Strategic Sealift Officers (SSO) are commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy Reserve assigned to reserve U.S. Naval activities that support strategic sealift in times of national defense or emergency.

What is the designator for strategic sealift officers?

Midshipmen who successfully complete the SSMP will receive a U.S. Navy Reserve Officer commission as a Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO), designator 1665, with the rank of Ensign.

What rank is MSC in the Navy?

Commander or lower rank. The MSC controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy.

Who does Military Sealift Command report to?

MSC is a Type Commander reporting to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, responsible for manning, training, and equipping a force of 130 ships and 8300 personnel.

Is Military Sealift Command under DOD?

Military Sea Transportation Service

MSTS became the single managing agency for the Department of Defense's ocean transportation needs. The command assumed responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all military services as well as for other government agencies.

Ronnie Reads the News: What are Strategic Sealift Officers?

How much do entry level Merchant Marines make?

A rookie merchant marine, such as sailor, earns a median annual salary of $40,730. A more advanced position, such as a ship engineer, earns a median salary of about $73,000.

Are merchant marines federal employees?

The United States Merchant Marine refers to either United States civilian mariners, or to U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. ... In 2004, the federal government employed approximately 5% of all American water transportation workers.

Are MSC ships armed?

While we do play a critical role in support of our nation's defense, our employees are not active duty members of the military. MSC civil service mariners (CIVMARs), the largest segment of our global workforce, are federal civil service employees.

Where is the Military Sealift Command headquarters?

Norfolk, Va.

The MSC commander is located at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia.

How much does Military Sealift pay?

The average Military Sealift Command salary ranges from approximately $55,309 per year for an Able Seaman to $151,345 per year for a Chief Mate.

What rank is MM2 in the Navy?

Navy Machinist's Mate: Industry

As they advance to four or five years of total service, sailors progress to machinist's mate petty officer, third class (MM3) and machinist's mate second class petty officer (MM2), during which time they serve their first sea tour.

What rank does a PhD get you in the military?

As a PhD scientist (biochemist for me) you will enter the military as an O-3. That is a captain in the Army or Air Force, and a lieutenant in the Navy. Base pay for an O-3 in 2016 was $3,963/month, or around $47,000/year, but that's not all.

What is the age limit for Merchant Marines?

Is There an Age Limit for the Merchant Marine? There is a merchant marine age limit, with 16 years old being the youngest age a person can be. If a person is old enough to work full-time — typically 16 years old — that person is old enough to apply for an MMC.

What is the strategic sealift midshipman program?

Strategic Sealift Midshipman Program (SSMP)

Formerly known as the Merchant Marine Reserve, the SSOP is a cadre of naval officers who are licensed merchant mariners with sealift, maritime operations, and logistics subject matter expertise.

What is SSO in the Navy?

Strategic Sealift Officers (SSO) are commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy Reserve assigned to reserve U.S. Naval activities that support strategic sealift in times of national defense or emergency.

How long does it take to get hired by Military Sealift Command?

Hold tight it usually takes 6 to 8 months before you get a ship assignment.

Is military sealift command a good job?

MSC is a good job. Second best to joining the military. The military is better in that the benefits are better. But pay is good for entry-level at MSC.

How long are military sealift command tours?

For Deck Officers

Although tours are 4 months expect to spend 6 months with no additional time off.

Who operates MSC ships?

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) is a Swiss-Italian international shipping line. The company operates in all major ports of the world. As of 2021, MSC operate 570 container vessels with an intake capacity of 3,920,784 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

How many containers does MSC own?

Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) container ship fleet has a total intake capacity of 3.8m TEU. The company operates a fleet of 560 cargo vessels, carrying 21m TEUs annually. MSC has a network of 493 offices and employs 70,000 people across 155 countries, while its fleet calls at more than 500 ports worldwide.

Who commands a ship in the US Navy?

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships.

Can Merchant Marines join USAA?

Who is eligible for USAA membership? Active duty and retired service members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) or in the Selected Reserve or National Guard; or those honorably separated in 1996 or later from active duty, Selected Reserve or National Guard.

Do Merchant Marines get pensions?

You can receive this pension at any age. To receive this pension you must have credit for at least 4,380 days of service with at least 125 days of this service in the year before you apply for pension. that must be credited under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Can a merchant marine be buried in a national cemetery?

Section 402 of the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1988 (P.L. 105-368) extended veterans' burial benefits and the right to interment in national cemeteries to merchant mariners who served on vessels engaged in oceangoing service from August 16, 1945, to December 31, 1946.