Rating Badges, Section Leader, New York Merchant Marine Academy

Ca. 1930s-1940s. With the rename of the New York State Nautical School to the New York Merchant Marine Academy in 1929, all insignia for NYSNS also had their designs changed. On patches, instead of the unwieldy, New York Merchant Marine Academy, the anacronym MMA was used. In later years, this has caused confusion among insignia collectors as MMA is also an anachronym for Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Maine Maritime Academy. The two patches are for senior and junior section leaders.

Senior section leader (three chevrons) - viewer's right-facing eagle - is circa pre-July 1941.

Junior section leader (two chevrons) - viewer's left-facing eagle - is circa post-July 1941.