Regiment and seven companies. Including Honor Guard and band. Each company shall be composed of a command element and three platoons of three squads each. The administration of the Regiment of Cadets follows traditional guidelines. The First Class (Senior) cadets are charged with these duties and are granted the privileges normally associated with seniority. In the performance of these duties, the Cadet Officers exercise authority and assume responsibilities as they relate to command, maintenance of discipline and the routines of military drill."

Each spring the rising senior class cadets apply and are interviewed for senior positions within the Regiment including the highest ranking position of Regimental Commander. Once the next year's officers are selected it is announced to the Academy community and the Regimental Change of Command is held at Clean Harbors Stadium each May where the current command hands over their responsibilities and duties to the new commanding officers.

Year after year Buccaneer student-athletes or former athletes are selected to be officers. The 2019-2020 Regimental Commander, Nathan Moreira is a former Buccaneer football player. Before that, current Assistant Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator and former Buccaneer women's lacrosse goalie Mikayla Correia held the same position. Mr. Moreira's staff, along with the Commandant's staff have recently selected the Regimental Officers for the 2020-2021 academic year. We are very excited to announce that four of the top regimental positions will be occupied by current Buccaneer student-athletes.

Assuming the position of Regimental Executive Officer will be volleyball and softball player Madison Coughlin (Monroe, Conn). The Monroe, Conn native is a transfer student from DeSales University and is an Emergency Management Major at the Academy with a minor in Homeland Security. She came to the Academy with the hope of going in to the Coast Guard upon graduation. Along with her academic and athletic responsibilities, Coughlin is also training to be a firefighter, currently working with the Onset Fire Department in Wareham, Mass. Madison's responsibilities will include the training, discipline and military customs of the Regiment. In matters of discipline she will work closely with the Commandant of Cadets.

Named Regimental Training & Retention Officer is Women's Soccer player Colleen Sullivan (Braintree, Mass). Sullivan, a Facilities Engineer is a member of the Association of Student Engineers. She is OSHA certified in General Industry Safety and Health and Bloodborne Pathogens and has her CPR/AED Certification from the American Red Cross. As the TRO Colleen will be responsible for the administration and implementation of the Training and Retention program at the Academy. Her main duties will include tracking Academy student retention data, coordinating regimental study programs, coordinating peer tutoring programs, and supporting the office of admissions with open houses and tours. Other responsibilities will include coordinating overnight/guest program and the coordination of the Maritime Academy Preparatory Seminar (MAPS).

The next Regimental Operations Officer will be baseball player Michael Newman (Stamford, Conn). Along with XO Madison Coughlin, Newman is working towards becoming a firefighter while working with the Onset Fire Department in Wareham, Mass. The Emergency Management major will be responsible for the administration and implementation of the Cadet Disciplinary System. He will be responsible for the administrative setup of the Class II and Class III mast hearings, supervise the implementation of the discipline system for extra duty and restriction, and issue weekly restriction reports to the Academy Discipline Officer.

Finally, women's soccer player Ainsley Dean (Adams, Mass) has been selected as the Regimental Adjutant. Dean is an Emergency Management major with a minor in Homeland Security. Ainsley hopes to either work in the homeland security or public health fields after graduation. As the Regimental Adjutant all cadet watch functions fall under her supervision. She will be responsible for the administrative functioning of the Regiment of Cadets and will serve in the ceremonial roles assigned to her.

Congratulations to these four student-athlete Cadets and everyone who was selected for a position within the Regiment of Cadets at the Academy.

For more information on the Regiment of Cadets go to maritime.edu