Nathaniel Paul Gregoire of Tamaqua recently graduated cum laude from the prestigious United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.

Gregoire earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S. armed forces.

He also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying him to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. flagged Merchant Marine fleet.

As part of his four-year education, Gregoire spent one year training as a cadet aboard oceangoing vessels.

“All of you on this field are what keep our Army and the joint force moving around the world, and you are more important now than ever before,” Daniel Driscoll, secretary of the U.S. Army, said during commencement.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of five U.S. federal service academies. It educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers to serve the nation during peace and war. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their congressman or senator.

All USMMA graduates incur an obligation to serve the United States.