A manpower crisis within the U.S. Navy could see 17 key support ships idled, threatening the service’s ability to sustain global operations. The Military Sealift Command (MSC), responsible for the logistics fleet that refuels and resupplies Navy vessels, has proposed a plan to reassign mariners from these ships to keep other vessels operational. The move underscores the Navy’s struggle to manage a dwindling pool of qualified civilian mariners.
The ships at risk include Lewis and Clark-class replenishment ships, Spearhead-class fast transports, and forward-deployed expeditionary sea bases, which are crucial to the Navy’s global reach. The USS Lewis Puller in Bahrain and the USS Herschel “Woody” Williams in Greece are among the vessels that could be affected, leaving key missions unsupported.
This crisis is rooted in poor retention, with mariners citing grueling schedules and the effects of severe COVID-19 restrictions as reasons for leaving. During the pandemic, many mariners were stuck on ships for months without relief, leading to dissatisfaction and a mass exodus. MSC has been unable to recruit replacements quickly enough to fill the gap, creating a critical manpower shortage.
Experts warn that this situation could have a cascading effect on the Navy’s operational readiness. Without these support ships, the Navy’s ability to project power and maintain a presence in key regions could be compromised. The plan to reassign mariners is a temporary fix, but the broader issues of retention and workforce management remain unresolved, posing a long-term challenge for the Navy.
