Calhoon MEBA Engineering School

Construction Trade, Electric Power Industry, Maritime Training

The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School holds the distinction of being the first national maritime training plan designed by Union and Industry. Fitting, as MEBA is the oldest maritime union, and second oldest of all unions in the United States. The school is funded by Labor and Management, and governed by a Board of Trustees - six shipping companies' representatives and six union representatives. Today’s school grew out of "Operation LEAP" (Licensed Engineers Apprentice Program). MEBA President, Jesse Calhoon, established Operation LEAP after being approached by government and industry leaders in the mid-1960s to help find a way to meet the critical shortage of qualified marine engineers needed during the Vietnam war. To satisfy the demand, this program, renamed the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School in 1966, took high school graduates through two years of intense study, including six months of sea time. Later, the program expanded to three years, with a full year of sea duty. By balancing traditional classroom work with hands-on equipment training, it prepared cadets for a career in the merchant marine upon their graduation.