SC’s nine functional directorates provide specialized support to each of the command’s four business programs. In addition, the directorates ensure compliance with policies mandated by U.S. law, the Department of Defense, U.S. Transportation Command, the Department of the Navy and MSC.

Tracked by the Maritime Forces and Manpower Management Directorate (N1), total employment at Military Sealift Command for FY 2003 rose 2.9 percent over the previous year, reaching a total of more than 9,200 employees worldwide. Seventy-six percent of those people served at sea aboard MSC-controlled ships.

MSC Employees Worldwide
	Federal Civil Service	Active Duty Military	Reserve Military	Contract Mariners	TOTAL
Serving Afloat	4,026	450	491	2,118	7,085
Serving Ashore	1,063	263	875	0	2,201
TOTAL	5,089	713	1,366	2,118	9,286

MSC civil service mariners and commercial mariners who served on U.S.-flagged chartered ships or government-owned ships in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom were awarded the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal. Photos by B.J. Talley.

The Afloat Personnel Management Center, located in Virginia Beach, Va., provided personnel services for MSC’s more than 4,000 federal civilian mariners and managed their recruitment and training.

According to the APMC, 729 civilian mariners joined the MSC ranks in fiscal year 2003, and 45 percent filled critical positions.

In fiscal year 2003, the APMC introduced the Ordinary Seaman Advancement Program, recruiting candidates who already had the specific maritime skills necessary to quickly upgrade from Ordinary Seaman to Able Seaman, increasing MSC’s overall mariner capabilities. A similar Wiper Advancement Program is under development.

Seventy graduates of fireman, oiler and water tender training were promoted from wiper to engine utility this year, with 12 more to be promoted after fulfilling their 60-day sea tours. In addition, 111 civilian mariners were promoted to Able Seaman through the AB upgrade program.

Finally, APMC personnel worked with the Seafarer’s International Union and the National Maritime Union as they merged, opening doors to simplified work rules and a single collective bargaining agreement.

MSC’s Office of Counsel (N2) provided legal support for every aspect of the command’s participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The directorate administered MSC’s use of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s premium-free war risk insurance program. Counsel also provided legal review and guidance for every commercial vessel chartered to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, helped develop policy for the Guardian Mariner force protection teams aboard MSC-controlled ships and intervened with U.S. embassy officials in other nations to expedite transit and off-load of MSC ships. Counsel assured that foreign governments were aware of and respected the sovereign immunity status of MSC’s vessels and cargo.

The Operations and Plans Directorate (N3/5) continued operating the MSC Command Center around the clock as a full crisis action team to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in FY 2003. The directorate also monitored the Guardian Mariner program, which provided more than 75 force protection teams from Puerto Rico National Guard Unit 92nd Separate Infantry Brigade to protect MSC-controlled ships and cargo from terrorist activities during transits of dangerous waters.

A Guardian Mariner with a .50-caliber weapon checks his surroundings on the deck of a Military Sealift Command ship. Guardian Mariners are from the Puerto Rico National Guard’s 92nd Separate Infantry Brigade. They are organized into 12-person teams and began reporting aboard MSC ships in March.

The Logistics Directorate (N4), responsible for MSC’s overall supply program, helped manage the changeover from MSC’s afloat residual asset management system to the Navy’s version. This allows MSC to share excess ship parts and equipment with the Navy’s program. When MSC’s Chesapeake, Va., warehouse made the switch, a much larger parts inventory became available to MSC while offering MSC inventory to Navy ships, saving money for both sets of customers.

MSC procured 76 shipboard security modules for protection against intrusion and terrorist acts.

The Command, Control, Communication and Computer Systems Directorate (N6) completed the Navy-mandated conversion from MSC-owned unclassified computers and networks ashore to the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet for MSC headquarters and Atlantic and Pacific area commands.

MSC’s Engineering Directorate (N7) helped guide the development of the safety management system for fleet ocean-going tugs, part of compliance with the International Safety Management Code. The directorate coordinated the setup and operation of a fueling depot in Souda Bay, Greece, with sufficient oil-spill response capability to handle the large numbers of ships sailing to the Persian Gulf area for Operation Enduring Freedom. At the same time, the directorate assisted with the procurement of 76 shipboard security modules for increased safety aboard MSC ships.

The Comptroller Directorate (N8) upgraded MSC’s financial management system supporting integration with the Department of Defense-mandated contracting system. The directorate also was instrumental in establishing a financial data mart allowing better data flow to decision makers and to internal and external customers.

The Strategic Planning Directorate (N9), working closely with the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and Special Mission programs, initiated the non-combatant ship transformation project. This MSC initiative looks to MSC civil service mariner crews potentially taking over operation of the Navy’s salvage ships, command ships and submarine tenders. USS Coronado, a command ship, was selected as the pilot ship for the transfer program.

The Contracts and Business Management Directorate (N10), in addition to chartering 79 dry cargo ships and 20 tankers for Operation Iraqi Freedom, guided the purchase of four T-5 tankers previously on long-term charter to MSC. The directorate was also part of MSC’s high-speed vessel procurement team, which earned the Navy’s Procurement Excellence Award for the most competitive and innovative procurement efforts in the Navy in fiscal year 2003. Overall, the directorate processed 9,156 actions worth $1.8 billion during FY 2003. Almost 95 percent of the total were awarded competitively.

Four U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats sit aboard MSC-chartered ship BBC Spain. The patrol boats were shipped from the United States for duty in the Mediterranean. The Coast Guard boats and crews were forward-deployed to protect ports used by the United States and its allies. Photo by PH2 Damon J. Moritz, USN.