U.S. Military Sealift Command Faces Ongoing Operational and Staffing Challenges

Summary

The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), which operates a fleet of 140 civilian-crewed ships supporting Navy replenishment, special operations, cargo prepositioning, and allied logistics, continues to struggle with significant personnel shortages that are hampering its operational effectiveness. At least a dozen vessels have been taken out of service due to a lack of available crews, and the command requires a minimum of 95% of its 4,500 positions filled — necessitating a total pool of approximately 5,500 personnel to maintain adequate rotation schedules. In an effort to address declining retention, MSC is adjusting its work rotation policy from four months at sea with one month off to a more attractive four months at sea with two months of downtime. Beyond manning challenges, MSC has been evolving its capabilities, including the 2018 completion of a converted Roll-On/Roll-Off cargo ship into a Maritime Support Vessel for Special Operations Command, originally a Maersk Lines commercial vessel transformed into a seagoing base for SOCOM operations. These developments highlight both the growing demands placed on MSC and the persistent human capital obstacles that threaten its ability to fulfill its expanding mission set.