Earlier this month, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting mariners throughout every stage of their careers through its participation in O-Week at Texas A&M Maritime Academy.

O-Week introduces incoming cadets to the routines and traditions of the Corps of Cadets while building the skills and discipline essential to maritime life. Throughout the week, cadets receive instruction in military bearing and customs, basic seamanship, engineering and nautical science, formations, marching, teamwork, and hands-on seamanship.

Representing SCI was Chaplain the Rev. Geoffrey Davis, a Texas A&M Maritime Academy alumnus who returned to his alma mater 20 years after beginning his own maritime journey there. Speaking with the incoming freshman class, he introduced cadets to SCI and its mission to support mariners throughout their careers.

Drawing on both his professional experience and his own challenges at sea, Davis spoke about the importance of caring for the whole mariner—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He also shared insights from SCI’s recent U.S. Inland Mariner Wellness Assessment, produced with Yale School of Medicine, helping cadets understand that personal well-being is an essential part of building a sustainable maritime career.

For Davis, returning to the academy offered an opportunity to give back to the maritime community that has shaped much of his life. For SCI, participating in O-Week reflects a broader commitment: ensuring that the next generation of mariners knows from the very beginning of their careers that support and resources are available to them.

SCI is proud to engage with maritime academies and cadets as they prepare for careers at sea and ashore, helping foster a maritime community in which mariners can thrive throughout their working lives.