NORFOLK, Va. (March 16, 2022) Born and raised in Wadsworth, Ohio, I spent my teen years serving as the captain of my schools wrestling and robotics teams. As a teenager, I often dreamt of being able to see the world and having meaningful work that served a greater purpose. So, joining the military was a perfect fit. After graduating from high school, I was appointed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where I majored in Marine Transportation, Logistics, and Security. With that, I earned an unlimited tonnage Third Mates license, and a Vessel Security Officer endorsement. As part of my training, I spent a year working aboard commercial ships, learning how to be a Mate. Upon graduating in 2017, I was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve and began my career as a Naval and Maritime officer.
What is your name, title (both in the reserves and in the civilian world), and what role do you serve as a Strategic Sealift Officer with MSC aboard MV Cape Washington?
My name is Christopher George, I’m a lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve and a Third Mate with the American Maritime Officers. At present, I am assigned to MV Cape Washington (T-AKR 9961), where I am serving as Military Sealift Command’s Tactical Advisor (TACAD) onboard the ship. As a TACAD, I am in charge of securing communications with shore side personnel, as well as conducting contested environment training to instruct the ship’s crew on topics such as darken ship, tactical communications, zigzag routes, and operational security, just to name a few.
What is your reserve unit’s name and mission, and how does your role in your current job assist with MSC's mission aboard MV Cape Washington?
My Navy reserve unit is the Strategic Sealift Officer Force (SSOF), located in Norfolk, Va. Our primary mission is to crew the nation’s cargo ships to support military operations in times of war; even though, we fill a variety of other roles within the Navy. (Roles like TACAD, Port Engineers, and Bridge Resource Management workshops for active duty ships.)
When did you join the MSC staff and what is unique about supporting the command?
While I am not a member of the MSC staff; I do play an important role serving in MSC’s TACAD program. Because we possess a solid military background that allows us to be liaisons between the ship’s crew, the active duty military, and combatant fleet, assisting in Force Protection, Information Technology, and Intelligence, TACAD’s are a critical piece to mission success.
What types of jobs have you held with MSC in the past and have those jobs always been as a strategic sealift officer?
Aside from cadet shipping aboard the USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), I’ve worked two other jobs connected with MSC. My first job after graduation was as a civilian subcontractor with National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), conducting sea trials for new vessels, including two of the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base ships – USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4) and the USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5). But my primary role with MSC is through the SSOF, as a TACAD on MSC’s contracted cargo vessels.
In your current assignment with MSC, what hat will you wear, what role will you play, and what will a typical day look like for you?
My primary duty as a Tactical Advisor is communications. TACAD’s are MSC’s main point of contact aboard the vessel, sending out various reports every day and receiving updates from shoreside personnel. My secondary role is conducting contested environment training with the crew, where I cover topics, such as Darken Ship, Emissions Control, and Zig-zag routes.
A typical day for me will be standing a 12-hour communications watch, handling position reports that fall in my watch, and passing information between MSC and the ships master. Most days, I will be heavily involved in contested environment training with the contract mariners covering various topics as mentioned earlier. While some trainings will be more lecture based, others will be drills conducted with the relevant crewmembers (Sometimes the drills will be with the full crew, but sometimes it’s either with the bridge teams or just the deck officers.)
What is the best thing about being an SSO for MSC?
My favorite part of being an SSO is that the work is interesting, no two missions are ever alike, and the work can take you anywhere in the world. Additionally, the TACAD program is constantly evolving and growing too; so, there’s always something new to learn and incorporate into your skillset.
What is the most challenging part about working for MSC as an SSO?
The challenge is balancing two competing interests. First, how to coordinate shipping out as an SSO, while at the same time, sailing commercially as a mariner. Second, giving up my vacation time, to sail aboard another ship, causing me to spend more time away from home than I could have anticipated.
What would you tell an SSO who is interested in joining MSC?
I would encourage SSO’s to do their research, making sure it’s a good fit for what they want, but I would recommend they join. The work is unique and opens opportunities to expand their horizons in ways they could not have imagined and to explore the world while working with some incredible people.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2022 09:18 |
| Story ID: | 416593 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 432 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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