ON THE JOB FOR MICHIGAN: Midshipman at Great Lakes Maritime Academy Highlights How Peters’ CADETS Act Helped Her Afford Deck Officer Education

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - In a new "On the Job" video from U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) office, midshipman Haley Alexander highlights how Peters' CADETS Act helped her afford her education in the Deck Officer Program at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Northern Michigan. After deciding she wanted to pursue a career as a deck officer, Alexander applied to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, but worried about the costs involved and if she would have to take out additional student loans to afford her education. Thanks to Peters' bipartisan Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act, Alexander was able to afford the costs associated with her education at the Maritime Academy. The video with Alexander is a part of the On the Job for Michigan series, which highlights Peters' leadership and advocacy on behalf of constituents and communities across Michigan.

"I was part way through college and I was like, I kind of want to do something else with my life... I made some friends with deck officers, and I started researching how I can get into that field," said Midshipman Haley Alexander. "So, I was all in for several months… then about a month before I actually came, I was kind of having some second thoughts about how much student loans can I actually take on. That's when I found out about the CADETS Act, and that sort of changed my perspective. It made me realize there's some resources out there that can help students to get that kind of funds without having to go into student loan debt."

Alexander continued, "I went out on the water and I was like, I really want to do this for as long as I can for my career... There's a lot of adventure. It's not a normal nine to five office job. So, it's definitely unique and I enjoy it very much so."

Watch Alexander's "On the Job" video here. You can also see the video posted on Instagram.

"A strong workforce pipeline in the maritime trades is critical to both America's national security and Michigan's economy. I'm proud my bipartisan CADETS Act is helping students like Haley, and all those serving at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Northern Michigan, afford their education and land good-paying, in-demand jobs," said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Peters also serves on the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries.

The video also includes comments from Admiral Jerry P. Achenbach, Superintendent of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, about how Peters' CADETS Act has helped his students afford their education and pursue careers in the maritime trades.

"Senator Peters effectively created an ROTC program for the merchant marines up here in Traverse City. Now, nontraditional students such as Midshipman Haley, who normally may not be able to afford the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, are eligible for $64,000 in student incentive payments, which is pretty close to 75 percent of the cost of attending," said Admiral Jerry P. Achenbach, Superintendent, Great Lakes Maritime Academy. "There's a mariner shortage right now in the United States and to have a senator that understands the importance of maritime, both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Merchant Marines, is pretty rare."

Peters authored and passed into law his CADETS Act in 2023. The law expands the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility for financial assistance to cadets who attend one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation. Since passage, this law has encouraged more cadets to continue serving our country after graduation, strengthening Michigan's robust maritime sector and national security.

In 2024, Peters received the Admiral Willard J. Smith Meritorious Service Award to recognize his support of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, including by authoring and passing the CADETS Act into law. In 2021, he also was recognized by the Navy Supply Corps Foundation Board of Directors as the 60th Navy Supply Corps Foundation Distinguished Alumnus.

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