Photo By Sarah Cannon | PACIFIC OCEAN - Ens. Aldon Pagio, Navy Reserve Strategic Sealift Officer serving as...... read more read more
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As much of Military Sealift Command’s workforce works from home, 17 Strategic Sealift Officers (SSO) are stepping up to augment MSC’s Civilian Mariner (CIVMAR) crews onboard seven ships in the Pacific Area of Operations.
In late March, as the COVID-19 Pandemic began to affect CIVMAR’s ability to transition to jobs onboard MSC ships, Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, commander, MSC, gave the SSO community the opportunity to fulfill the Community’s wartime mobilization role of augmenting MSC ships. They are currently serving in positions ranging from Medical Service Officers to 3rd Mates, 3rd Assistant Engineers, Reefer Engineers, Augment Mates or Augment Engineers.
Unlike most Navy Reserve Officers, SSOs hold a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner’s license as a Mate (Unlimited Tonnage) or Engineer (Unlimited Horsepower). Most work in the commercial maritime world, when they are not fulfilling their Navy Reserve commitments. Because of this, they are able to step into a CIVMAR job on an MSC ship almost immediately after reporting onboard.
On the fleet ocean tug USNS Sioux )T-ATF 171), in Hawaii, the five SSOs currently augmenting the crew, went to work immediately, serving as general watch officers and in the engineering department.
“Our watch standers went right to work. They didn’t shadow anyone to learn the job, they just stepped right into the job,” explained Capt. Joel Bruce, Sioux’s civil service master. “With the engineers, we are very fortunate to have them onboard. We need a certain number of engineers to sail, per the Coast Guard, and the SSO’s have provided those numbers so that we can get underway and do our missions.”
While the SSO Community has previously supported Department of Defense and Navy missions as officers, it is rare that they actually utilized their Merchant Mariner’s license during their service. That is what makes the COVID-19 support so unique. The SSOs supporting the COVID-19 response are sailing on their license, in a billet on a MSC vessel, or they are augmenting the crew on a MSC vessel. This hasn’t happened since Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in the early 1990s.
Every SSO currently serving on MSC ships is a volunteer. When the call went out for support, 82 SSOs responded. Many coming directly from their civilian jobs where they work in a variety of jobs such as Chief Mates and watch officers, ABS inspectors, and even as subject matter experts for the Coast Guard. One applicant had just finished sitting for his Florida Pilot’s Exams to be a harbor pilot. Both the new and the experienced volunteered with two being were Ensigns that had just completed the Post Commissioning Indoctrination Course in February. All the applicants were screened against the ships needs prior to selection.
“The support being provided to MSC as well as the training between MSC CIVMARS and USN SSO Officers is unprecedented,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Strawbridge, Military Sealift Command Pacific SSO Operations Officer. “It has been great to see this support effort evolve and start to fully see the asset the Navy has within the SSO Officer community.”
For the 17 SSOs selected, the ability to augment the MSC fleet has been challenging and fulfilling.
“It has been an amazing experience for me as an SSO on the USNS Yukon,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Agati. “It’s a great honor filling a hard 3rd Assistant Engineer billet and going back to the start as a third engineer on a diesel ship. For the last ten years I have only served on Steam ships and getting this chance to sail on a motor ship is as good as it can get for me. Sailing as a 3rd Assistant Engineer I feel will give me a great background for when I go cross over my Chief Steam ticket to Motor Chief and will make me more resourceful to the fleet.”
“My time onboard USNS Matthew Perry has been successful thus far,” said Lt. Joe Sapuppo. “It has been a smooth transition back to life at sea, and the crew onboard has been mostly welcoming and willing to teach, train, and assist me with my questions and unfamiliarity.”
While there have been challenges along the way, especially the 14 day restriction of movement period each of the SSO volunteers were required to complete before being allowed onto the ships where they are serving, the SSOs are proving successful in fulfilling their duties and keeping MSC on station and supporting their missions.
“The SSO’s have been performing very well,” said Strawbridge. “It has been great to see our members be able to directly step into positions in a watch standing capacity or in a day working capacity.”
“I am very grateful to the SSO program,” said Bruce. “If we didn’t have them onboard, we would still be in port in San Diego, not being able to support our missions.”
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2020 17:55 |
| Story ID: | 370950 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 455 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, MSC Strategic Sealift Officers Augment Crews During COVID-19 Pandemic, by Sarah Cannon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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